“The Church is full of hypocrites!”

For many, this accusation is one of the greatest obstacles to belief. Hypocrisy within the church is a common reason people reject the church and its teachings.

This is troubling. It strikes too close to home. It places the blame on those of us who love the church and share its mission. We stand accused and it hurts – no one likes to be called a hypocrite!

It hurts even more when we consider that the accusation is not completely baseless. The church’s corporate reputation could certainly use a makeover. The steady stream of moral failure by church leaders and the inconsistencies of some followers support the accusation. As if the present hypocrisies were not enough, we have inherited a checkered past. Along with its many positive contributions, the church is also responsible for the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Salem Witch Trials. In the past (and sadly, sometimes into the present) racism, sexism, nationalism, and materialism have been promoted in and through the church. The lack of love, unity, tolerance, and peace has resulted in endless fragmentation into countless denominations. All these things fall short of Christian ideals. Add to this the personal sting many feel who have been “burned” by the church[1] and you have a pretty strong case for hypocrisy. The church may not be full of hypocrites – there are plenty of good and sincere people within it – but it is by no means empty of them.

Granted, the charge of hypocrisy is rarely offered with pure motives. The accusation provides people with a convenient excuse to neglect the church and its message. In spite of this, concern about hypocrisy in the church is valid. And Jesus shares this concern!

Jesus spoke out against the sin of hypocrisy. He despised it, exposed it, and condemned it. He warned against it (Luke 12:1-3) and pronounced prophetic “woes” upon those who practiced it (Luke 11:37-53; Matthew 23). The chief target in his war against hypocrisy was the party of the Pharisees. In his day, they provided a living illustration of hypocrisy.

The Pharisees were “the separated ones” – a party of conservative, God-fearing people who resisted the advance of pagan culture by seeking to preserve their Jewish identity. Their interests and influence were not simply relegated to religious matters; their interests were also political. They exerted their political influence to “make people keep the Jewish law as best they could, so that Israel could be made holy, and thus God would bring in the kingdom.”[2] In spite of their good intentions, Jesus exposed and condemned the Pharisees more than any other group – more than the pagan Roman government, greedy tax-collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, drunkards, or homosexuals. Who would have ever thought that Jesus’ strongest pronouncements of doom would be reserved for the most respected and revered religious leaders?[3]

This gives us greater respect for those who accuse the church of hypocrisy. The accusation is not only understandable; it is commendable. Hypocrisy is a serious spiritual problem that infects the most respectable and religious people. It is certainly worthy of our attention. Jesus’ warnings make this evident. Therefore, it is in our best interests to understand hypocrisy, not only to answer people’s accusations, but to guard against it in our own lives.

Jesus on Hypocrisy

Jesus was invited to lunch with a Pharisee and his friends. Though the practice was not commanded in the Law – only the priests were explicitly commanded to wash – it was the custom of the Pharisees to ceremonially wash before all meals. But the Pharisees, in seeking to purify a people prepared for the Messiah, had extended this obligation to all those wishing to be devout. “As the priests, so the people” was their motto. If ceremonial cleansing was good enough for the priests, then it was good enough for all those who desired to be pure and holy. After all, didn’t God desire a “kingdom of priests”?

When Jesus entered the Pharisee’s house for lunch, he went straight to the table without ceremonially washing before the meal. The Pharisee was surprised at Jesus’ lack of respect. From his perspective, Jesus was not demonstrating proper religious commitment to purity and holiness. In other words, Jesus was not “religious” enough for him.[4] The Pharisee’s shock and disappointment raised Jesus’ ire and drew out the following response:

“Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you.” (Luke 11:39-41)

Jesus’ challenge resonates with the ancient prophets. What good is an external act without inner devotion?[5] He condemned the Pharisee for expending great effort to maintain an outward image at the expense of inner purity. He invited him to repentance: “Give that which is within as charity” (Luke 11:41). Another way to say this is, “Give your heart over to God for his use.” Tom Wright explains, “True piety takes as much care about giving to God the thoughts, intentions and motivations of the heart as about handwashing.”[6]

Jesus follows this call to repentance with a series of “woes” pronounced against the Pharisees. Jesus condemns them for emphasizing minutiae while neglecting the truly weighty matters of love, mercy, and justice (Luke 11:42).[7] He laments that they act righteous only to be seen by others. They love the respect – the prestige, power, and applause – that comes with the image they have manufactured (Luke 11:43-44). When a lawyer (an expert in Mosaic Law)[8] complains that he feels insulted by Jesus’ accusations, Jesus immediately changes targets. He decries the fact that the lawyers overload people with burdensome rules that they themselves do not practice (Luke 11:46-52). Jesus’ harsh words lead to a hostile exchange between him and the Pharisees, scribes, and lawyers (Luke 11:53-54).

