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This week, we commence looking at Luke Chapter 12. Please read verses 1-12 every day this week and, if possible use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 12:1-4 (The Message)
‘By this time the crowd, unwieldy and stepping on each other’s toes, numbered into the thousands. But Jesus’ primary concern was his disciples. He said to them, “Watch yourselves carefully so you don’t get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town. “I’m speaking to you as dear friends. Don’t be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies. True, they can kill you, but then what can they do? There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being.’
Over the years, while on holiday in the USA, I’ve had the immense privilege of attending some great churches. I have sat in ‘sanctuaries’ that seat thousands upon thousands of people. Some of these churches have incredible infrastructure and are multi-million dollar organisations.
There is one church that spent one million dollars on the sound/video system. It is a massive ‘business’ and the head of those organisations can reach almost superstar status.
While most of the churches have great leaders who genuinely serve God with a heart to extend His Kingdom, time has proved that there are some whose motives aren’t so pure. During their ‘ministry’ they have seen incredible growth in their churches and amass great wealth personally and for their churches. Sadly, it transpires that some of them have been hugely hypocritical in the areas of finance or personal morality.
It’s more than possible to continue in a mode of hypocrisy and enjoy the positive fruits of that deception. Many evangelists bask in the popularity that they have acquired on the back of hypocrisy. As I’ve said, they amass great wealth and fame but the warning of verse 2 is stark. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed.
Jesus is not issuing a time frame here but there is a ticking time bomb to the revelation of that hypocrisy. So many people have fallen way down the road, but if there is deception involved, you can guarantee that God will reveal it at some point. Walking on thin ice is a very apt metaphor that could be applied to church leaders who practice and tolerate hypocrisy within their ranks.
I have read many articles on churches that have fallen foul as a result of hypocrisy within its leadership. In almost every instance, someone within the leadership became aware of the hypocrisy and chose not to confront it because of fear. Jesus said to His disciples that even though they should guard against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, there was no reason to fear them.
The stark warning to us all is to steer clear of all forms of hypocrisy. To not tolerate it in any guise and to not be afraid to confront it. We may be hurt in the process but Jesus said that it’s better to be physically hurt than to damage your soul.
My prayer today is that we live lives of complete transparency. No deceit, no insincerity and no dishonesty. God calls us to be holy. He has provided everything we need for life and Godliness, so let’s take hold of it with both hands!