Who Are You?

Hypocrite. We hear that word a lot, especially from people that do not attend church.  "I don't want to go there. They are all hypocrites."  Why do they say that?  What do they mean? What is a hypocrite?  If you were to ask a group of people what a hypocrite is, you may get some of the following answers:

1. Acts one way one place and another way a different place
2. Says one thing but does another thing
3. Has multiple faces
4. Everything to everyone
5. Portrays something they are not
6. Fake
7. "A hypocrite is someone whose actions are different from their stated belief."

Do you know anyone who is like this?  Have you seen a this kind of trend on social media?  Mom is always doing the perfect thing and saying the perfect thing.  Her kids eternally love her and she can do no wrong.  Yet, if you were to visit her home, it's a very different story. 

I'm not saying that we have to flaunt all our garbage in front of the world, but I don't think we have to flaunt a world that is not ours.  With social media the way it is, many of us feel the pressure to have and portray that perfect family.  We need to stop.  We need to be real.  We have real needs.  Bad things happen to us.  We make mistakes.  We don't need to be fake.

What does Jesus say about hypocrisy?

In Matthew 23:5-26. He says "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,"

Jesus HATES it.  He warns of the danger.  When people find out that you are not really you, they can't trust you.  Ask yourself:  Is your online image consistent with the image you project at home or at church? 

So what should we do?  Should we post about all the problems and pictures of our messed up lives?  I would say, step away from the competition.  Step away from all the media and work on the inside.  As Jesus said "Cleanse first that which is within."  Spring-clean your heart.  Get into the Book (Bible) before you get on Facebook.  Post what God is doing with you.  Be real.  Ask for prayer.  Show pictures of your lovely family moments, but don't be fake. 

What about hanging out with your friends?  Do you act "spiritual" with your "Christian" friends and ungodly with your worldly friends?  Who are you?  You need to find that out.  Are you God's girl?  If so, you need to act it around all your friends.  Don't be a fake.  Christians make mistakes.  Be open and transparent.  Let your friends see that you need Jesus and that He is the one to help clean up your mess. 

Figure out who you are.  Then, cleanse your heart  and let the beauty of God be revealed in your life. - Rejoicing in the Present