Immediately following the Pharisee’s private party, we find Jesus in public with an extremely large multitude of people seeking to hear from him. Jesus begins by addressing his disciples (and, thus, the crowd who are listening in) with this grave warning:

“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.” (Luke 12:1-3)

Jesus urges his disciples to beware of hypocrisy, for it is a real danger that threatens them all. Jesus describes it as leaven. Like leaven, hypocrisy works secretly and silently. It starts out small, but once it is mingled with dough, it alters its whole character. It only takes a little leaven to slowly transform a large lump. Likewise, just a little hypocrisy infects the whole character of one’s profession. Its effects are pervasive and far-reaching.

The reason we must guard against hypocrisy is that it ultimately will be exposed. “The art of being a hypocrite depends on the ability to keep some things concealed. When concealment is no longer possible the hypocrite is inevitably unmasked.”[9] There are no secrets in this world. The truth will, eventually, come to the surface.

We must heed Christ’s warning to beware of the leaven of hypocrisy. This warning was not given to the Pharisees but to Jesus’ disciples. It is not hypothetical, but real – a potential threat to our faith. It is a danger we all face. We are all capable of practicing it. For this reason, it is our wisdom to understand what hypocrisy is and why it is so spiritually devastating.

Understanding Hypocrisy

“Minimally… a hypocrite is one who acts inconsistently with her beliefs, words, or other actions.”[10] When our behavior does not align with our thoughts or words, we act dishonestly, without integrity; hypocrisy is not far behind.

But hypocrisy is more than inconsistency. Hypocrisy is a form of deception – whether intentional or unintentional[11] – that exploits the appearance of goodness for the sake of personal gain. The Greek word comes from the world of theater and literally means “to put on a mask.” In ancient times, this is exactly what actors would do in order to play a role. Behind the mask they would act out their part, appearing to be something they were not.

This is fine in the theater, indeed, it is expected. However, this play-acting is morally repugnant when the manufactured image is simulated holiness. The religious hypocrite mimics righteousness for his own selfish ends. He uses morality (a good thing) as a means of evil deception. The religious hypocrite counterfeits righteousness. Goodness is used as a tool of evil for selfish ends. His piety is plastic, virtual, superficial – sham spirituality.

The cost to the hypocrite is great. Over time, his personality fragments, effectively removing any possibility of authentic spirituality. In order to handle the inconsistencies of a double-life, he must put on two faces. Eventually, he is unsure which face is real and which is the mask. This kind of self-deception is the worst consequence of hypocrisy.

An important distinction is in order here: Hypocrisy is not the same thing as moral weakness. There are significant differences between a hypocrite and a person who is morally weak. For example, a morally weak person is sincerely committed to the moral standards he or she professes, even though he or she fails to fully live up to them. Consequently, a morally weak person experiences genuine remorse after failing to live up to his or her moral standards.

Not all people are hypocrites and not all sins are sins of hypocrisy. If this were the case, hypocrisy would not be singled out by Jesus as a special type of sin. Therefore, failure to live up to one’s moral ideas is not always an indication of hypocrisy. Jesus recognizes that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Good people often fall short of their ideals.

Peter’s denial of Christ is a good example of the difference between hypocrisy and moral weakness. In his act of betrayal, Peter acted inconsistently with his beliefs and words. On the surface, this appears as hypocrisy. Prior to his betrayal, he genuinely believed – indeed, passionately believed! – that it was morally wrong to deny Jesus. And yet, he denied Jesus three times. For a time, fear motivated him more than his commitment to Jesus. “While in his more lucid moments… Peter’s rational deliberations led him to the clear conviction that the best thing in such a situation would be to die with Jesus, under pressure he buckled.”[12] Afterwards, he deeply regretted his betrayal. Peter was a fallible, but not a false, man. He was full of infirmities, but not of intentional sin. His desire was right, even though his actions were wrong. He was certainly guilty of moral weakness, and perhaps even of hypocrisy – for a moment. But, the general pattern of Peter’s life proved him to be anything but a hypocrite. Hypocrites do not die for their faith. Peter did.

Answering the Accusation

“The church is full of hypocrites!” Is this true or false? How should we answer this accusation?

First, we readily admit that it is difficult to live the Christian life. Following Jesus is a high and noble calling. It invites us to the loftiest ideals and the noblest goals. No one would deny that living the Christian life is difficult and challenging. To love God with all our heart and love others as God loves us is something that the greatest saints consistently fall short of. But we must not confuse our own honest shortcomings with hypocrisy.

Second, as Christians, we confess that we are sinners. However, we also understand that not all sins are sins of hypocrisy. According to sacred scripture, all people are sinners, but not all are hypocrites. All hypocrites are sinners, but it does not follow that all sinners are hypocrites. Christians are not people who claim to be without sin. On the contrary, for a person to be a Christian, he or she must first admit to being a sinner.

I understand if people do not wish to associate with the Christian church and its message because of hypocrisy. I simply ask that they be consistent and do the same with other organizations, institutions, and individuals that practice hypocrisy. It is my contention that the logic that refuses to associate with the church and its message because of hypocrisy is never consistently applied.

