Before any of us criticize someone for their hypocrisy, we must first admit and deal with our own, as it is likely lurking in the shadows of our hearts. The constant battle with our sinful nature makes us seem like one person in public and another in private. We act like someone’s friend to their face, then smear their name through the mud when talking to others.
“Do as I say, not as I do” could also describe us from time to time, especially with our children. If it’s not okay for them to see a violent and profane R-rated movie, why is it okay for us? Is God’s Word not clear on what we should allow before our own eyes?
We are all hypocrites to some degree. There is only one question we have to ask ourselves: When will we finally admit to being a hypocrite (if we ever do) and try to change?
For years I have been asked by people (usually those who don’t support our ministry) why we don’t help the poor here in America. After all, we have plenty of people in need here, right? This question would peeve me a bit, as poverty in America as a whole absolutely pales in comparison to the slums, war zones, and famine-ravaged lands around the world – and by a long shot, I might add. I’ve seen the comparison numerous times with my own eyes and can prove that it’s worse elsewhere.
In response, I would take the scriptural “high ground” against these accusers by quoting Acts 1:8. This is Jesus’ last command to His disciples, and subsequently to us who believe:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
I would then ask the self-righteous, America-first lover (my holier-than-thou label for them) if they were being obedient to this verse by supporting the work of God “to the ends of the earth”. Their answer was usually no. And in my defense, they did seem to show blind favoritism to helping those in the U.S. while ignoring those in the rest of the world. Yet, while there is a measure of justification in believing that their viewpoint is wrong, I had a bigger problem personally. One day I finally realized that I had another issue larger than my attitude. I was being a bigger hypocrite than they were.
While the critics were being disobedient to 25% of Acts 1:8, I was being disobedient to the other 75%. Specifically, I wasn’t sharing the love of Christ in my Jerusalem, Judea, or Samaria.
I am thankful to say that I finally woke up, swallowed my pride, and admitted I was wrong. Since 2013, Feed the Hunger has been helping the needy in America too. We are now 100% in line with Jesus’ final words. While poverty is generally “worse” in other countries, the comparison is irrelevant. Jesus’ command is geographical in nature and not bound by our perception of the level of need.
It “only” took me almost 20 years for my hypocrisy in this area to come to an end. As a result, this experience has also caused me to pause and look at the rest of my life. Maybe you can learn from my mistake, examine your own heart with humility, and heed Jesus’ rhetorical question in Matthew 7:3…
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye
and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”