A hypocrite is a person who indulges in hypocrisy. A hypocrite is someone who claims to have a certain moral standard but does not conform to their own standard.
A lot of people think that christians are hypocrites. Someone says, “you are a christian, but I saw you do x” or “I heard you say y.” What the accuser is trying to do is tell people they are not behaving like a christian because they have not adhered to the standards of christianity and Christ.
Is this tag an accurate one to put on christians? To answer that, there are three things we should think about when someone calls us a hypocrite. First, is the accusation a just statement? Second, if it is a justified statement, does that automatically equal hypocrisy? Third, what should real hypocrites do?
First, is the accusation a just statement? Sometimes a non-christian may say a christian is not acting like one when they actually are. For example, someone may say a christian is not kind because they are not agreeing with someone’s lifestyle. Since being kind is a christian standard, the accusation of hypocrisy comes out.
While kindness and compassion are a christian ethic, so is speaking the truth. We are both to speak the truth, and do it in love (Ephesians 4:15). To disagree with someone about their lifestyle, if it agrees with Christ, is not unloving, and therefore not hypocritical.
Second, maybe the christian does act against the christian ethic. They have done something or said something which goes against Christ and Scripture. Everything done and said that is not Christian is not hypocrisy. Why? Let’s go back to our base definition. A hypocrite is someone who indulges in hypocrisy.
While someone may participate in a hypocritical act, it doesn’t make them a hypocrite by definition. A hypocrite isn’t someone who does something against their own standards once in a while; but is someone who consistently behaves against their own standard.
John talks about this in his letters of I, II, and III John. Here’s what he says about true hypocrites. “If we say we have fellowship with him (God) while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (I John 1:6)
Notice he doesn’t say if someone sins once, they are not a christian. He uses the phrase “if we walk in darkness.” He means those who have a lifestyle of living opposed to christian belief are not christians. Those are the hypocrites.
Why? Because the Christian is not one who is perfect. That is only a standard that Christ our Savior has lived. In fact, part of being a christian is stating that you know you are not perfect. That’s why you need Christ.
The christian, really everyone, is not righteous. This is why we do need the righteousness of Christ. Do Christians work towards living a righteous life? Yes! But they will never be perfect until we reach Heaven and are fully transformed by Christ.
Lastly, what should real hypocrites do? Simply, they should repent. They should turn to Christ. They should follow Him. They should state they need His salvation and life changing power.
Think About It
So is someone really a hypocrite?
First, would Scripture call them a hypocrite?
Are they living against God’s standard, or someone else standard?
Second, is this someone who is constantly living against the standard of Christ, or someone who sins from time to time?
Lastly, if you are really a hypocrite, confess your need for salvation now and repent. Follow Christ.