HYPOCRISY IN HOLLYWOOD: Pretending To Be What You Are Not

Matthew 6:2New International Version (NIV)

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:5New International Version (NIV)

Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:16New International Version (NIV)

Fasting
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

What Does Hypocrisy mean?

hy·poc·ri·sy

həˈpäkrəsē/

noun

the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; 

1. pretense.

In the New Testament, Jesus' pronouncements against hypocrisy are directed to the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day.  They were condemned because They were more concerned with the letter of the law than with its intention.  they calculated their outward appearance rather than desiring pure hearts.  Not only did they bring condemnation upon themselves, but they steered other away from the kingdom of God by teaching false doctrines, setting impossible standards, and giving faulty advice.  They sought the reward of self-glorification rather than the approval of God.  Later in the New Testament, others within the Christian church were also confronted with the sin of hypocrisy.  New Testament writers often warned their readers of this pitfall  (1 Peter 2:1).  Hypocrisy was found even in the Old Testament among the people of Israel and the false prophets.  In Isaiah 32:6, those who spread error about the Lord are called "foolish."  They practice "ungodliness" and neglect the needs of others.  the Christian church today needs to be mindful of these warnings against hypocrisy.

PRETENDING TO BE CHRISTIANS

BEING WHO THEY ARE

PRETENDING TO BE CHRISTIANS

CAREFUL WORDS

Proverbs 18:6-7 NIV
6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.
7 The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare to their very lives.


I should never have opened my mouth, “Kate lamented. “It was a foolish thing to tell Sam about our boss’s plans, even though they weren’t confidential. If I’d known it’d backfire on me like this, I would never have said a word.”  Kate knew what she’d done was unwise; unfortunately, she hadn’t realized that before she spoke.  Thinking before we speak is a wise workplace decision.  We need to weigh the impact of our words, what response the person we’re talking to may have and other issues specific to our workplaces.  We don’t want to tell a confidence to the biggest gossip in the company, even if she is so nice.  Nor do we want to hurt the feelings of someone who is particularly sensitive on a subject.  Unwise words may show we are not living in God’s wisdom but our own sin; or even if we are not doing wrong, they can land us in impossible situations.  Taking this practical advice from God’s Word and thinking before we speak saves us a lot of trouble and heartache.

IN ALL THINGS, GIVE THANKS!

Dear God:
I want to thank You for what You have already done.  I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards, I am thanking You right now.  I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better, I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me, I am thanking You right now.  I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears, I am thanking You right now.  I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves, I am going to thank You right now.  

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet, I am going to thank You right now.  I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job, I am going to thank You right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief, I am going to thank You right now.  I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed.  I am thanking You right now.

I am thanking You because I am alive.  I am thanking You because I made it through the day’s difficulties.  I am thanking You because I have walked around the obstacles.  I am thanking You because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.  I am thanking You because You have not given up on me.