Growing with Galatians Daily Devotion

Galatians 2:13 And the rest of the [divided congregation] acted hypocritically along with [Peter], so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. (ESV)

People sometimes say, "The church is just a bunch of hypocrites." They are surprised when I, a pastor, say, "You're right. The church is a bunch of hypocrites, but there’s a worse problem. The worse problem is that some of them are unaware of their hypocrisy." What is a hypocrite? A hypocrite is someone who defends certain moral standards, but does not live according to those very standards. They talk the talk but don't walk the walk. The church is full of frail humans who do not ever fully live up to their own beliefs and they know it. They are hypocrites and know it. Knowing their hypocrisy, they become humble and nonjudgmental toward others. These people are not the problem. There are others in the church who act as if they are NOT hypocrites, but they are. They act as if they actually walked the walk they so loudly talk. Believing in their own moral superiority, or at least acting as if they believed it, such people are proud and judgmental. These people are a big problem for the church and for themselves. St. John writes "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). The church is a place filled hypocrisy and the height of hypocrisy within the church is its failure to admit its hypocrisy. The church is a hospital for hypocrites, not a quarantine for the righteous alone. The church should be more like Hypocrites Anonymous. Each of us should confess, "Hello, my name is...and I am a recovering hypocrite. St. John continues, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).