Addressing Our Own Hypocrisy Through Transparency (from "unChristian")

Considering “Unchristian: What A New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity ...An Why It Matters” Groundbreaking research from the Barna Group by Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons


Spiritually abusive systems cannot avoid the consequences of their hypocrisy. Because the system operates around the unwritten but well understood rules that prohibit any questioning of both those in authority and of the doctrine itself, any Christian spiritually abusive groups live a life of hypocrisy. According to the authors of "unChristian," young people view that "doing what you say you are going to do" as among the characteristics that they most admired. This generation of people not only tolerate little hypocrisy but also have a keen ability to identify it. The authors say that fostering personal transperancy will "disarm" this "image-is-everything generation" (pg 56).

From page 59 – 60:

Phillip Yancey, in his book “What's So Amazing About Grace?” makes his own candid conclusion:
“Having spent time around 'sinners' and also around purposed saints, I have a hunch why Jesus spent so much time with the former group: I think he preferred their company. Because the sinners were honest about themselves and had no pretense, Jesus could deal with them. In contrast, the saints put on airs, judged Him, and sought to catch Him in a moral trap. In the end it was the saints, not the sinners, who arrested Jesus.” [pg 249]

If only our view of outsiders were more like that of Jesus. And if only we condemned hypocrites the way he did: “They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden” (Matt. 23:4).

From page 61:

..."The perception of hypocrisy also emerges when we start fighting the “culture war” -- meaning we attack people's behavioral patterns rather than love them as people"...

Jud Wilhite
(pastor in Las Vegas, NV & author of of “Stripped”)

Buy the book and read more about

"Reducing Spirituality to Moral Benchmarks."

From “unChristian”

by Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons

Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2007