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| Hypocrite |
A hypocrite {n} is a pretentious person or thing.
Such a thing was a cat food shown being served in
a crystal dish, inferring the cat food was of
superior quality. But regardless if it is served
from a tin can or crystal bowl, cat food is still
cat food.
Unlike cat food, when people are the subject, the
presentation makes all the difference in the world.
For example, movie and television personalities are
hypocrites, taking their imaginary roles into real
life, pretending to be what they are not. I would
imagine John Wayne has never led a cattle drive or
had a gun fight at the OK corral. Yet, most of us
accept these personalities as our idols, accepting
the crystal serving platter as validating their
worthiness for worship. We see only the crystal
bowl they are served in.
But on the other hand, too many of us use hypocrites
in the church as an excuse not to worship. For these,
we ignore the crystal serving platter, seeing only
the disgusting presentation, not realizing they are
closer to Heaven than we are, because we let them
stand between us and God.
This should not be. This is not an attempt to validate
hypocrites, but rather to focus on how they are used.
Actually, I am thankful for hypocrites! If it were
not for hypocrites, we would not know the real stuff
when we see it. It is easy to see the difference
between filet mignon and cat food. It does not take
long to see the difference between a Christian and
hypocrite. As it would be foolish to stop eating
filet mignon because cat food exists, it is foolish
to avoid Christians because hypocrites exist.
I hope to see you in God's house on the next Lord's Day.
--Lawrence Brotherton |
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