Christians are often their own worst enemy. Their actions never seem to line up with their teaching. Most onlookers want Christians to just practice what they preach. The hypocritical nature of Christianity seems to leave a bad taste in the mouth of everyone who sees the religion. This claim has merit because Christians consistently hurt people and commit evil against others. This could be done through lashing out at someone in anger, or through lying and backstabbing a friend. It is no wonder that some have no desire to associate themselves with Christianity.
Hypocritical Christians are a real issue. Most do not have to read the Bible to know that the central teaching of Jesus is to love those around you. Yet, this seems to be the teaching that Christians are the worst at following. This is a serious challenge for Christians to justify because Jesus said that all his followers and disciples will be recognized by the love they show to others (John 13:34-35). Yet, it does not take much thought to realize the numerous ways that Christians are not perfect and do not love others well. So, how do Christians defend themselves if they have been called to be perfect in love? How can Christians possibly justify their continuous evil and hateful actions?
The reason these questions seem like claims that defeat Christianity is because they are based on a false expectation. They are based on the false expectation that Christians claim to be perfect. Timothy Keller has a wonderful quote on this topic which reads, “the church is a hospital for sinners and not a museum for saints.” In other words, Christianity is not full of people who proclaim to be perfect. Instead, it is full of people that realize they harm others, sin, and desperately need Jesus. So, Christians claim to be broken people that need a Savior to redeem and forgive them. The reason culture seems to think that Christians claim to be perfect is because Jesus consistently urged his disciples to be so. However, while intending for them to pursue this goal, Jesus recognized that it was impossible to fulfill. It was truly meant to reveal to everyone how incapable they are of perfection in themselves. It was meant to remind people of their sinfulness and need for a savior. This reflects the central claim of Christianity, which is no one is beyond or above the need for a savior. Christians need to be rescued from their sin and evil just as much as anyone else.
One might naturally ask, then, what role do good works and actions play within Christianity? First, it is important to clarify that a man’s own works could never save himself. If someone commits even one sin, he justly deserves to spend eternity apart from God in hell. Christians believe that someone can only be saved from their sin by placing faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, his death and resurrection, as a substitute for the punishment which everybody justly deserves. Works, then, are just a way for Christians to display their faith. Works cannot save a man but a man who is saved will naturally have works. They are an outward demonstration of an inward love for God.
It is true that Jesus and the Bible consistently teach to love others and be perfect, but this is unobtainable for everyone. We are meant to do our best and look toward the forgiveness of Jesus whenever we fall short. Thankfully, the hypocrisy of Christians does not change the truth of the message of the Bible and the gospel. Although Christianity may be full of imperfect people it does not change the truth of a perfect gospel. Christians proclaim that only one person has ever lived a perfect life which was free from all hypocrisy. That person was Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect and sinless life and then died on behalf of all mankind so that if they accepted this gift they could be forgiven. So, by giving your life to Christ you are not claiming to be perfect. Instead, you are choosing to follow a God who is.
Written by Luke Radtke