Founded by Bryant Wright, Right from the Heart is a
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Church-Going Phonies Feb 05 2008
"Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth..." - Job 40:4
I want to write to you church-going phonies out there--the ones who look heavenly on Sunday, but live like hell Monday through Saturday. You look good on the outside but when God looks at your inside, your heart, it's a dirty mess!
I've got bad news for you. Jesus hates religious phoniness. But there's good news. He loves the phonies. He gave His life for phony hypocrites like you and me.
The end of being a church-going phony is to admit our sin separates us from God; then ask Christ's forgiveness and believe He is our only hope for change, to be right with God.
And here's the irony: when we begin to be more real with God and others, we begin to be more like Jesus. He's the only person who ever lived without any trace of phoniness.
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11 Comments
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Yes, report it Nevermind20 yrs ago I would fight traffic as I worked all hours to try to establish myself in my career. Sometimes I would pass a Baptist church on Wednesday evenings or Sunday mornings and I would watch well dressed people enter the church with bibles under their arms. HYPOCRITES, I thought!! My career did suceed, but the victories were strangely empty, and my marriage was on shaky ground. I started to search for something more meaningful, something that was real and would last. I discovered God Himself by reading the New Testament, and through prayer, a relationship that is real & enduring with Jesus Christ.
The career changed to one that has less money, but is so much more rewarding. The marriage? It became precious and has weathered some great storms with its basis in Christ. And my church? It's same church I used to make fun of, Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, where Bryant Wright is pastor. I was a "phony" when I passed judgement on those church goers. Sometimes I am a "phony" now because I still sin. But instead of sitting in my car passing judgement, I am one of those folks with my Bible under my arm, because I KNOW I need help. Help is available & it is real, if you only seek it from Jesus yourself.
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Yes, report it NevermindWhat a wonderful testimony, Marti. The more we learn of Christ, the more we realize we are all sinners who need Him. I find it makes it easier to forgive and not judge others when I focus on my own sins and phoniness.
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Yes, report it NevermindStraight talk - just the way Jesus said it! Truth said in love!
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Yes, report it NevermindAmen, Pastor. Thanks for the reminder that we are all created equal, including in sin. We should always remember that the Christian is no better than anyone else, recognize how far we are from God's ideal, and seek with all our heart to be more like the example he sent--His son Jesus.
I am also thankful that God sees me through the eyes of his precious Son, allowing my sins to be covered by his righteousness.
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Yes, report it NevermindYes so true, I try to an honest person. I wonder how many of us at least try to be honest with God and ourselves and everyone else. Sometimes you end up getting hurt because of believing some people are your true friends.
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Yes, report it Nevermindwhat you see is what you get. also, what you DON'T see you get as well. if someone loves you, they will love all of you- including a past not yet revealed. or is it?
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Yes, report it NevermindI have to say, I believe that there are a lot of people who are "church- going phonies." I also have a lot of respect for Bryant. But to say that "Jesus hates religous phonies." I belive is not true. For in 1 John 4: 20 it says that if you hate your brother but profess to love God you are a liar, for you can not love God and hate your brother. So if Jesus hates us how can he love God? And Jesus was perfect so he couldn't have hated anyone, because the Bible also says to love yur enemy as yourself.
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Yes, report it NevermindThe nature of people is to not meet expectations, even their own.
Hypocrites? DUH! That's the point. We always fail to meet the grade as far as God is concerned.
It's the basis of the whole story.
1. We don't make the grade.
2. Even with ceremonies (holidays, sacrifices, etcz0 to help us keep on track...they don't help.
3. Jesus comes to explain how to be forgiven, becomes the sacrifice himself.
4. Some people get it. Some just can't understand. But all, by definition are "hypocrites", don't worry about that label.
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Yes, report it NevermindReba - you missquoted the devotional. "Jesus hates religious phoniness" - not phonies. There is quite a difference.
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Yes, report it NevermindThe devotion states Jesus is "the only person who ever lived without any trace of phoniness." That is because He is perfect. That is where we get in trouble and become phonies. That's when we try to appear perfect and we are not. We need Jesus to complete us so when God looks down He sees the perfection of Jesus covering our imperfection. Reba, did you not read on in the devotion where Bryant states, "He (Jesus) loves phonies."? I am thankful He loves me all the time, even when I act phony.
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Yes, report it NevermindI am thankful for everyone that comes to Church...even the phonies. At least by their presence there they expose themselves- and potentially their children to biblical truth.