Religious Hypocrisy

Statement

I'm a Baptist Minister. I have a Masters degree in biblical counseling. One of my co-workers once described me to another person as, "The most religious guy I know." Yet even I, a devout Christian who loves the Lord with all my heart, know when religion is being misused and when religious hypocrisy has reached an all time high. It's presenting itself as concerned citizens, righteous groups, and holy politicians, but results in forced ultrasounds on pregnant women in hopes of manipulating their decisions about abortions. But as the saying goes, the devil is in the details.

Having spent quite a bit of time as a religious hypocrite myself, I feel qualified to share a few signs of hypocrisy with you. First, hypocritical thinking is never logical or consistent. Second, hypocrisy will always impose things on others that it will never face itself. And third, religious hypocrisy will always view itself as "better" than others and will misuse scriptures to justify its deeds.

It's hypocritical to cry, "We want small government and we want government out of our lives" yet impose that same government into the lives of others. It's hypocritical to sue the federal government for "forcing healthcare coverage on others" yet use that same government to force healthcare procedures on women. It's hypocritical to consider legislation to make an unborn baby a person, yet at the same time push legislation to deny that very person citizenship because their parents may be illegal. After all, if it's not the baby's fault if the parent becomes pregnant, then it's also not the baby's fault for being born in America.

Forced ultrasounds meet all the tests of hypocritical laws. It shows thinking that isn't logical or consistent. It imposes something on others that its supporters would never have to face. It misuses the scriptures and the gospel itself in an attempt to manipulate others into making a particular decision.

I've grown enough spiritually to recognize hypocrisy, and I want no part of it. My job as a person of faith is to first live out that faith myself, second to witness in love, not in force, about that faith, and third, to allow others to make their own decisions just as my heavenly Father allows me to make mine. After all, if the influence of my faith doesn't change people, then passing laws to manipulate them won't either. Why? Because force and manipulation are only necessary where influence has failed. And religious influence is not the job of the government. It's the job of the church. So as believers, let's get out of the business of force and manipulation, and into the business of influence.

After all, this is exactly how Jesus Christ operated.

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