Are You One of Them?

People often like to identify with a group. Some people identify with a political group, such as Republican or Democrat. Some sports teams, Bulldogs, Yellow Jackets, Falcons, Braves, etc… I could continue to list but I believe you understand what I’m saying.

People also dislike being identified with some groups. Groups such as thieves, drunks, addicts etc… We often set out to be a part of certain groups or names, and strive to stay away from others.

I for instance am proud to be a part of the pastors group in our world. More specific I am proud to be a Southern Baptist pastor. My goal in life is to tell as many people about Jesus Christ, and to see them experience Him here on this earth and the future life to come. For well over a quarter of a century I have done this. During this time I have received much training on the best way to tell people about Jesus. I have been blessed to see thousands of people come into a relationship with him and then be identified as a Christian.

In this process I have found a group that a lot of people know about, and are quick to talk about, but I’ve not found any but myself who has been willing to admit that at some time they could be identified with this group. Many times when inviting people to church or to Christ the answer will be, “There are too many hypocrites.”

I have been hearing this for many years and to hear the average person, they believe the church is full of “hypocrites.” I have never had anyone testify, “I am a Hypocrite!” “Hypocrite” comes from a word, which means, “to act a part as on a stage.” The hypocrite is a play actor. Hypocrisy is deliberate deception, trying to make people think we are something that we are not. I confess I have been a hypocrite sometimes.

I recently became real broken over this. I was at a restaurant when I ran into an old high school buddy. It had been many years since I saw him. His response to seeing me was greatly different than most people from those days. Usually people say things like, “I can’t believe that you’re a preacher, or do you remember when you did…”

This man introduced me to some one eating with him and he said, “Danny was always trying to preach to people even as a teen.” After leaving them I had haunting memories of those days. Don’t misunderstand me, my teen years were fun, but I was hypocrite.

I had all the people at church fooled, and many adults fooled. Many thought I was a God Fearing Young Christian man. Some even wanted their children around me hoping they would learn from me. What they did not know was in front of them my life was an act. My heart to day is broken because many of my classmates have died and faced eternity without Christ and the life I lived before them may be the reason for this.

My space is limited but remember a hypocrite is not a person who goes to church and then still sins from time to time. The Bible says, “We are all sinners.” No one is perfect! A hypocrite is someone who puts on a show to make themselves look like something they are not.”

Are you one of them?