I know it must grow wearying to many Jesus-lovers to hear of one Christian leader after another being accused of seriously disqualifying sins and even crimes. I become weary too, but not because I believe the accusations are false or nit-picky. No, I’m glad for any such truths that are coming out, and I’m glad criminals and hypocrites are being exposed. It’s the hypocrisy itself I grow weary of.
Bill Hybels
The hypocrisy was especially brought to my attention this time in an article my husband told me about a couple of days ago, which defended one of the recently accused, Bill Hybels (who has been accused of long-term adultery as well as attempts at seduction, allegations against whom can be found here and here and here).
The article I’m replying to, published by Christian Today (not Christianity Today) is here.
Some oft-repeated falsehoods
In his article, the UK writer says
[I]n the US, as here in the UK, someone is innocent until proven guilty.
This is a highly misleading statement, as I’ve addressed at length here. In short, a person who actually committed a crime is NOT innocent (not even until proven guilty). He is, in fact, guilty of the crime.
And in fact, if he really committed the crime, then even if he is found not guilty in court, he is still guilty of the crime. I hope those who are able to think logically can understand the logic of this statement.
The author of the Christian Today article also said, in regard to Bill Hybels:
It is vital to remember that none of us can fully know what happened.
Again, I’ve heard this one so often, but it’s wrong. Again, I’ve addressed that here. If a person committed a crime, then there is indeed the very real possibility that there are actually people—even people reading this article—who can know what happened (if not “fully,” at least enough), including those on whom the crime was perpetrated, witnesses to the crime, those who have reviewed evidence, and others such as therapists who have gone through months or years of trauma work with one on whom the crime was perpetrated.
Getting to the point
But those oft-repeated falsehoods aren’t even the main point of this man’s article. His main point is that we are all hypocrites. Christians, that is. All of us Christians are hypocrites. Which means, of course, how dare we point a finger at someone else whose hypocrisy has come to light.
Even though the author recommends a life of constant repenting, he believes we will never be able to live in victory over hypocrisy.
I disagree.
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More blog posts that address the crucial problem of sin leveling can be found here:
Four ways teaching Christians to embrace “I’m the worst sinner I know” is harming the church
“You just need to be content” — a response to Desiring God
Should you love yourself? A response to Desiring God
What hypocrisy is and what it isn’t and why that’s important: a lesson from Tullian Tchividjian
On calling people out via social media—a response to Jarrid Wilson
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What a helpful treatment of this subject and specifically “hypocrite”. Will have to keep this article saved as a ready resource.
Thank you for this thoughtful, straightforward post. You model how a follower of Christ should approach this or any issue with courage, love, and trust in the power of an indwelling Holy Spirit. Thank you.
Janet O’Brien
(Teapotjan)
Excellent, Rebecca. You nailed it, as you usually do. Thank you
Rebecca, WoW!!!
Well articulated and sadly I think this is such a bigger problem than many of us know. Thank you for highlighting the errors of mindsets that form and really DO influence other people to think in such damaging ways. I think it furthers the complacency of growth among Christians maturing in their faith and transforming into the people God calls to do a work that is not a double life and a work that He equips in us!
Rebecca, your beautifully researched work hits the mark powerfully and completely. How people buy into these so-called religious leaders’ tripe defies logic, but thank you for so thoroughly refuting their lies and disgusting rationalizations. This piece is a keeper!
Thank you, Cindy.
Thank you so much for posting this. Greatly appreciate the integrity of your writing.
Agree with what you wrote. But I have a problem with some who want to harshly judge those with sexual sins, yet have personally had abortions, and many of them in the church. Maybe this is the idea of us all being hypocrites.
I remember a friend who wanted to work in a missions office but couldn’t because she had been divorced. And yet women who have had abortions are turned down for nothing. Something is seriously wrong here.
I’ve also heard pastors be sympathetic from the pulpit, to those who have had abortions. No problem with that, except other heinous sins don’t get the same sympathy. What’s with that?
These double standards are wrong, and may be indicitive of hypocrisy. But they don’t mean that every Christian is guilty of hypocrisy.
If there is no victory over sin, what was the point of Jesus coming to set captives free, ( captive to sin) sight to the blind( those blinded by their own sin) etc.
It makes the prophessy of Christ’s birth and ministry a lie.
We do not have to wallow in sin . Saying everyone sins or is a hypocrite denies the power of the cros.
We might be hypocrites at some point but it is not a reason to continue in sin or justify sin.