“EVERYONE IS A HYPOCRITE” a guy said this to me one time. This is one of my pet peeves- making blanket statements. “EVERYONE” does this. No, not everyone buddy; just you. Come to find out, this guy really was different behind closed doors than he was to the public eye. First of all, the word Jesus used for “hypocrite” was just for a select group of people. It was for those pretending religiously, to look like they fasted and prayed and obeyed God to the public face. But inside they were ravenous wolves. It is the same word used for an actor in a play; you play one role on stage for everyone to see and another role behind closed doors.
Jesus can say these things because He knows men’s hearts. You my friend, do not. Hypocrisy is not my issue. I have other things I struggle against, but that’s not one of them. Ask my family. They will tell you the truth. People who use blanket statements typically struggle with that *thing* and want to accuse everyone else of it. There is definitely one blanket statement you may use: we have all sinned and fall short, there is none that do righteousness, no not one.
“As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.””
Romans 3:10-12
Elijah told God He was all alone in serving Him and God responded with, “Not so! I have 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal”. Not unlike Elijah, we can feel all alone in our endeavors and fall into these same traps. I have falsely accused people of their motives because my motives were not pure.
I have thought I was the only one when in fact, multiple people felt the same as me or had similar experiences. I believe it’s a tool of the enemy to keep you isolated and get you to believe the lie that “nobody knows and nobody cares”. Be careful when you say “all people”, “all churches”, “everyone” or “no one” when in fact it’s been only you or just one other person. It was one church, one company, one boss who did that. It is not everyone. Be careful when making blanket statements. It is an unfair assessment and you might find yourself falsely accusing another.
Here’s a tip: commune with your own heart. Let the Lord show you what’s inside you and what you need to work on. Don’t accuse everyone when it’s just you or your one experience, “Search me, O God, and know MY heart; Try ME, and know MY anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in ME, And lead ME in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24) Then and only then can you see clearly to help another in their faults. Also, like Elijah, you are not alone. There’s still plenty of us out here contending for the faith. There’s still good churches, faithful pastors, and saints who seek to love Him and serve Him and have not bowed the knee to the culture of Baal.
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page