March 26, 2012 | Leave a comment Today, Monday March 26, 2012, is the thirty-first day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” hypocrisy and “put on” sincerity. When asked, those who choose routinely not to attend church, always place the hypocrisy of Christians among their top reasons not to attend. If the church is ever to regain her prominence in the eyes of the average American then Christians must examine our own lives for every instance of hypocrisy and put it off! Websters defines a hypocrite as any “a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion” or a “person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.” Sincerity on the other hand is “the quality or state of being sincere; honesty of mind; freedom from hypocrisy.” The word “hypocrite” combines the Greek prefix “hypo” meaning “under” and the verb “krinein” meaning “to sift or decide.” So the original meaning implied a deficiency in the ability to decide. Such a deficiency, regarding beliefs and feelings, forms the current meaning. This idea is best illustrated by the nation of Israel as they tried to serve both God and Baal. We need to heed the prophet Elijah’s challenge to his nation to decide which God they will serve prior to his challenging the priests of Baal to a show down between his God and their false god Baal. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21 (ESV) Unlike the children of Israel Christians need to answer, decisively and sincerely (without hypocrisy). Many preachers have given the church a bad name. We who handle the Word of God must speak honestly concerning our own short comings and limitations. It is so easy to allow people to think we are more virtuous than we are actually, which is hypocritical. Each of us need to be more like Paul when he said; 3 Our appeal to you is not based on error or impure motives, nor do we try to trick anyone. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 (GNB) The problem with making hypocrisy apply primarily to ministers is that this assumption overlooks the fact that every Christian is a minister. There are no class divisions among Christians. 28 In Christ, there is no difference between Jew and Greek, slave and free person, male and female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (NCV) The ground at the foot of Calvary’s cross is level. There are no big “I’s” and little “you’s” in Christ’s church. You and I need to “put off” hypocrisy and “put on” sincerity because there is no room for dishonesty in the body of Christ. Instead we all need to be able to honestly say what the apostle Paul said that; 12 We are proud that our conscience assures us that our lives in this world, and especially our relations with you, have been ruled by God-given frankness and sincerity, by the power of God’s grace, and not by human wisdom. 2 Corinthians 1:12 (GNB) You and I need not simply to say that we are sincere, we need to be sincere. Notice that Paul states that his life, not simply his speech, is sincere. Paul says that his life and his relations with the Corinthians (a church with which he had much conflict) have been ruled by God given honesty and sincerity. As a Christian we need to be honest with God and one another. To be capable of such honesty I need to “put off” hypocrisy and “put on” sincerity.