Commissioned Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Q3. (2 Timothy 3:5) Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? How can we prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power? It is so easy to become a hypocrite by appearing to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. We can prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power by allowing the power of the Word of God and the Spirit of God to work in us directing us to live holy and righteous not falling to the temptation of the enemy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rambler Posted January 19, 2010 Report Share Posted January 19, 2010 Q3. (2 Timothy 3:5) Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? How can we prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power? It all depends on where our focus is. Many have been given a toxic gospel. As a result, many people's focus is still on themselves. In this condition the Holy Spirit is so grieved and hindered that there is no power or real change. It is only when we receive and obey sound doctrine that we can keep this from happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaus Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 It's easy to become a hypocrite when we think we can do it all on our own, that we don't need God's help in our daily walk. We become captives to Satan when we let our guard down, when we think of ourselves instead of others first. We become lovers of self, money, pleasure, without love or self-control. We still go through the act but there's no substance inside. I think it's our nature for us to think of ourselves first, but with daily prayer and the Holy Spirit's help we can live as the Bible teaches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Jerry Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 I think it is so easy to become a hypocrite because we like to have people think we are one thing when inside we are somebody else. We don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagleswings01 Posted April 24, 2011 Report Share Posted April 24, 2011 Q3. (2 Timothy 3:5) Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? How can we prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power? It is so easy to become a hypocrite since many people wear masks. They portray themselves as one way to others, when on the inside they are missing the mark. We can prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power by sticking to God's Word. By doing so, we will never fall away into a form of religion without power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerbrand van Schalkwyk Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? We are from the world, we still stay in our flesh, we are just renewed in Christ. The flesh will still call us, we must just resist it. When we become hypocrites, it is our ego that finds a way of venting, of coming to the fore again, just in another manner. How can we prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power? We must hand ourselves over to God all the time, allow the Holy Spirit to work in us all the time, humble ourselfs all the time, study the Bible all the time, how else can we build our relationship with God if we dont know Him. Our faith and our relationship must feed each other all the time. As we experiance God in our lives because of our relationship with Him our faith in Him and His abilities must grow. As our faith in Him grows, we will experiance Him more in our lives so our relationship with Him will grow more and more. We must be like the apostles who asked for more faith. We must keep ou focus on God and ignore our pride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Q3. (2 Timothy 3:5) Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? How can we prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power? If a person hasn't really accepted and invited Jesus Christ into their life they don't have the interaction of the Holy Spirit in their life. There is no transforming power in that person's life. There is a form of Godliness -- lipservice -- but no transforming power to change a person's life. If there isn't a true, pure, and vigorous relationship with Jesus Christ in a person's life then they aren't really hypocrites, but unbelivers attending church for whatever reason. Daily rejoicing in the Lord, prayer, Biblical study, service, and thanksgiving will keep a person's from degenerating into a "form of religion" withour power. Invite the Holy Spirit into your life to work and management every day and He will refresh and renew your spirit daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Q3. (2 Timothy 3:5) Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? How can we prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power? If a person hasn't really accepted and invited Jesus Christ into their life they don't have the interaction of the Holy Spirit in their life. There is no transforming power in that person's life. There is a form of Godliness -- lipservice -- but no transforming power to change a person's life. If there isn't a true, pure, and vigorous relationship with Jesus Christ in a person's life then they aren't really hypocrites, but unbelivers attending church for whatever reason. Daily rejoicing in the Lord, prayer, Biblical study, service, and thanksgiving will keep a person's from degenerating into a "form of religion" withour power. Invite the Holy Spirit into your life to work and management every day and He will refresh and renew your spirit daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wifee Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 3a)It is easy for us to hear,read,speak about how we are meant to live as Christ’s followers, on sunday&other days - without actually daily putting the theory into practise, "The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick. Who can know, perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind." Jer. 17:9.It is easy to put self first,believing religion,as a list,but doing something else,disconnecting, even when speaking of Christ’s sacrificial love for us, putting others down,thinking we are better than them..b)God is merciful, if we stay close to the Lord in our relationship with Him in prayer&study of his word,coming to him repenting of selfish thoughts/actions even as believers trying to live for Christ,He will rescue us&help us to inwardly change our thoughts&actions where needed.We are sinners saved by grace,and in His mercy He continues to rescue&saves all who call on his name daily,praise God.Being filled with the HS we are equipped with the power to transform our thought/actions guided by focus on Jesus &his care for others e.g giving others who are hurting the time,compassion& care needed, listening to their cries&sorrows with our eye&ears, even when they may caused us discomfort at some point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Edwards Posted December 24, 2023 Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 People end up as Laodicean Christains because they lost their first love. This happened to some of Paul's associates. Neglect of prayer life, coddling secret sins and lack of Bible study. Little by little, without pastor oversite in many cases, the believer gets side tracked. Even Billy Graham's close associate back in the 1950's went into a serious state of backsliding. Daily examen of our consciences each day. Maintaining a strict daily regula of prayerfull Bible reading, prayer and fasting. Having a ministry is another fence to maintain a steady Christian walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krissi Posted February 28 Report Share Posted February 28 When I was growing up, the old denominational churches were culturally dominant. Evangelicals were mocked … Pentecostals and charismatics were more derisively mocked. By the 1990s, the confidence of old line denominationalist leaders – their self-confidence – was shaken. Their