The Christian and Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is pretending to be what I am not. The author uses the illustration of an actor: for the duration of a play or film he pretends to be someone, but the audience knows that in real life he is not that person. Sadly, hypocrisy in everyday life has characterised people from the beginning of time. The challenge presented in this booklet has to do with Christian living. Are you one kind of person on a Sunday and a totally different person for the other six days of the week? Sad to say, non-Christians often have a very clear idea of what a Christian should be like; and when there is deviation from their perceived standard, the charge levelled is often, "If that is how a Christian acts, then I am glad I don't go to church". The author uses the book of Job to illustrate clearly that at the heart of hypocrisy is deadness: no life for God in such a person. Prayer, fasting and giving are all considered: probing the motives behind such actions. Sadly, the hypocrite is also in danger from self-deception and missing the blessing of Salvation.
The following quotation from Micah 6 summarises what Christians should be, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" We need to be honest and open in all things. This book is an encouragement, as the Lord enables in the power of His Holy Spirit, to live as Micah instructed.