by Aaron Jeffries

Created on: July 21, 2010

There are a million excuses to not do something.  We've all heard them.  How someone can't come over because they aren't feeling quite right.  Or maybe their shoes are in desperate need of organizing.  We've all been guilty of it at one time or another.  We don't really want to do something, so we convince ourselves why it's in our best interest not to do it.  Generally, we honestly believe what we're saying.

Church is probably one of the most popular things to make an excuse for.  Christians and non-Christians both talk of sinners at church.  Attendance dwindles because of claims of hypocrites showing up on Sunday mornings.  And superficially, that all sounds legitimate. Who wants to go worship God on Sunday morning surrounding by people still hungover from their Saturday night of sin?  It doesn't take much of an imagination so see how that might ruin the Sunday morning experience.

Of course, when you actually use the Bible (and your head) and examine these claims, well, they don't hold much water.  In fact, such a scenario could arguably make the accuser of hypocrisy the biggest hypocrite of all.  Christianity at it's core is very simple, and this core is the same across all denominations.  Before one even accepts Christ as their savior, they must come to the realization that they are a sinner.  Romans 3:23 says, "For all sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  All have sinned. All.  Does that include the 'sinner' at church?  Yes.  Does that include you?  Yes (*gasp*)!  

The next thing that is quickly pointed out is how the 'sinner'/'hypocrite' is much worse.  How they may only being going to church just to be seen, or how they'll still live their life of sin unrepentant.  Again, superficially, that all sounds good.  I guess I just haven't read that part of the Bible where it says that Christians are supposed to judge others.  I have, however, read the exact opposite: Matthew 7:1 says, "Judge not, that you be not judged."  So by passing judgement on these 'sinners', on these 'hypocrites', are we not also sinning and becoming hypocrites?

The most important thing to remember, though, is that we don't know people's hearts.  Only God knows our hearts. 1 Samuel 16:7b says, "...man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."  Maybe this 'sinner'/'hypocrite' is honestly trying (even if mostly

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