Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23 NRSV Bible)
Many religious authorities of Jesus' day were excellent teachers. Unfortunately, they did not live up to their own teaching.

People tell me the number one reason they no longer attend church is that the church is full of hypocrites. It may be a surprise to you that I agree with them. What is a hypocrite? The dictionary defines a hypocrite as a person who pretends to be what he or she is not. We call ourselves Christians, which means we are to be Christ like and follow Christ's example. I cannot speak for you, but I know that I am not always Christ like.

The most important question is--do we do our best, with Christ's help, to practice what we believe? Do we try to do our best in living for Jesus and one another? If we recognize our short comings, and truly work at living what we believe and say, it will show in our interactions with one another. No, we won't be perfect. Someone may even see our faults. But, if we love in spite of our faults, people will see our mistakes less often and Christ more.

Dear God, help me not to be a hypocrite, but help me to be more like you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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