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What Do We Do with Hypocrisy in the Church?
By Rev. Justin Wyckoff
Many people in our community are not primarily rejecting Jesus. They are rejecting what they have seen in some of His people. Maybe that is part of your story. You have watched Christians talk loudly about grace while living with bitterness. You have seen leaders preach purity while hiding secret sin. Hypocrisy is a real and painful stumbling block.
So, what do we do with that?
First, we tell the truth. The church has failed many times. Throughout history and in our own day, there have been abuses of power, cover ups, and patterns of sin that have deeply wounded people. We do not defend these things. We do not shrug and say, “Nobody is perfect.” God says judgment begins with the household of God. Where Christians have dishonored Christ and harmed His image bearers, we should say, “That was wrong.” Period.
Second, we remember that hypocrisy is not unique to Christians. It is a human problem. Every movement, ideology, and community has people who do not live up to what they say they believe. That does not excuse our failures. It does remind us that we should not pretend the problem is only “those people over there.” The seeds of hypocrisy live in my heart and in yours.
Third, and most importantly, we fix our eyes on Jesus. The failures of Christians are real, but they are not the whole story. There are also countless quiet, faithful believers who love sacrificially, serve without recognition, and walk in integrity. More importantly, there is one Christian who has never been a hypocrite, Christ Himself. He lived exactly what He preached. He spoke truth and embodied it perfectly.
Practically, how should this shape us at The Crossings?
We must refuse to hide. When we see hypocrisy in our own lives, we confess it rather than rationalize it. We invite trusted brothers and sisters to speak into our blind spots. We pursue real accountability, not just surface level community. This is true for pastors, leaders, volunteers, and every member.
We must also refuse to quit. Some of you carry deep church wounds. You were belittled, ignored, used, or betrayed by people who named the name of Christ. If that is you, I am sorry. My invitation is not, “Get over it.” My invitation is, “Bring that pain to Jesus and let Him begin to heal it.” Do not let the sins of some of His followers keep you from the only One who can truly restore you.
Finally, we resolve, by God’s grace, to be different. We will not be perfect. But we can aim to live in such a way that what we say on Sunday and how we live from Monday to Saturday grow closer together over time. That means quick repentance, honest conversations, and a willingness to do the hard work of reconciliation when we hurt one another.
Hypocrisy is a heavy charge. Let us take it seriously, starting with our own hearts, and let us point one another again and again to the Savior who is full of both grace and truth. |
