Friday, February 15, 2008

Hypocrisy

The following message came to me from someone yesterday as a result of my recent posts. I did not post the comment since I thought it deserved an entire post.

“The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity”

Evident in your entries as opposed to your actions.

It is apparent to me that many ideas and entries that you have writen as your own thoughts, are actually gross distortions of His holy word.

Is is never OK to justify anger and hatred with scripture and references to the most merciful one, nor quoting alanon to justify your selfishness. Reading through the last several weeks of your entries, I noticed that you come across as borderline self-righteous.

Sadened

Websters defines a hypocrite as:
a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

I will admit, to God and everyone that, yes, I am sometimes a hypocrite. That is why I need Jesus in my life. Without Him, I am the worst excuse of a person. I appreciate this person's ability to recognize this.

I am sorry that my honesty has been perceived as lies. However, I know that I am a child of God and that I have His Spirit in me. I heed the way He works in me and although I am not perfect, I love Him and know He is working in me. It saddens me to know that the scriptures that God uses in my life appears distorted to this reader, but I know what my Lord speaks to me and they are holy words of wisdom, of love, of guidance, and grace.

I agree, it is never OK to justify anger and hatred with scripture. Scripture convicts. My anger and hatred are sins that I confess to my Lord. I simply do not deny that I struggle with these sins. But I am aware, not deceived by myself, that I am a sinner. God is forgiveness.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-10

PRAISE GOD! I know I am not exempt from this need!

Oswald Chambers says:

"If we are not heedful and pay no attention to the way the Spirit of God works in us, we WILL become spiritual hypocrits. We see where other people are failing, and then we take our discernment and turn it into comments of ridicule and critism, instead of turning it into intercession on their behalf."

If you see me sin, I ask for your prayers, not your critism.

Thank you, Dear Friend, for your comment. Your words to me reflect the possibility of some hatred and anger toward me. I am sorry for whatever I have may done to hurt you.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:15-17

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whoever posted that comment is very angry and must not really know you well. They didn't even sign their name? Ashamed? Let it roll, Liz, they obviously have self righteous issues of their own.
Love ya! Kat

Anonymous said...

Wow. I am sad to read that. Remember the words of Jesus,
"Love your enemies and pray for the ones who persecute you."
You have Him. That person needs Him.

Unknown said...

Wow, that comment is full of built up defense and an obviously gross misunderstanding of a LOT of things. One of the many things that makes me sick of "religious" people is the ease with which hypocracy and self righteousness can creep into ones soul. I just want to pop their heads like zits.

Liz said...

Consensus has been that the comment came from someone in my former church. Many of you actually asked if I thought the comment came from ----- or -----, leaders of said church. Probably. However, what really makes me sad is they are concerned that I am stirring up trouble but they are doing it all on their own by doing things like this. There is nothing to do but pray for them.