Humility & Hypocrisy
I’m pretty sure I’ve met humble hypocrites. It is not normal because most hypocrites are super pride filled. They think they are all that. I’m not sure humility and hypocrisy can co-exist, especially after knowing Jesus. Jesus displayed incredible humility while teaching with authority.
He warns against religious leaders whose hypocrisy is quite evident. I think that there are ministry leaders even today who love are a bit hypocritical thinking that they are more special to God than others. Pastors and teachers are simply lead servants. They are not meant to “lord it over others”, they are meant to humbly lead and humbly teach. We all need Jesus – the teachers and the students. We are all sinners in need of grace.
Jesus warned people about the religious leaders of His day. There was corruption to add to their hypocrisy. Check this out…
38 Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. 39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 40 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.” (Mark 12:38:40 NLT)
I think church leaders are simply people with soul wounds leading others with soul wounds. The difference is often that the leader has experienced healing of his or her soul wounds. Jesus is still the Healer. He knows me like no one else. He knows my wounds. He knows my strengths. He knows my weaknesses. He loves me profoundly. He loves humility. He loves people who serve others. He calls His followers to serve and love like He loves.
He also speaks of punishment to leaders who pretend to be humble while secretly stealing and serving themselves at the expense of others. All Christ followers should be humble especially when we remember how much we need a Savior. All humans need Jesus including our church leaders and all who are already saved. I still need His Presence in my life every day because without Him I’m nothing… I’m lost without Him.
Pressing On!
Dwayne