Jesus had some very critical accusations and I don't see that this problem has changed one bit in 2,000 years.
23 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, Matthew 23:1-6
People prescribing one lifestyle while living another is something that takes the power out of the gospel lifestyle. It shows the hypocrite to be an actor rather than a true disciple.
And it reflects badly on all members of any given church because all members are then forced to deal with that hypocrisy. In the way that all us Mormons and even non member Utahns had to answer at one time or another for Prop 8.
There's nothing loving or compassionate about discriminating against people whose lifestyle and natural orientation you disagree with. So how can discriminating be Christ centered action or speech?
And there was nothing loving or compassionate about the way the Pharisees ruled Judea. They put the letter of the law above the spirit behind it. They turned the commandments or the law of Moses into a over complicated heavy burden. As many leaders in many churches do today.
Jesus said this about the law:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:36-40
So according to Christ love of God and all His children are the foundation of every commandment. That is the true spirit behind the letter of the law in the word of God. But these days as in ancient days many leaders turn the word of God into a burden rather than a blessing.
Leaders of many churches use scripture to put others down in order to lift themselves up and attain more and more power and authority. This is the fault of men not the plan or spirit behind the word of God.
In order for something to be of God I feel it must be in harmony with the love of God and all His children.
I feel that hypocrisy is about doing what the hypocrite says while the hypocrite does as they please. It's about comfort but also about power and authority in that the hypocrite orders others around while they themselves are above their own law.
The hypocrite is often the first to extol the virtues of obedience since their authority depends upon it. The only antidote to this that I can think of is to call them out on their hypocrisy but also praise the right moves when they are made.
The thing about most hypocrites is that they operate on a pain/pleasure or reward and punishment system. So by calling out or punishing them one on hand the paradise or reward good behavior and speech then things may turn around.
Likely the most you will accomplish is the cherished silence of the hypocrites. But often they snake around and tell one tall tale after another while being in full damage control when the truth comes out. Think of Pat Robertson or Bill Clinton.
We cannot control the lives, actions or speech of others but we can control our own. Jesus said that love of God and all His children is what all the law and all the prophets hang on.
But the one commandment He gave to us was this: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Matthew 13:34-35
If we follow this one commandment that will decide our status as disciples. Following this one commandment I feel fulfills the two greatest as well. That is our mission in life if we want to live a Christ-centric life. It is how we can each be more like Christ by loving others as He loves us.
