Written Monday, July 28, 2008
Hypocrisy, Wisdom, & Elitism
Category: Life
Hypocrisy, Wisdom & Elitism
I have had some moments to reflect on some of the above words (actually a lot of time to reflect on all kinds of things). These words are used sometimes in jest or passing and have powerful meaning. I recently heard a teaching that dealt with some of these exact issues. I have also formed some strong Opinions about these things..
Hypocrisy Definition (Merriam Websters)
Main Entry:
hy•poc•ri•sy
Pronunciation:
..hi-ˈpä-krə-sē also hī-..
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural hy•poc•ri•sies
Etymology: Middle English ypocrisie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrisis, from Greek hypokrisis act of playing a part on the stage, hypocrisy, from hypokrinesthai to answer, act on the stage, from hypo- + krinein to decide — more at certain
Date: 13th century
1: a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
Statistics say that 89% of non-Christians believe that Christians are Judgemental. The same studies show that non-Christan's also believe that 85% of Christians are hypocrites. (sorry to repeat myself as I have mentioned this in other blogs). Let me elaborate for a moment. The Bible says "judge not lest we be judged" "Let he who has no sin cast the first stone". Lest I should forget that I to am a sinner in need of Grace. I have made terrible mistakes in my life. I will never achieve the perfection that I desire. I desire to be like Jesus. To be more like Jesus, to me, is to Love people more. To love people and hate sin. To show the Grace that has been extended to me. To hate sin not just because it is sin but because of the damage, hurt, pain and misery sin causes in our lives. Sins of all kinds abound in our modern world. We could go on and on about what might deemed a sin and what might not be a sin. That is not my place to say. We have been given an owners manual for life that is inspired, and God breathed. The Bible. The Bible directs us where, what, when and how to live. Only God can be the Judge of ones life and the lives of those around us. I am to Love people and hate the sin. A Christian in my humble opinion, should glow with the Holy Spirit and Love, so much so that the non believer would see the light in the believer and want what the believer has. I am to live by example. I am to Love as Christ did with Grace.
It is easy for a person to get into a walk with God and to begin to see Sin in a different light. It is much easier to point out the sin of others than it is to recognize our own sin. I have been involved in churches all my life. I know what it is like to feel looked down upon, to feel as though you are being judged. I understand it at a deep level. I also know what it feels like to be convicted by the spirit of my own sin. Often times I had mistaken these things. I have felt the judgement of others only to realize later on that it was not their self righteousness but the spirit in me, convicting me of where I was wrong. It is imperative for the believer to walk in the spirit in order to be guided in such a way as to recognize these differences. I am an idealist by nature. It is part of who I am. Being an idealist comes with its benefits and its downfalls. The benefit is that when I am in my walk I am almost always in the spirit. The downside is that I can never live up to be the ideal Christian. None of us can be the "Ideal" Christian or we would not need Grace and there would be millions of Jesus's walking the earth. It is impossible. As a member of the body of Christ I have not nor will I allow myself to be that self righteous person. I despise it, for self righteousness is a sin, a sin I hate a lot. It casts a shadow over the church that prevents our light from shining out onto those whom are not saved.
Wisdom Definition (Merriam Websters)
Main Entry:
wis•dom
Pronunciation:
..ˈwiz-dəm..
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Old English wīsdōm, from wīs wise
Date: before 12th century 1 a: accumulated philosophic or scientific learning : knowledge b: ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight c: good sense : judgment d: generally accepted belief Darnton>2: a wise attitude, belief, or course of action3: the teachings of the ancient wise men
It has been said that "Wisdom is meaningless" It might be said that Wisdom leads to elitism which is a form of self righteousness. I say that Wisdom applied equals Knowledge..
Knowledge is ----((1): the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association)
In other words, Wisdom applied is knowledge, and without knowledge wisdom is meaningless. Wisdom by itself is knowing whats right and wrong, knowledge is learning to apply the wisdom to ones own life (notice I said ones own life refer to above hypocrisy section). Knowledge is meaningless without the knowing Christ, and wisdom is meaningless without the knowledge of God. I believe that the things I have learned are wisdom, and if I do not apply these things in my own life, my Wisdom would be elitist or self righteousness. Instead my Wisdom is becoming my Knowledge. I know fully that the Wisdom of the Bible would suggest that we would all learn to be like Christ, yet knowledge also shows that we will all fail. Knowledge also shows me that in spite of my Sin Condition I must run the race. Wisdom would tell me what the ten commandments are, Knowledge would allow me to apply those commandments to my life. Again not to forget that the only perfect Human was Jesus. My need, Our need for Grace and a personal saviour does not diminish in any way as our/my wisdom/knowledge grows. I/We are not saved by Wisdom or Knowledge. We are saved by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
I learn more and more as I read the infallible Word of God. As a Christian the Holy Spirit came into my life and guides me when I am willing to listen. I have a personal choice. We are given a free will to decide. Sometimes it takes being completely broken as I am/was in order to make the right choice. Jesus is a mender of the broken. If you are broken maybe it is your turn. He brought me to my knees. My decisions in life brought me to complete brokeness. It is then that I surrendered all.. I pray for those that I love that they don't have to be broken to reach the right decisions, the right choice. The choice to surrender it all, everything, leaving nothing unturned or unseen. If you are broken know that He is your healer, ready to give you victory in Christ!
Much Love to you through Grace In Him
sMitty
Romans 8:28 (look it up if you have not read it or know it)
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