Most people are disgusted by hypocrisy, which makes perfect sense, as all of us take our turns as hypocrites. Pointing at hypocrites exposes our own hypocrisy! Have you ever commented about the idiot driving in front of you, who forgot to use his turn signal, and then noticed moments later that you also failed to signal when turning? Typically, the traits in others that bother us the most are ones we see in ourselves. The word hypocrite in Greek (hupokrites), referred to a stage actor, and in the same manner, hypocrisy reflects an act that does not coincide with our claims.
Most anti-Christians are turned off by the hypocrisy of those espousing Christian beliefs. Part of that has to do with their misinterpretation of Christianity. Christians are not better than non-Christians! There will be some people in heaven who have committed many more sins than some of the people in hell. Instead, the difference is the forgiveness of Christians by the hand of Jesus, as we must ask for His forgiveness. Certainly, churches are filled with sinners. That being said, our testimonies could be much more powerful if we were able to practice what we preach. Another way of saying that is to let your walk reflect your talk.
In Greek, the word for walk is “peripateo.” In 335 B.C., the philosopher Aristotle founded the Peripatetic School in ancient Greece, where people were heavily into philosophy. People of that time frequently discussed the meaning of “ultimate reality.” The school’s name refers to the act of walking, and as an adjective, "peripatetic" is often used to mean wandering or walking about. Aristotle said philosophy had no meaning unless it affected the way you live.
What a great application this is to our Christian beliefs. If the Bible does not affect our lives, either we truly do not believe what we claim to believe or we are unwilling to follow God. Often, it comes down to sheer laziness. We continue in our sins when we try to fight that battle under our own power, alone. Following the teachings of the Bible is not a water faucet that we can turn on or off in a moment’s notice, as God does not perfect us instantly. Yet He does promise that He will complete His work in us. The path to God is a slow, progressive journey. That is why it is called a walk! Sometimes, it is easier to understand the meaning of a word by looking at the antonyms and synonyms. For instance, a walk is not a run. Nor is it a crawl, a ride or soaring above others.
Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” –Albert Camus
Certainly, Jesus desires to lead us beside still waters and in the paths of righteousness, but He walks beside us. The Christian walk is an act of friendship by our Savior, who carries on a conversation with us every step of the way, if we are willing to both talk and listen. Talking to God involves prayer, while listening to God comes from the reading of His Word! If we choose to pray without ceasing and continuously study the Bible, we will grow closer to Him!
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
Christianity should not be words, but works, as God calls us to practice what we preach. Let your actions speak to an unbelieving world! He has a calling on each of our lives. Are you walking in a way that honors Him?
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
Ephesians 4:1
God calls us to follow Him, not just to hear Him! Jesus gave us the best example, as God came to earth as a man, demonstrating how to act, live and walk. If we emulate His behavior, hypocrisy will fade from our lives. Practice reveals repetitive, learned behavior. If we continue to follow God’s laws, we will get better at following Him. Then, we can practice what we preach!
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Ephesians 5:2
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