churches had morphed into Grade B country clubs, a “form of religion” without power. They were bleeding member, had lost their cultural clout and were quickly sidelined. In my wee opinion, all churches tend to institutionalize and lose passion/power. They move to the cultural left, that is, adopting the qualities and values of the dominant culture. It’s an inexorable shift. Yesterday’s reform movement becomes today’s insipid, dead church. Churches die from the head … they die from the top/leadership down. When the leadership becomes sclerotic, the church eventually dies though endowments and habits can carry it along another generation or two. Death is thus delayed. UNLESS there is a viable, sincere reform movement – a REVIVAL! – there is no hope for these churches. New England is littered with lovely Congregational churches that were once vital and faith-filled and are now residences, theaters and restaurants. Pastor Ralph directed this question to individuals – how to not become hypocritical – but I see it as a corporate problem, too. One of the underutilized ways of NOT being hypocritical is to be a part of a congregation that is spiritually mature and alive. Good fellowship can be protecting. Insulating, even. If a believer is within a body and a small group, that believer will rub shoulders with people who MAY point out hypocrisy. More than likely, just being with other believers who are committed to Christ and spiritual growth will sorta subconsciously cause a change in morality and outlook – it will cause a person to head in the right direction, to be more like Christ. -- One more thing. On an individual level, the easiest way to not be hypocritical is to suffer. Suffering brings a genuine repentance and change. Nothing else seems to do it as well. It's a horrible answer, I know, but those of us who have suffered greatly know that it is true. If you pray to grow spiritually, to not be hypocritical in your faith, YOU WILL SUFFER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clelie Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 Hypocrisy is hiding behind a false pretence of being righteous . A Christian who is still living in the flesh will want to show himself a true Christian by behaving outwardly as a one, but inwardly is still the same old man. Believing in and living the word of God for transformation will keep us from the desire to look as Christian outwardly but inwardly still dead . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niyonka16 Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 Q3. (2 Timothy 3:5) Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? ANSWER: There are many causes of hypocrisy, but some of the most common include: Self-interest, inconsistency, blame, pretense, and complacency. It is so easy to become a hypocrite because you …: Get very comfortable with inconsistency. Judge others by a higher standard than you judge yourself. Keep your superiority front of mind and expect others to recognize it. Create barriers to others’ progress. Make a big deal out of small things while trivializing the truly weighty. Give little thought to your true inner character. Reject, or at least forget, the gospel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted March 20 Report Share Posted March 20 Q3. Although we are sinners saved by grace, we still have our sinful nature which can rear its ugly head from time to time. If we loose our first love for Jesus and slip into complacency we can go through the ritual of doing the things we have always done but our hearts is not in it, we are being hypocritical !! To ensure this does not happen we need to be on the alert every day, making sure we are doing everything with the right motivation and attitude! We need to examine our conscious daily and ask God’s help to see the things that are wrong or half hearted. Our days must include prayer, study and reading of God’s Word, fellowship with fellow believers, good works and attendance at prayer meetings etc. All these things must be done full heartedly and with love for our Lord and Saviour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldress Rowe Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 It is easy to become hypocrites because of our sinful nature. We may have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior and become new creatures but we are still in the same body. Unless we bring these bodies under subject to the will of God we are subject to do anything, therefore we cannot let sin reign in our mortals bodies to obey the **** thereof. We cannot just speak of our devotion to God and Christ but we must live it everyday. We cannot dress in sheep clothing but inwardly be raving wolves but our heart, lips, and lives must be in tune with each other. We can prevent our faith from degenerating into a form of religion without the power by totally surrendering heart, body, and soul, unto the Lord, remember that it is about Jesus Christ and not about us, studying the word of God daily, praying without ceasing, and allowing the Holy Spirit to be our leader and guide. Salvation is just the beginning as we a to be sanctified daily through the WORD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicolaas A.P. Mostert Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 Q3. (2 Timothy 3:5) Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? When listening to peoples man make doctrines, instead of following HOLY SPIRIT who must guide us through scripture (the WORD) to stand on a firm foundation (CHRIST our ROCK). How can we prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power? To be continuously in GOD's presence, to soak in GOD's presence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haar Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 Q3. (2 Timothy 3:5) Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? How can we prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power? A3. The human tendency is usually to preach or teach others some religious teachings. Yet, we ourselves do not do what we teach. This makes us hypocrites indeed. We therefore need to practice what we preach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Jerry Posted April 3 Report Share Posted April 3 It is easy to become a hypocrite because we can see others actions but we can’t see ours. We might be doing the same thing that they are, but we don’t see it. We have got to believe what the Bible is telling us. These are God’s words and they are true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted April 3 Report Share Posted April 3 Q3. (2 TIMOTHY 3:5) Why is it so easy to become a hypocrite? How can we prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power? It is so easy to give an outwardly appearance of being a Christian. We go to church, know some Christian doctrine, use a few Christian clichés, and follow Christian traditions. That’s it. But there is no substance. Whereas to live the life of a disciple requires effort; we must come humbly before Him, and hand over control to Him; our benefits are something in the future; and we are constantly aware of our sinful natures and our total dependence on Him. It is not easy being a Christian. We might want to do what is correct but the ‘sinful man’ in us, is always pulling us in the wrong direction. It takes discipline and dedication to our Lord; we have to continually be in prayer and in reading the Word; we must always be aware that our actions speak louder than our words, knowing that the world is watching us. Always very keen to label us as hypocrites. They will judge us by our fruit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). By our ungodly behaviour we show the world that we are living a lie, and there is no evidence of the power of God in our lives. But as Christians we have no difficulty in identifying the works of the flesh. We read about it in Gal 5:19-21: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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