Topic: Christian Living
Theme: Honest Christian Living
Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness calling God’s people in my care to develop honest relationships with God.
Response: In preparation for Communion, individuals will examine their relationship with God with the questions I provide at the end of the message.
Pattern: A contrast between hypocritical religion and honest relationships with God.
INTRODUCTION
“The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.”
Citation: Karl Rahner, quoted in the Wittenburg Door (June/July l988). Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 8. © 2001 PreachingToday.com / Christianity Today, International
DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT? DO YOU THING JESUS WOULD? LET ME READ IT ONE MORE TIME. LISTEN CLOSELY AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
“The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.”
Citation: Karl Rahner, quoted in the Wittenburg Door (June/July l988). Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 8. © 2001 PreachingToday.com / Christianity Today, International
ARE HYPOCRITES THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF ATHEISM?
Jesus seemed to think so. He said that --
HYPOCRITICAL RELIGION…
1. Plays at clean living but produces A DIRTY SPIRIT.
[39] (Jesus told the religious people of his day), "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. [40] You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? [41] But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
Hypocrisy focuses on the things others can see and forget that God can see everything about them.
2. Worries about what others may think and wants to be PERFECT.
Jesus said: [42] "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.”
Hypocrisy wants to be noticed and admired. It tends to be so detail oriented that it misses the things that really matter.
3. Finds the LOOPHOLES in regulations in order to avoid obeying them.
[46] Jesus (said), "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.”
Hypocritical religion loves a long list of rules. The longer the list the easier it is to find loopholes.
4. Honors heroes of the past but rejects God’s work in the PRESENT.
[47] "Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them. [48] So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. [49] Because of this, God in his wisdom said, `I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ [50] Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, [51] from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
[53] When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, [54] waiting to catch him in something he might say.
Hypocritical religion focuses on the past in order to avoid being confronted by God’s truth in the present.
5. Seeks a “deeper” message in the Bible in order to be in CONTROL.
Jesus also said: [52] "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Hypocritical religion wants to “play God” and seeks to manipulate others and to control life. They always fail.
Jesus said we should seek an HONEST RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD that --
1. Recognizes there are no SECRETS and produces a clean spirit and life.
[1] …Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [2] There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. [3] What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
An honest relationship with God avoids trying to keep secrets.
2. Relaxes in God’s love knowing others cannot ULTIMATELY HARM THEM.
Jesus went on to say: [4] "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. [5] But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. [6] Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. [7] Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
An honest relationship with God recognizes the limits of what others can do and rests in God’s love and care.
3. Praises and worships God for all He DOES.
Jesus went on to say: [8] "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. [9] But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.”
An honest relationship with God is based on the joy of praising and worshipping Him.
4. Determines to be loyal to JESUS no matter what the cost may be.
5. Trusts THE HOLY SPIRIT to guide and direct through the Bible.
Jesus tells us that [11] "When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, [12] for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
An honest relationship with God depends on Him and His power.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Hypocritical religion makes God SICK but he longs for an honest relationship with YOU.
CONCLUSION
John Olerud, New York Mets first baseman says, “[When I first became a Christian,] I thought I had to get my life all perfect, and then I could share my Christianity. It never occurred to me (that) God sees us as a work in progress. I was concerned with seeming as if I had everything really squared away, so I wouldn’t look like a hypocrite. As I began to see testimonies lived out in other people’s lives, I started to understand we are headed toward Christ.... The realization that I didn’t have to be perfect strengthened my faith.”
Citation: John Olerud, New York Mets first baseman "Miracle Met," Sports Spectrum (July/August 1999), pp.22-25© 2001 PreachingToday.com / Christianity Today, International
How can you develop an honest relationship with God? How can you develop a relationship with God that’s free of fear and hypocrisy? Let me suggest three ways to get started.
1. Examine your ATTITUDES toward God.
Are trying to keep secrets from God?
Are your choices based on God’s love or what OTHERS may think?
Are you excited about worshipping God? Or is it a ROUTINE DUTY?
Are you DETERMINED to be loyal to Jesus?
Are you relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance or SOMEONE ELSE?
2. Confess and turn away from anything HYPOCRITICAL.
3. Trust God to make you clean from the INSIDE out.
RESPONSE TIME
1) Please take a few moments right now to examine your relationship with God. Look over the questions listed on the message notes.
2) Are trying to keep secrets from God? Are your choices based on God’s love or what others may think? Are you excited about worshipping God or is it a just a duty you feel obligated to keep? Are you determined to be loyal to Jesus? Are you relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance or someone else?
