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Tag: hypocrisy

  • The Tongue is a Fire! – Religion

    The Tongue is a Fire! – Religion

    The Fire of the Tongue, the Rhetoric of Politics and Religion

    In our previous look at public controversy in the media we began with the clash of politics, mentioning the trial of Socrates in 399 B.C. Today we begin coverage of the clashes of religion and the church with everyday culture.

    For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
    MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.

    First Letter of Peter to the Church 3:10 NASB

    Without digging a hole into some serious divisions of the church in our brief look at this opening quote of the Apostle Peter to the church, let me just remind us:

    Political parties and the church are all gatherings of disagreeable people more or less united in one thing.

    Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com

    Can you think of an application for followers of Christ in current election rhetoric for the (U.S.) election year to come?

    The church (saints or people) of this day and the past are all like you, like me and just like every candidate of every party in every country on earth. We are ALL SINNERS.

    Therefore, regardless of our politics of the moment or religion of the past, we all speak and do evil.

    The Tongue of the ‘Christian’

    But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

    Caution of Christ – Matthew 5:22 NASB

    Jesus Christ asks the crowds to examine our own hearts. So before we get to the controversy of Christ, let’s work back from Peter’s last point in this one verse [1 Peter 3:10] instructing “Christians.”

    Peter asks or suggests to followers of Jesus:

    1. If you desire LIFE, what is life?
    2. Do you desire LOVE, what kind of love?
    3. So you want to SEE GOOD DAYS, what path do you seek?
    4. Do you KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL?
    5. Would others find you guilty of SPEAKING DECEIT because you have fooled yourself?

    Do you speak foolishness in angry answers to others – your loved ones, those you work or worship with, a politician inciting opposition?

    How can you judge their speech when you do not even judge your own?

    The root meaning of deceit here is to decoy. In other words, deceive another by your words. Of course no politician would do that!

    But Jesus speaks to those who want to speak truth. When we do not, like the politicians and leaders of cultural religion we also become hypocrites, as are our accusers.

    Hypocrites

    Their audience is US.

    ὑποκριτής, ὑποκριτου, ὁ (ὑποκρίνομαι, which see);

    1. one who answers, an interpreter (Plato, Lucian).
    2. an actor, stage-player (Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, Aelian, Herodian).
    3. in Biblical Greek, a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite:

    Followers of Christ must look in the mirror first.

    If you catch yourself speaking deceit you had best shut your mouth and seal your lips. (Nevermind the hypocrisy of your opponent, just find the beam in your own eye and fire of your own tongue.)

    The tongue of Evil

    The tongue of evil could be our own!

    Paul writes to church of the Romans:

    as it is written,
    “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

    Romans 3:13

    He continues in speaking of Jews and Hellenistic culturists (Greeks):

    THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
    THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.

    “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
    WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
    “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;

    “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”…

    “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

    Could this be a political treatise against Christians, Jews, Muslims, and ANY claiming God without love on their lips even in this day?

    Like Peter, Paul also shows why politics and religion mix in a murky cloud of hypocrisy.

    How do you seek GOOD DAYS?

    What is the platform of your faith? Your religion? Traditions? Good deeds?

    Your works of goodness certainly can not sway the politics of a fallen world or misled nation.

    Do you seek an honest path to righteousness? It would be a religion of works and false morality, a religion of philanthropic leading in your own ideals.

    … and I’m NOT going to take it anymore!

    Do any recall our ‘must elect my candidate’ arguments of religion for the 2016 election?

    How will you, being evil, do good for anyone?

    My fellow Christians, is your witness for the Gospel of Christ?

    Or is your shout to the crowds that you’re mad as hell as if Christ would be swayed by the fire of your tongue?

    Perhaps your opponents think that you feign madness before the media.

    What good is your shouting into the whirlwind? For the fire of your words fails to witness the compassion of our Lord Christ Jesus.

    Mere religion and righteousness never equate.

    Love of words or love of the Word?

    Here’s a question for so-called ‘christians’ embroiled in the politics of the day: Do you have a love of words or love of the Word?

    Surely the politician loves the stage of the world. Certainly the media twists words meant to incite supporters into indictments of political opponents.

    Satan works no differently than the internet in spreading false accusation of the believer; for Christ is the only Word of love who can save the sinner.

    The Apostle John instructs the church:

    Do not love G25 the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves G25 the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

    1 John 2:15 NASB – Strong’s G25 ἀγαπάω agapaō

    Life – ζωή – zōē

    Life’s meaning described by Peter is:

    1. life
      1. the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
      2. every living soul
    2. life
      1. of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic “logos” and to Christ in whom the “logos” put on human nature
      2. life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.

    Peter points not only forward to Christ, but by scripture back to David, a man after God’s own heart.

    Religion questions God.

