“Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”
John 8:34
Sometimes it seems that the western church tries to portray Christ as some kind of surfer-dude, hippy, all about love type of guy. He came to teach us all how to get along, right? Don’t misunderstand me, Jesus did teach us to do unto others as you would have them do to you. I believe that He is love personified, grace in human flesh and mercy manifested. But at the same time, Jesus never pussy-footed around; He called sin sin and hypocrisy hypocrisy whenever and wherever He saw it. He spoke the truth, and often, that didn’t allow them to get away with anything. Generally Jesus only had this attitude with the religious leaders of His day. They thought they had it all together, the very zenith of holiness. But Christ saw it in a totally different way. He saw what was in their hearts and their hearts were filled with pride, self-love and a desire for power.
They didn’t care about the poor, or communion with God or fasting. They wanted glory from men. The law, which they professed to hold in such high esteem, they manipulated for their own benefit, to condemn those who couldn’t possibly jive to their twisted version of the commandments, and to justify the corruptness of their own hearts. (2 Peter 2:19)
The fact is, their religiousity was a game, an empty façade that had no depth. They honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from Him. I like the way Jesus put it best:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white-washed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleaness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 25:27-28)
An even more poignant passage is in the Old Testament book of Isaiah:
“Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and you appointed feasts My soul hates; they trouble Me and I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.”
God was not impressed with their phony platitudes of piety. He wasn’t interested in dead rituals. He didn’t care about their sacred traditions. All of it was empty, half-hearted and selfish. Did they really believe that God’s heart would be fooled by these things? Apparently so. Not only did the nation of Israel and the Pharisees but sometimes, I think God can be moved by my insincerity too. Whether it is an ego-centric mentality, a lazy attitude or just plain old apathy, I have been known to be less than the person I should be. At least, God knew that I was not being who He has called me to be. And He has no problem telling me the same thing He told Israel – His soul abhors my religious games and He is repulsed by my hypocrisy.
But was much as He hates it, He wants even more to bring me to repentance and authenticity. He wants for my works to be a natural overflow of a genuine relationship with Him. In Isaiah 1, God gives His remedy for recovery:
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Rebuke the oppressor. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widows. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as white as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel you shall be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Pretty cut and dry? Simple? Concise? To the point? It’s meant to be. He just calls it like it is.
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