Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy: the act of pretending to have beliefs, virtues and feelings that one does not truly possess.

Romans 2:21-24
"...you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: 'God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.' "

How is it that we, as the "leaders" in this world, don't practice what we preach? Actions speak much louder than words, and everyone is watching the church and the "Christians". What they see is turning them away, and it's not hard to understand why.
I don't care if you profess to believe in Christ... if you're not living like you do believe, why should I listen to you? If you're saying one thing while doing another... if you're teaching the importance of a daily walk with God yet not giving up time to spend with Him... "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
We are responsible for the image seen by unbelievers. What are we doing to change that?

Christian: The name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus ("little Christ's!"). It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were known among themselves were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers." But as distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name "Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This name occurs but three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).

The term "Christian" is supposed to mean "follower of Christ". Yet it has become something despicable as the church turns Christianity into an elite group of hypocrites bound to take everyone to hell in their blissful ignorance and stupid blindness. Instead of a church like the church of Acts, we have become a church of politics, of personal wealth and gain, of theology. We are no longer interested in saving the Jew or Gentile... we have become our own Pharisees and Sadducees. Instead of reaching out, we are arguing the faith amongst ourselves and boasting in our own works as if that's what really matters. Who cares what we accomplish? Why is it important that we've memorized more Scripture verses than the person next to us? Why do we feel the need to play the game of "I'm more religious than you"? That's great, and you're on your way to hell, too! I'm sick of religion!!
If I were you, I would not be so concerned with appearances as I would with actually following the Lord.

Pharisee: The Pharisees (from the Hebrew perushim, from parash, meaning "to separate") were, depending on the time, a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era (536 BCE–70 CE).
Sadducee: A member of one of the Jewish sects that existed during the first century AD. They believed in following the Law as it was written in the Torah and gave no consideration to any of the traditions that had arisen since. They did not believe in life after death.

I think the best confrontation I've seen of hypocrites is Jesus' example in Matthew 23:15-33:
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.'
You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"

Do you look good on the outside, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lies? Are you so worried about what people think that you are forsaking the righteous path for the path of a Pharisee or Sadducee?

Apostle: From the Greek word 'apostolos', which means 'one who is sent.' An exclusive ecclesiastical role historically held by very few; literally "one sent," but for a particular purpose: to deliver a message.

Like the Apostles in the New Testament, we were chosen to deliver a message to the world... but which message are we really delivering? The one from Yahweh, or the compromised one from satan? Sometimes we don't even realize we've switched them around. There is only a small window of time for us to preach this message of salvation... what will you do with the time given to you?
I want to be an apostle, actively and dangerously pursuing the Lord and taking the gospel to the world.

Disciple: A Disciple (from the Latin discipulus, a pupil) is one who receives instruction from another; a scholar; a learner; especially, a follower who has learned to believe in the truth of the doctrine of his teacher.

If we are really disciples of Yeshua, determined to follow our Rabbi and be exactly like Him, I think we need to be less of "Christians" and more the apostles and disciples we were intended to be. Forget the religion, throw out the theology, toss away all your boundaries...
A life of faith is not normal. A life with Yahweh is not simple, nor boring, nor predictable. We must be like little children to enter into the Kingdom... and as little children, our adult views will no longer hinder our faith. We will move mountains, we will accomplish the impossible, we will take this message of life into the farthest reaches of the globe!

To hell with hypocrisy! Seriously and literally, it can go back to the depths from whence it came. I'm not just trying to sound cool or impressive. I'm really sick to death of all these fake people running around acting righteous and religious, and they don't even realize that in the end, God will say "Depart from me, for I never knew you."

Is it really worth it? Selah.