There are many who say I don’t want to be a Christian because all the hypocrites go to Church. This in itself shows that they are even more of a hypocrite then those they criticize. Businesses are full of hypocrites but the same person who sees an opportunity to make money doesn’t have this stop them do business with these people. People see married couples have their spouses cheat on them, but that doesn’t stop that same person from getting married or staying a confirmed bachelor. TV is filled with hypocrites, liars and cheats. Most of the talk shows glamorize them, but they will still watch TV. Advertisements are hypocritical but they don't stop buying the products because of it. Some used car salesman can certainly fit the bill for this category yet no one will stop buying cars because of their intense sales rap. Politicians are some great examples of hypocrisy but we still vote hoping the one we choose will be honest and keep his promises.[13]

Third, we profess that the church is not full of hypocrites. Sure, there may be some, but not all in the church are hypocrites. Yes, all people in the church would admit they are sinners, but – as we have shown above – not all sinners are hypocrites.

Fourth, the hypocrisy of some in the church does not prove the Christian faith to be false. In fact, in a strange way, it affirms its truth. “The problem of hypocrisy in the church is in one sense a compliment to biblical morality. Why would anyone want to make a charade of being a Christian if this were not an objectively admirable thing?”[14] In the words of François de La Rochefoucauld: “Hypocrisy is the homage [tribute] that vice pays to virtue.” Every counterfeit implies significant worth in that which it imitates. Hypocrisy is no exception. No one counterfeits something that is worthless.

Finally, the fifth (and best) reason why the charge of hypocrisy does not automatically discount the Christian faith and message is simply this: we do not preach ourselves; we preach Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 4:5). Our message is not about us; it’s about him! James Spiegel writes,

objections from hypocrisy really miss their mark if one is attempting to attack the Christian faith at its heart. To do this, one has a much harder task than merely proving that Christ’s followers are sometimes hypocritical. Rather, one must show that Jesus himself was a hypocrite. To succeed in proving this is an incomparably difficult task, since he is almost unanimously regarded not only as morally decent but as morally exceptional. Undoubtedly, it is precisely for this reason that such attempts are not forthcoming.[15]

We must never forget that “Christianity’s doctrine of salvation is based on divine grace rather than human merit.”[16] The good news that we proclaim is not primarily about our own experience (although that is important) but God’s goodness to the world in the gift of Christ. Jesus is our message – his grace, his goodness, his life, his perfection.

Steps Toward Reversing the Tide

The ultimate answer to the accusation of hypocrisy is not rational, but holistic. The point of contention is not simply with our theory or intellect, but with our attitude and behavior. To this end, I offer the following initial correctives.

First, we must admit the dangers of hypocrisy and accept the possibility that we are infected with its leaven. In order to do this, we must spend more time reflecting upon possible sin within our own house, and less on condemning the world. Many prominent “ministries” amass financial support by throwing stones at government, business, and Hollywood. Few exist that cast a loving-but-critical eye upon the church. Though we may feel better about ourselves by cursing the darkness, our greatest need is to examine our own house. Brian McLaren sheds light on this need:

Back in the Gospel of John... who was the greater sinner, the woman caught in adultery or the Pharisee holding a stone ready to execute her? ... How much energy do we modern Christians put into condemning sexual sins compared to avoiding the judgmental, Pharisaical attitude of those with rocks in their hands? Who killed Jesus, adulterers or Pharisees? I'm not trying to minimize adultery – believe me, I know how terrible it is. I'm just saying that our modern preoccupations don't seem very informed by the gospel.[17]

Second, we must accept responsibility. Hypocrisy is our problem. As members of the church, we have inherited it. Though we can do nothing to change the past, we can change the future. For the sake of the world, we must strive to keep from being a stumbling block to others. Clearly, it is our responsibility to share and spread the faith by word and deed (Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Peter 2:11-12, John 13:34-35; John 17:20-23). When these two are incongruous, the message falls flat!

Third, we must pursue sincerity. Hypocrites do not want to be exposed. To keep from self-deception, we must pray that Jesus would strip off our masks. “Show me; expose me; have mercy,” should be our prayer. We do not have to pretend to be a great saint with no weaknesses; we can own up to being an average believer who recognizes our weaknesses.

In the past, I have heard Christians criticize the statement, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.” Certainly, what we believe does matter. But so does the way we believe. Yes, it may be naïve to say “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere,” but it is true that “It doesn’t matter what you believe if you are not sincere.” Sincerity does matter! (see Acts 2:46; 1 Cor. 5:8; 2 Cor. 1:12, 2:17; 1 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 10:22; 1 Peter 1:22)

Finally, we must pursue integrity – the complete union of heart, soul, mind, and strength in all we do. This will be our focus in coming weeks.

To listen to the audio message, right-click and "Save Target As"

• Virtual Piety (Mp3 - 21.5 mb)

© Richard J. Vincent, 2006