“Christians are Hypocrites”
As we anticipate objections and questions about the Christian faith, it will help to have what we might call “coffee shop” responses. In other words, when an objection is posed, it will be productive to have a simple answer that can keep the conversation moving along and centered on the topic at hand. If we’re caught off guard or aren’t able to engage the question or objection, then as we’ve stated, it’s okay to say, “That’s a good question. Can I get back with you?”
Let’s now discuss our first objection to the Christian faith.
Christians are hypocrites.
“I wouldn’t become a Christian because they’re hypocrites.” This is a common charge made against the faith. Here are two simple steps to initially interact with this objection:
- Level the Playing Field
- Jesus died for hypocrites.
Level the playing field.
The first response is what I like to coin “leveling the playing field.” As we think about charges against believers, we will portray a winsome, humble and compassionate witness when we find ways to affirm and identify with those asking questions or raising objections. In this case, don’t run from the charge – embrace it, then gently challenge the objector to be honest.
Yes, Christians are hypocrites, in that none of us lives up to God’s standard of holiness He sets for our lives. A Christian friend of mine once uttered these words that both shattered me and provided perspective to me. He said, “Larry, all of us are hypocrites. The only issue is what level of hypocrisy are you comfortable living with!” Ouch. Am I a hypocrite? Yes, although I’m not happy about my hypocrisy.
To your audience, the gentle challenge goes something like this. “May I ask, do you live up to your own expectations for your life? Or in other words, do you live up to even your own standards?”
Most people, if they’re honest, will admit that they don’t live up to even their own expectations or standards—much less to those of a holy, righteous, perfect God!
In seeking to level the playing field, we’re admitting our own hypocrisy, while revealing to our audience, that to some degree, all people are guilty of it.
While some people may be put off by being challenged in such a way, others will find our admission of hypocrisy refreshing. To add, this admission may also provide a healthy platform for them to agree with the obvious. We all fall short!
As we think about answering objections, finding commonalities or points of agreement can help build bridges as we dialogue. Remember that the goal of conversation is not to necessarily “be right” or “win” an argument or discussion, and it’s not necessarily to get them to “see the light.” Rather, it’s to help our audience understand why we believe what we believe, and what we believe.
Jesus died for hypocrites.
In my Christian life, I have, at times, been disparaged because of my Christian faith. On occasion, people have called me a loser. If I respond, my pat answer has been, “You know, I may be a loser, but Jesus is no loser.”
The point is that the Christian life isn’t about following me or you or any other hypocrite. The Christian life is about following Jesus. And Jesus is no hypocrite.
If someone can prove that Jesus was a hypocrite, then the whole structure of Christianity crumbles into ruin. The Bible, God’s Word, presents Jesus as nothing less than perfect. Jesus’ disciples testified that Jesus was without sin (1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5). Even Jesus, Himself challenged others to prove that He’d ever sinned (John 8:46).
But there’s more. Jesus died for hypocrites and the bible is very clear about this reality:
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).
Ultimately, although Christians can represent Jesus either poorly or well, the real question isn’t whether there are hypocrites in the church, but whether Jesus is a hypocrite. As we’ve noted, the answer to that question is an emphatic “no!”
Here are some additional resources to help craft your thinking about a response to this objection. Here’s an article from ChristianAnswers.net that provides other thoughts on this matter. Additionally, here’s a link to another article from Quora addressing the issue, providing the response from a number of believers.
To summarize, the charge of hypocrisy in the church is a personal and emotional objection. In basic terms, however you choose to fashion your response, remember that the gospel is not about my credentials nor about yours. It’s about the credentials of Jesus. In other words, the issue is not about you and me or any other professing Christian. The issue is always about Jesus—who He is and what He has done for us.
I hope this submission has been helpful in shaping the issue and providing some framework for engaging the charge in a thoughtful, civil, and humble manner.
May the Lord grant us the grace to thoughtfully address the “hypocrisy” charge, to the end that we would point people to Jesus, the Savior who died for hypocrites!
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6).