    May I add that the politics of the world deny God’s saving grace. By our knowledge of good and evil we lost the fruit of the tree of life in Eden. Mankind spoiled God’s paradise by disobedient sin.

    Psalm 34: A Psalm of David

    when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.

    David looks back at these dark days and praises the LORD.

    I will bless the LORD at all times;
    His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    Psalm 34:1

    9 O fear the LORD, you His saints;
    For to those who fear Him there is no want.

    13 Keep your tongue from evil
    And your lips from speaking deceit.

    14 Depart from evil and do good;
    Seek peace and pursue it.

    From advice for the saints of the Lord, David proceeds to the justice and redemption of the faithful.

    21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
    And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

    22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
    And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

    The Fire of the Tongue, the Politics of Jesus

    Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

    John 18:14 NKJV

    Jesus against religion

    John 2:

    14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

    John 8:

    42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

    54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him.

    58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

    a Word of witness to followers of false religion

    Jesus answered him,

    “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.

    John 18:20 NASB

    Jesus continues:

    “Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.”

    Truth has witnesses; yet how do unrighteous leaders of religion react?

    When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”

    Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

    So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

    Political reaction to Righteousness

    Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

    Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

    The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

    John 18:38; 19:15b NASB

    Righteous reaction to the Political

    Mark 12:

    Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay or shall we not pay?”

    coin head of Antiochus IV Epiphanes

    But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them,

    “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

    17 And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 

    Is Politics your Religion OR Religion your Politics?

    Psalm 2:

    The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

    Why do the nations rage,
    And the people plot a vain thing?
    2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    And the rulers take counsel together,
    Against the Lord and against His Anointed saying,
    3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
    And cast away Their cords from us.”

    Christ Jesus, the Messiah of the Lord God, warned of our anger against God.

    7 אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל חֹ֥ק יְֽהוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה אֲ֝נִ֗י הַיּ֥וֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃

    8 שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

    10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
    Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
    11 Serve the Lord with fear,
    And rejoice with trembling.
    12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
    And you perish in the way,
    When His wrath is kindled but a little.
    Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

    To be continued...

  • Judge Not, Advice Ignored by Presidential candidates

    Judge not, that you be not judged.

    Matthew 7:1 NKJV

    An oft quoted Bible verse

    Most people know and many misuse the often quoted advice of Jesus, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” It’s a quote probably most often used by non-believers against Christians, but also spoken in anger by christians, rather than used as Christ intended.

    Matthew 7:

    “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

    Brothers and Hypocrites

    Christ cautions against our tendency to judge others before taking a look into the mirror of our own fallen flesh. Our deceitful high-minded self-righteousness blinds our perspective and we fail to consider our own sin.

    hello-im-better-than-you

    The question in the mind of anyone confronted by our self-righteous accusations is almost always, ‘who made you the judge of my sins?’

    We all tend to believe, ‘my sins are better than your sins.’

    Although Jesus’ advice is available to all, his words speak to those who seek to do good and not evil.

    Unfortunately, Christians often strike out verbally out against others, rather than seeking to repay evil with good. [Romans 12:17] I am encouraged here by what Jesus tells us about the mercy of God, who will judge every soul.

    Mat. 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

    Who will listen to God?

    Jesus calls followers, “brothers,” and I might mention that it wouldn’t have been proper for a man to address a woman. Women, or sisters in the Lord only addressed each other, a custom still observed by some families in the middle east. It is clear here that Jesus is addressing only His followers, those who today we would call Christians.

    By the illustration of the log in the eye, the Lord makes clear that a Christian must first examine our own sins, before we judge the foibles or sins of a brother (or sister) in the Lord. To do so would be hypocrisy.

    As for unbelievers, Jesus is not talking to you if you do not believe in God. Jesus is not talking to you if you continually do evil and do not seek the will of the Living God. And He is not talking to you if you are a worldly foolish woman or man of evil ambition.

    The lesser of two evils

    The vitriolic public debate of the 2016 US presidential campaign serves as a contemporary warning of why you and I ought not begin the finger-pointing game against the enemy of our intentions. We hear their debate: ‘she lied about this’ or ‘he did that.’

    Jesus tells us that we are no better than our leaders in judging the sins of others to make our own sins appear less significant. Why would their lies surprise even one voter?

    Like the politician we are inclined to talk about sins of others rather than addressing our own need to repent. The usual debate contains more accusation than confession and we observe more, ‘sorry I got caught,’ than ‘I’m sorry for what I did.’

    A cunning politician shows little regard for God or an opponent in the path of ambition. Even a righteous candidate (which describes neither current candidate) comes nowhere near the holiness of the righteous judgement of Almighty God!

    A verse to keep Christians (Christ-followers) from hypocrisy

    [ctt title=” “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” tweet=”Matthew 7:6″ coverup=”f1e9x”]

    For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. - Matthew 7:2
    For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. – Mat. 7:2

    It’s true, isn’t it, that foolish words which pour from our mouths about others come back to bite us?

