1 Peter 2:1(NLT)
So, get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.
Apostle Peter, encouraging the born-again Christians in today’s Turkey, told them to let go of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is simply living a life of pretense. In other words, it is a false appearance of goodness and concealing our real character. Hypocrisy is the difference between our privately owned character and our public conduct. Hypocrites present themselves to be what they are not. They would criticize and correct others for what they are most guilty of doing. 1 John 1:6 says, “So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.” Hypocrites claim to be children of God when they know full well that their lives do not measure up to God’s holy standard. They misrepresent God and seek to make Him a liar before men. Proverbs 26:23-26 says, “Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot. People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you. They pretend to be kind but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils. While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.”
The truth is, hypocrisy is a destroyer of destiny. There is no destiny for the hypocrite, and there can be no future for the fake. Hypocrisy is like pinpointing in one direction but heading in another direction. Many children of God are living double-faceted lives. What they do in the closet is different from what they do in the open. They are saints in church but sinners outside the church. What an error! Hypocrisy also hinders us from loving one another and taking in God’s Word. Thus, if we are filling up on junk food, we may not be hungry for the good stuff. In other words, if we are trying to satisfy our spiritual hunger with other things, we may not be hungry for God and His Word. So, satisfying our spiritual desire with hypocrisy is a dangerous thing. It has turned many away from the Lord to search elsewhere for answers. Hypocrisy has led many to become victims of their enemies because they thought they were their friends. Psalm 5:9 says, “My enemies cannot speak a truthful word. Their deepest desire is to destroy others.” It doesn’t matter how nice some so-called friends seem to us; not every victory is celebrated publicly. Because the celebration could fuel their hatred for us even more and lead to them planning an attack against us. Although our contemporary society thrives on hypocrisy, genuine Christians can stem the tide by living out the life we want to see in others.
Beloved, never branch off to the house of hypocrites if you are on the journey of destiny. You cannot attain a glorious destiny with a forged identity. The mark of authentic Christianity is that you do not have a different lifestyle in public and another in private. Your confession is your practice both publicly and privately. You are a Christian not just by words but by deeds. When you are at such a point, then the fulfillment of your destiny is guaranteed. Let your life express what God expects from you. Make up your mind not to be part of the hypocrites of this generation. Desist from any lifestyle that contradicts the authenticity of your Christianity. Do not be persuaded to live in ungodly character by the hypocrisy of others. Choose to make the godly choice and be obedient, letting God’s justice reign! Remember to live genuinely as an authentic believer and child of God.
O Lord, deliver me from the life of hypocrisy. Grant me the grace to be brutally sincere, genuine, and honest in all my ways in Jesus’ Name.