Mat 16:3 MKJV
(3) And in the morning, Foul weather today; for the sky is red and gloomy. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky, but you cannot see the signs of the times!
The Lord will judge us not for our experience, but for what we had access to. For instance, Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites because they could not discern the signs of the times. Why? They had not claimed anything! Yet they accused him as men who had discernment but they never accessed this gift where He was concerned.
These men had no desire to see Jesus as Messiah, regardless of His claims. Jesus never blamed anyone for being careful. He never blamed anyone for asking questions. However, He has nothing good to say about willful ignorance. Willful ignorance is hypocrisy. It is the state of being critical of another while ignoring the same weaknesses within one's self.
Showing posts with label hypocrisy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hypocrisy. Show all posts
Monday, January 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Burned
Once upon a time there was a powerful judge who was very unhappy at home. One day he was on official business out of town and decided to make a stop at the home of a prostitute, even though prostitution was illegal. The prostitute's price was not a sum of money, but rather a small used car. The judge was unprepared to pay the price, naturally, but promised that in return for her services he would have the car sent. She agreed only if the judge would leave some colateral, for which he left his driver's license and credit card (judges aren't always that smart). The judge tries to have the car sent to the prostitute in order to retrieve his driver's license and credit card, but the prostitute is gone.
A few weeks later, the very same unwed woman shows up in the judge's court, pregnant, being accused of prostitution. The judge does not recognize the woman at all but sentences her to death. At this point, the woman produces the credit card and drivers license and announces that the owner is also the father.
Burned.
This exact scenario took place in scripture. It happened to Judah, the son of Israel from whom the Messiah would emerge. The story is in Genesis 38 and it describes Judah being framed by his daughter-in-law, Tamar, whom he should be giving to his son in marriage. However, Judah doesn't like her at all and wont give her the go-ahead to marry. So Tamar sees Judah preparing to go out of town and she dresses up like a prostitute, seduces him for the price of a goat (there's a joke there, I know it...) and takes his signet, cord, and staff as colateral. When Tamar showed up pregnant, Judah very quickly suggests she be burned to death - which solves his marriage problem. But, Tamar produces the staff and signet...
Judah was not smart. He trades one form of immorality (unlawfully denying Tamar the right to his son) with another kind of immorality (sleeping with her) with yet another - extreme hypocrisy. It's called sin management, and it doesn't work.
God said this: Luk 12:2-3(2) For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor anything hidden that shall not be known.(3) Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light. And that which you have spoken in the ear in secret rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
A few weeks later, the very same unwed woman shows up in the judge's court, pregnant, being accused of prostitution. The judge does not recognize the woman at all but sentences her to death. At this point, the woman produces the credit card and drivers license and announces that the owner is also the father.
Burned.
This exact scenario took place in scripture. It happened to Judah, the son of Israel from whom the Messiah would emerge. The story is in Genesis 38 and it describes Judah being framed by his daughter-in-law, Tamar, whom he should be giving to his son in marriage. However, Judah doesn't like her at all and wont give her the go-ahead to marry. So Tamar sees Judah preparing to go out of town and she dresses up like a prostitute, seduces him for the price of a goat (there's a joke there, I know it...) and takes his signet, cord, and staff as colateral. When Tamar showed up pregnant, Judah very quickly suggests she be burned to death - which solves his marriage problem. But, Tamar produces the staff and signet...
Judah was not smart. He trades one form of immorality (unlawfully denying Tamar the right to his son) with another kind of immorality (sleeping with her) with yet another - extreme hypocrisy. It's called sin management, and it doesn't work.
God said this: Luk 12:2-3(2) For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor anything hidden that shall not be known.(3) Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light. And that which you have spoken in the ear in secret rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Dried Up From The Roots
Mar 11:12-14
(12) And on the next day, they going out of Bethany, He was hungry.
(13) And seeing a fig-tree with leaves afar off, He went to it, if perhaps He might find anything on it. And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season of figs.
(14) And Jesus answered and said to it, No one shall eat fruit of you forever. And His disciples heard.
This is somewhat a puzzling story on the surface. Why would Jesus curse something for not producing out of season? The answer lies in appearances. The tree had leaves - which drew Jesus from a distance. The leaves were a clue that the tree was bearing - only it bore no fruit.
Interjected in this count is the story of Jesus entering the temple, only to find money-changers at work greedily making a profit for themselves. Once again, the temple appeared to be a place of God... only it was not. In the case of the temple, it was cleansed by Jesus as He chased out the profiteers. On the way out, however, the disciples noticed the tree had whithered from the roots up.
