Hypocrisy

It seems today as if much of the Christian community has lost their way. They are very quick to point out sins in others and pick and chose things they want to condemn while turning a blind eye to their own faults. Many have placed a political leader on a pedestal and seem to idolize him. They are quick to tell you that you should blindly honor him because God must have chosen him while they conveniently forget  how willing they were to disrespect the former leader. They have no problem forgiving his past but did not offer the same grace to others who held that office. They quickly forgive every lie and every hateful remark and are quick to turn on anyone who disagrees with them, even to the point of telling others they don’t measure up and aren’t Christian.

I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus, and I admit that I am broken and full of things that are sinful and offensive to God. I can be too quick to pass judgement, have too much pride, often lose my temper and sometimes want to get revenge. I don’t suffer from the illusion that I know all the answers and am always right. I try very hard to follow God’s teaching and I try to always reach out in love.

I sit and watch in horror as the Jesus I follow is used as a bully pulpit to shove agenda’s and ideas down the throats of others. I watch as more and more people of faith leave churches because they can no longer find Christ there and can no longer tolerate the  hypocrisy. They feel unwelcome, unloved and judged and that should never happen in the house of God.

Today, we hear a lot about abortion and what a sin it is. I don’t like the taking of any life. I have never had to make that agonizing decision but, I know women who have chosen to terminate a pregnancy for a variety of reasons. I don’t know any who made that choice easily or who have not suffered a lasting trauma from that choice for the rest of their lives. Instead of bashing these women, shouldn’t we as Christians be reaching out to them in love and trying to find ways to assist them? Shouldn’t we be trying to find ways to reach these women before they become pregnant?

I remember a time when a young woman did not have a right to choose. It never stopped them from seeking that solution, it only forced them into the hands of an unqualified person with a wire coat hanger in a garage or basement. Many women bled to death or succumbed to a massive infection, often alone and in shame and fear.  Two lives were lost and nothing changed.

Science and law have come a long way but we are trying to turn back the clock to those dark days. Unwanted pregnancy can be prevented by contraceptives but insurance companies can refuse to pay for them and companies can opt out because of religious beliefs. Many want to shut down Planned Parenthood effectively closing doors on women. Government and many Christians think they can regulate morality through laws but, that has never worked and never will.

Women are the ones left with the responsibilities. Men, who are equally responsible for these pregnancies seem to be given a free pass. How many children are being raise without the financial or moral support of fathers? Society and Christians don’t seem to have any condemnation for them. Fathers wiggle out of court ordered child support and mothers have to fight to get the help they need. The old adage that boys will be boys seems as prevalent today as it always has been. He sows his wild oats, turns on the charm to get what he wants and leaves the woman with the consequences.

And, what happens to these babies born to moms who do not have the financial resources to care for them or the education to pull themselves up from poverty to provide for them? Are the Christians and lawmakers who want to force moms to have these children going to step up and help care for them. The answer is no way. All I hear is cut their food stamps, cut their Medicaid and make them get a job and support themselves. But, without help, how are they supposed to pay for child care, keep a roof over their heads, feed and clothe them while earning minimum wage? These moms are treated like second class citizens, looked down on and shown no Christian love.

And while we profess to care so much for the lives of children, what about all the forgotten children in foster care, the older children no one wants? And, what about the innocent children killed by an angry man with a gun, are we protecting them? Does one child deserve more care and protection than another? Is it right to strip children from the arms of parents fleeing violence to prove a political point? Where is the compassion and sense of right and wrong based on Christian values instead of skin color, sexual orientation, financial security or place of birth?

Did Jesus teach us to love one another? Are we not supposed to care for those who do not have the blessings we take for granted? Is the bible not clear about how we should treat foreigners? And, does God classify children by the color of their skin? Does He use any kind of labels separating one child from another?

Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that angels in heaven see the face of my father, who is in heaven.”

Matthew 19:4 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Many people who seem to loudly profess their Christian faith and their pro-life stance seem to have no love for little brown children being traumatized at the border. They have no compassion for Muslim children living through hell in war torn Syria or Palestine. They ignore little black children who are starving to death in Africa. They protect their gun rights and close their eyes to children being killed by gun violence. Where is the compassion for children on the streets of American cities, children living in poverty and unsafe neighborhoods and children whose parents have been sucked into the world of drugs? They will constantly remind you about babies lost to abortion while ignoring the  plight of those children who are already here. Do not the lives of all children matter? How many young women in trouble would be more apt to keep their babies if a hand of love and help were extended to them?

These are some of the reasons more and more people are turning their backs on Christ. I don’t think as Christians we are representing him very well. They see the hypocrisy and they want no part of it.