Many people outside the church accuse Christians of being hypocrites. Technically, hypocrisy is a matter of professing a set of beliefs that you don ?t really believe. However, our culture ?and many Christians ?believes that hypocrisy is a matter of saying one thing and doing another, being two-faced. While that might seem like splitting hairs, the subtle difference between hiding one ?s true beliefs and struggling with sin in our lives is lost on the people of our culture.
Regardless of the misunderstanding, the disparity between the preaching and teaching of Christians and the lives of Christians is a stumbling block to many who are not Christians. They hear the words ?love God and love others, ? but they don ?t always see it or experience it when they interact with Christians. Then they walk away.
The fact is, Christians don ?t really fit in this world, even though we live in it. When the world sees us trying to fit in, even though we claim we don ?t fit, they don ?t see the value of being one of us. If we want to close that gap, we need to be what we were made to be: holy.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:2: ?To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ?their Lord and ours. ? The church in Corinth existed in the ?sin city ? of its day, and Paul ?s letter was intended to remind Christians that they were made to be different.
Even though that difference separates us from the ways and thinking of the world, it ?s not meant to separate us from other people. God ?s plan is to connect us to himself and to others through holiness. We can ?t hide the fact that we share with the world a common sin problem, but we also need to share the differences we have, the call to holiness. That common solution, which connects us to God through Christ, will connect us to others as well.
As Adam told us in Slidell, “Remember the wondrous works He has done…” – Psalm 105:5a And what a wondrous work He has done in all of us! I remember too, that it wasn’t long ago that I was just as trapped as them. Reason more for me to reach out in Christian love. There is an old saying, if you do things right the right things happen. The Bible also tells us that God opens door no man can shut, and God can close doors that no man can open. For me, this helps to remind me that I have no way of knowing if my testimony will open that door or not, but I know if I stay in the will of God, and operate according to His commandants, there is no door that can not be opened, no matter how stubborn or resistant it may be.