Jhhemtyd Part 5: Outward Appearance Vs. Inward Reality

But the prettiness of the carton didn’t take away from the fact that the milk was rotten and disgusting.

Can I tell you something?

Far too many Christians live just like that milk carton.

They look good on the outside.

They go to church. They carry a big Bible. They have Christian bumper stickers and fish emblems on their vehicle.

They only watch Christian TV and never watch questionable movies, and only listen to Christian music.

They might serve in church and on the church board, lead a Sunday School class, or even be the pastor.

On the outside they’ve got it made. But on the inside, they’re full of selfishness and greed.

They care only for themselves and their comfort instead of caring for others and for the Kingdom of God.

They wear the mask of living for Jesus, but that’s all it is – it’s a mask.

The English word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word, “hypokrites” and means, “actor.” The literal meaning is “one who speaks from under a mask.”

In ancient Greek theater, the actors – the “hypokrites” would wear masks to display the character and the emotion of the character.

That old theater symbol of the tragedy/comedy masks comes from the ancient Greek theater.

Are you catching the connection here? A hypocrite is someone who wears a mask.

The hypokrites of the theater wore masks.

The hypocrites in Jesus’ day wore masks of religiosity.

And the hypocrites of today wear masks of Christianity.

They wear a mask to try and disguise who they really are on the inside.

They try to act like someone they’re not.

I think that there are two types of hypocrites: those who purposely put on the mask to try and deceive, and those who don’t even realize that they’re acting like a hypocrite.

I think that many times, the hypocrite honestly believes, like the Pharisees did, that they were doing the right thing. Or at least I think it’s possible.

In any case, they look good on the outside, but inside they’re filled with the dead bones of hypocrisy, and if anyone sees past the mask, they see the death and decay that lies inside the person.

Can I tell you something else? Few people are fooled by another person’s hypocrisy. Usually people can see right through it.

A rather pompous-looking church board member was trying to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. "Why do people call me a Christian?" the man asked. After a moment’s pause, one youngster said, "Maybe it’s because they don’t know you." (SermonCentral.com. Contributed by David Yarbrough)

Do you know people like that? You probably do.

And you know what? I’m not the only one in here today who can say that they’ve been that person on an occasion or two.

There are a couple dangers that go along with this whole hypocrisy thing:

The first is that the hypocrite, especially those who just don’t realize it, endanger themselves by buying into the lie that outward religion is all that counts.

They may never know the truth that it’s not religious attitudes or activities that bring life and hope and a home in heaven.