    Jesus warned against judging others, even if what you say is true.

    Right judgment of the ungodly is throwing pearls before swine and 21st c. Christians must be wary of it.

    Only One Who IS Holy has the authority to judge sin!  The LORD will judge the evil of our unbridled tongues.

    We cannot separate ourselves from the dogs of evil by judging their sins.

    When we judge others, as political back-biting will illustrate again and again, the evil ones will trample your advice underfoot. Jesus warned us that these sinners you judge will turn and attack you.

    Judgment is a function of Law and obedience

    What does Jesus have to say about judgment to a group of followers in the Sermon on the Mount? How do you deal with people, even opponents? Are we just like our worldly opponents or do we try to respond more like God?

    What would Jesus have to say about judgment in a current political race?

    [ctt title=”Which sinner will you choose for President?” tweet=”A majority will say, I would choose neither.” coverup=”2ntp2″]

    The Golden Rule

    “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. – Mat. 7:12

    Everyone knows it, even presidential candidates.

    Is this what they do? Is this how either of our aspiring leaders conduct themselves?

    “Accusations aside, even if all sins of the opponents are true, is this how a leader acts toward others?

    Do the US Presidential candidates have any more regard for voters than they demonstrate toward their opponent?

    We live in a fallen world.

    We deplore a decaying, sinful world which espouses false doctrine such as a village should raise a child or mothers may murder the children of their womb. This fallen world is real estate ruled by greedy, self-aggrandizing men and women building towering fortunes hidden from the eyes of the needy.

    [ctt title=”Our royal political families and belligerent billionaires who buy the future of America cannot compare to humble leaders who once led one nation, under God.” tweet=”” coverup=”0OYTq”]

    Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

    A Tree and Its Fruit

    15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

    [ctt title=”‘No woman or man – no president will rule over the hearts of a people unwilling to serve Almighty God.” tweet=”‘No woman or man – no president will rule over the hearts of a people unwilling to serve Almighty God. ” coverup=”6arhe”]

    debate2016

    While worldly candidates debate whose sins will disqualify, the world wonders what honor will remain for the office of President. We the people, recognize both by their fruits; and we must pray for the one who regrettably will prevail.

    God help America.

  • What’s a Hypocrite to do? – 2

    What’s a Hypocrite to do? – 2

    What does Jesus Christ say of the world who will not accept Him as Lord of anything?

    The evil ones of this world “have called the master of the house Beelzebul!” 

    Did you know that this particular name for Satan means: “lord of the house” and “prince of evil spirits?”

    Jesus said the evil ones (Pharisees and others) have accused the Righteous One of being the evil lord of this world, when in fact they are ruled by the dark powers of the enemy of God Almighty.

    Christ’s further warning to His disciples: chosen servants of the Holy Heavenly House of God, will be hated even more.

    How much more will Christ haters call Christ followers ‘devils.’

    Matthew 10

    26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

    27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

    28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell…

    32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

    What is YOUR witness?

    • HYPOCRISY that points to the sin of the world (& your own righteousness)?
    • OR Do you acknowledge your many sins and Christ Jesus before the world who hates Him?

    I am a great sinner, forgiven by a Lord greater than all our unrighteousness.

    Not Peace, but a Sword

    34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

    38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

    39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

    As for the church:

    • Premarital sex? Some of us are guilty
    • Living together in sexual sin? Some of us are guilty?
    • Homosexual sin? Some of us are guilty.
    • Out of wedlock births? Some of us are guilty.
    • Fathers abandoning our children? Some of us are guilty.
    • Murdering a child by abortion? Some of us are guilty.
    • Divorce? Some of us are guilty.
    • Putting away our Christian wife? Some of us are guilty.
    • Putting out our Christian husband? Some of us are guilty.
    • Running from Christ and brothers & sisters in the Lord?  Some of us are guilty.
    • Embracing worldly ways and wicked friends? Some of us are guilty.
    • Calling our selves “christian” and accusing others of sin? Some of us are guilty.

    By the breaking of our VOWS and the witness of our rotting fruit, we have sinned against God and the Bridegroom returning for His Bride the Church.

    We, Christ’s church betrothed, are ADULTERERS

    “in a relationship” with the enemy of all Righteousness!

    And to what TRUTH does Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior call us?

    The Woman Caught in Adultery

    7:53 [[They went each to his own house,] 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.

    Imagine, dear sister or brother in the Lord, that this is you (a christian).

    11 … And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you;

    go, and from now on sin no more.”

    Beloved sister, beloved brother in the Lord; this is Jesus’ charge to the church:

    You have been sinners.

    Neither do I condemn you.

    Go and sin no more.

    12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”