In what ways have you seen hypocrisy in the church negatively impact the church’s witness to the world? What do you feel is the best way to eliminate hypocrisy in the church?

[Austin]

Sadly I think we’ve all seen hypocrisy in a number of ways. The most central or prominent way I’ve seen it is in the pride that burrows deep in a heart and then explodes into everything that an individual does. They’ve pushed it down so much that they’re in denial of it’s very active control of them. So the solution? To do everything we can to pursue humility (the character of Jesus) and let that be what leads us.

[Austin]

I’ve seen hypocrisy cause many who did believe to walk away from what they were originally taught. Mainly from leaders who forgot they themselves were a work in progress, saved by the blood of Jesus and used their position to harshly critique up and coming “baby saints.” This caused many of the babes who loved God, to turn to other forms of religion such as Jehovah’s witness to find the true love that only Jesus can offer. I often say that many don’t have a problem accepting Jesus as Saviour, but a great many of us find great difficulty calling Him Lord. It’s only when we call Him Lord that hypocrisy can be erased from the church.

[Austin]

Generally speaking, when well known pastors and ministers of the Christian faith are caught living in sin and are exposed, it can and does hurt the Church’s witness to the world. Specifically speaking, when an unbeliever attends a church and observes certain Christians who are not living up to the basic teachings of the Christian faith, it can and does have a negative impact to that individual. I do believe there are some unbelievers who specifically look for reasons not to believe in Christ because they do not want to, so they look for any hypocrisy they can find. More importantly, the real question (in my opinion) is: Am I practicing any type of hypocrisy in my own life and am I hurting the Church’s witness to the world?

I do believe we need to start judging ourselves AND each other. 1 Corinthians 11:31 states that if we truly judge ourselves, we will not be judged. And in 1 Peter 4:17, judgement begins in the house of God. Rebuking others may be necessary. Correcting others may be necessary. Teaching the difference between a believer vs. a follower of Christ may be necessary. Personally, I believe being hard on oneself may be in order.

[Austin]

I believe that church hypocrisy is a main reason that teens and twenty-somethings are leaving the church. Generation Z is highly attuned to spotting hypocrisy and they are looking for authenticity and that is how we eliminate hypocrisy within the church-through authenticity. By asking for forgiveness when wrong and being sanctified constantly.

[Austin]

So true.

[Austin]

A local church that many of my peers attend is currently dealing with new leadership that is being secret jabout how the churches funds are being spent and the large church that was once successful is now operating in a deficit. I believe if that church members would force the leadership team to act transparently and hold them to biblical standards of learders they could stear their church away from the hypocrisy factor. It is negatively effecting those in the community and causing them to believe that church is not for them, as they do not want to be a part of the drama.