Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Christian Hypocrisy?

I have no quarrel with Christians who are trying to follow Christ's teachings, albeit with many failings, as long as they don't start trying to change society to fit their ideals. Then they become hypocrites.

For example, those who say that the Bible is the given word of God, and that everything written in it is to be taken literally, then claim to be following God's commands, and are praying to a group in a church or on TV. Then they flout the command in Matthew 6:5 -

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
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And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

And those with worldly goods, who claim to be devout Christians, and flout the command in Matthew 6:19 -

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
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But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
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For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

So TV evangelists, who scoot around in private jets and live in palatial surroundings (whether or not the title is in their name) are, by Jesus' own words, hypocrites. So why do Christians treat them otherwise? And wealthy citizens who profess to be devout Christians, are likewise.