Question: When I go along with things my friends do that I know are wrong, I feel like such a hypocrite. But should I feel this way?  After all, I really don’t want them to get mad at me, and God knows what’s really in my heart.

Answer: Yes. You should feel like a hypocrite because you are being a hypocrite! You admit that as a Christian you know these actions by your friends are wrong, yet you participate with them anyway.  And you are absolutely correct when you say that God knows what’s in our heart. So He knows that you willingly choose to do wrong to please your friends instead of doing the right thing to please God! (See Romans 12:9)

Too often, many Christians will say they believe and love the word of God, but then choose to act in ways that go against the teachings of God.  For example, parents rightfully teach their children that lying is wrong.  Then, their children hear them lying to someone – like a bill collector – or find out they’ve been lying on their tax returns. These parents are teaching their children that it’s fine to say one thing yet do the opposite.

Other examples would be when we pray to God to heal us of sickness caused by our unhealthy lifestyles or to get us out of financial debt. We rightfully say that God wants us to be both physically and financially healthy. Yet, we choose to keep overeating foods we know are bad for us and charging up our credit cards to the max with items we don’t need!

Or when Christians say they want to put God first in their lives, then in reality put Him second! This can happen, for example, when you admire your favorite celebrities and politicians so much that you disregard the sinful causes they promote and give them your support and your vote! You do this even when you know what they unashamedly support goes against the word of God! You are saying you put God first, but by these actions are actually putting them first and Him second.

Still more examples include how you treat other people. You may say that God wants us to show His love to everyone, yet you fail to treat people who look different than you with respect. Or you fail to be kind to or even speak to people you feel are somehow unworthy. You may even fail to show God’s love to members of your own family!

In all of these examples and in many others, you are talking the talk but not walking the walk!  You are being a hypocrite and therefore not pleasing God!

But there is good news! Our God is full of grace and mercy! Because of His great love for us He has made a way for us to make our relationship right with Him. It starts with you accepting God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior! ( Romans 10:9) Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and stop being a hypocrite!

It’s true that we will not be perfect in this life — “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”  (Romans 3:23).  But we want to take steps to keep us on the right track. We must regularly pray for God’s Holy Spirit to guide us through our days so that we make the right decisions.  And we must take the time to regularly read and study the Bible so that we will know God’s word for ourselves.

So stop being all talk and no action. Start really putting God first in your life. Every day, pray to know what is pleasing to Him.  Then do it!

Amen