The Hypocrite: A Better Definition

We have all heard it from someone at some time. They don’t want to go to church because of all the hypocrites. But who exactly are they talking about and what church are they talking about.

Let’s deal with the church first. If the person you are talking to doesn’t want to go to your church because of all the hypocrites, he might have a very good reason. If your church has a certain tolerance level for hypocrisy then your friend has made a good decision. In fact, you should join him in his aversion to your church. A church that does not actively confront hypocrisy is an unfaithful church. Sin is defiling that church, obscuring the gospel, and bringing the name of Christ into reproach. That church will be full of spiritual death, biblical confusion, and stunted sheep.

But now let’s talk about hypocrisy. Many times, a person’s complaint isn’t about a particular church, but the universal Church, with a capital “C.” They may not know about your church, but just the fact that there are Christians who don’t live like they should turns them off. This is a completely different accusation, which can be handled with a better definition of hypocrisy.

First of all, while hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing something different, there has to be something more that lands a person into the category of Hypocrite. If a hypocrite is someone who says one thing and does something different, then that encompasses the entire human race. That basically is the definition of sin. Sin is knowing (and saying, at least in your mind) what is wrong and doing it anyway. The scripture is very clear that all of us sin like this. Additionally, Paul, the greatest apostle, plainly confessed that this reality marked his Christian walk. In Romans 7:12 he said “the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” But then he said in verse 18, “the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.” So labeling everybody including the apostle Paul a hypocrite just won’t work. We need a better definition.

The hypocrite has to be one who says one thing, does something different, and doesn’t care about it. The hypocrite’s goal is simply to blend in and have none the wiser. He is not interested in confessing sin, only hiding it. He cares nothing of putting sin to death, but nurturing it in secret. The defining difference between the hypocrite and the sinning believer is that the believer hates his sin, is killing it, and is making no provision for those fleshly lusts. It is war, and he is fighting it with all his might. There is no war in the hypocrite, only evasion and self-justification.

So ask your friend exactly what he means when he is talking about the hypocrite. If he claims that he is not a hypocrite, that either means he is living in loud-and-proud sin, he is lying, or he is self-decieved. If you have a faithful church, confront him with this reality; and invite him to church where you can both work on killing hypocrisy (sin) together.