What appearances do we give when Christ passes by? Do we acknowledge we don't have it all together? Are we so used to the ditch that we accept it as normality and just don't realize we are sadly lacking? If we cannot find a place in our lives to be honest - to show our real vulnerabilities, ineptitudes, failures - emptiness... then how do we reach a spot where we can cry out to God? If Christ comes in, He can cleanse us - with whips made of cords if need be. But if He doesn't come in, we whither away from the roots up.
(12) And on the next day, they going out of Bethany, He was hungry.
(13) And seeing a fig-tree with leaves afar off, He went to it, if perhaps He might find anything on it. And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season of figs.
(14) And Jesus answered and said to it, No one shall eat fruit of you forever. And His disciples heard.
This is somewhat a puzzling story on the surface. Why would Jesus curse something for not producing out of season? The answer lies in appearances. The tree had leaves - which drew Jesus from a distance. The leaves were a clue that the tree was bearing - only it bore no fruit.
Interjected in this count is the story of Jesus entering the temple, only to find money-changers at work greedily making a profit for themselves. Once again, the temple appeared to be a place of God... only it was not. In the case of the temple, it was cleansed by Jesus as He chased out the profiteers. On the way out, however, the disciples noticed the tree had whithered from the roots up.
What appearances do we give when Christ passes by? Do we acknowledge we don't have it all together? Are we so used to the ditch that we accept it as normality and just don't realize we are sadly lacking? If we cannot find a place in our lives to be honest - to show our real vulnerabilities, ineptitudes, failures - emptiness... then how do we reach a spot where we can cry out to God? If Christ comes in, He can cleanse us - with whips made of cords if need be. But if He doesn't come in, we whither away from the roots up.
Monday, March 30, 2009
A Great Facade
At the heart of my non-spiritual spiritual walk was a desire to be thought-of as a spiritual man. I wanted people to think I had it going on, even when I did not. Or, perhaps I had a few things going on, but for the most part, it was an intellectual exercise. The intellectual side of Christianity has some merit, after all. We are to study to show ourselves approved unto God, right?
Discussing the differences between eastern and western thinking with a friend yesterday, it reminded me that we often miss it here 'in the west'. We've been taught that it is good - no, great - to know what the teacher knows. But in the east, it's great to be like the teacher. I've had success at learning what most bible teachers know, but I've had only limited success in being like Jesus - the great Teacher.
I hang out with a group of Christian men who can see through the intellectual side of it all. Knowing a few more bible verses than they do (not that I do, personally) really does not impress them. Carrying a worn-out bible does not impress them, either. I've found that leaving your bible in the trunk of your car over time creates a nice, well-worn effect. In fact... they are God-seekers, and they are used to seeing God work. As a result, they simply aren't that impressed with 'anything' I do. Who would be, after seeing God work?
But these guys totally dig seeing God work in me. They know me... and they know God... they can darn-sure tell the difference. Having said all that, I encourage everyone to seek the Lord in new and greater ways this year. If you haven't gone to a place of service or worship where you are out of your comfort zone, do it. For those who are plugged in to Him, facades aren't worth much. None of us think anyone really has it all together. The more we know, the more we realize it's all Him or bust. There is nothing with the stamp of this world on it that is worth having.
Discussing the differences between eastern and western thinking with a friend yesterday, it reminded me that we often miss it here 'in the west'. We've been taught that it is good - no, great - to know what the teacher knows. But in the east, it's great to be like the teacher. I've had success at learning what most bible teachers know, but I've had only limited success in being like Jesus - the great Teacher.
I hang out with a group of Christian men who can see through the intellectual side of it all. Knowing a few more bible verses than they do (not that I do, personally) really does not impress them. Carrying a worn-out bible does not impress them, either. I've found that leaving your bible in the trunk of your car over time creates a nice, well-worn effect. In fact... they are God-seekers, and they are used to seeing God work. As a result, they simply aren't that impressed with 'anything' I do. Who would be, after seeing God work?
But these guys totally dig seeing God work in me. They know me... and they know God... they can darn-sure tell the difference. Having said all that, I encourage everyone to seek the Lord in new and greater ways this year. If you haven't gone to a place of service or worship where you are out of your comfort zone, do it. For those who are plugged in to Him, facades aren't worth much. None of us think anyone really has it all together. The more we know, the more we realize it's all Him or bust. There is nothing with the stamp of this world on it that is worth having.
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