The Cost of Hypocrisy
One of the best ways to help your children come to an early saving faith in Jesus Christ is to let them see you practicing your religion from an early age. If your children see that Christianity is important to you and that the truths you say you believe are really life changing truths that affect how you live then they will come to realize the importance of these things in their own lives. As they see you live out your Christianity and that living it out makes a difference in your life, they will come to know what a vital, living relationship with Jesus is. They will see it modelled day after day.
But the reverse is also true. If you say you are a Christian and say the things of Christ are important to you, but you live an antinomian lifestyle ... that means a lifestyle that is against the law (of God) ... then they will see the hypocrisy in your life and learn the lesson that Christianity really doesn't matter one way or the other. Your own hypocrisy will work against them to turn them away from Christ. If they do make a "commitment" to Jesus, it is likely to be skin deep.
If we are going to see a life changing experiential Christianity being carried forward into the next generation, there are a few things we need to do.
First, we need to be sure of our own relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot be expected to live like a Christian if we are not Christians to start with. Many Bible passages give us proofs by which we can be sure we are one of His. First, settle the doubts of your heart that your God is the Lord.
Second, knowing that you are a Christian then live like what you are. I use the term "you" here, but I am speaking generally of all of us who name the Name of Christ. If we are Christians then we need to live like we are Christians. I know this sounds self evident, but think to yourself how many professing Christians you know who are Christian in word only, but not in deed. The world can easily find hypocrites, just like those in the Church can. What is rare are real Christians, connected to Christ by the agency of the Holy Spirit and living life according to the voice of the Spirit and the Holy Scriptures.
Third, we need to not be ashamed to be seen being Christians. Christ said we ARE the light of the world. That is an indicative statement. It tells us what is. We can light the world brightly or light it dimly, but we are the light of the world. If Christ is all we claim He is (and He is), then let's let our light shine brightly for all to see. Most of all, let's let our children see it.
One of the best ways to help your children come to an early saving faith in Jesus Christ is to let them see you practicing your religion from an early age. If your children see that Christianity is important to you and that the truths you say you believe are really life changing truths that affect how you live then they will come to realize the importance of these things in their own lives. As they see you live out your Christianity and that living it out makes a difference in your life, they will come to know what a vital, living relationship with Jesus is. They will see it modelled day after day.
But the reverse is also true. If you say you are a Christian and say the things of Christ are important to you, but you live an antinomian lifestyle ... that means a lifestyle that is against the law (of God) ... then they will see the hypocrisy in your life and learn the lesson that Christianity really doesn't matter one way or the other. Your own hypocrisy will work against them to turn them away from Christ. If they do make a "commitment" to Jesus, it is likely to be skin deep.
If we are going to see a life changing experiential Christianity being carried forward into the next generation, there are a few things we need to do.
First, we need to be sure of our own relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot be expected to live like a Christian if we are not Christians to start with. Many Bible passages give us proofs by which we can be sure we are one of His. First, settle the doubts of your heart that your God is the Lord.
Second, knowing that you are a Christian then live like what you are. I use the term "you" here, but I am speaking generally of all of us who name the Name of Christ. If we are Christians then we need to live like we are Christians. I know this sounds self evident, but think to yourself how many professing Christians you know who are Christian in word only, but not in deed. The world can easily find hypocrites, just like those in the Church can. What is rare are real Christians, connected to Christ by the agency of the Holy Spirit and living life according to the voice of the Spirit and the Holy Scriptures.
Third, we need to not be ashamed to be seen being Christians. Christ said we ARE the light of the world. That is an indicative statement. It tells us what is. We can light the world brightly or light it dimly, but we are the light of the world. If Christ is all we claim He is (and He is), then let's let our light shine brightly for all to see. Most of all, let's let our children see it.
posted by John | Friday, November 09, 2007
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