NO HYPOCRISY July 25, 2020

This afternoon I logged in to a webinar that discussed managing millennial CPAs or co-workers, and it was very informative and interesting.  One thing that stuck with me was that millennials, those born between 1981 to 1996, are actually very concerned about social issues, and would make it a point to work with somebody or with an organization that upholds the right values.  They may seem like they lack loyalty, with many being predominantly job-hoppers, but in fact, they are actually just seeking meaning in the work that they do.

This is an eye-opener, when viewed in the light of the Word today, in the epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians, chapter 2.  I believe this is the only place where the apostle talked about a slight conflict with the Apostle Peter, but with serious doctrinal issues.  Because it deals with those issues that are still resonant in our days—that of racism, hypocrisy and double-standard.  We read that the Apostle Paul rebuked the Apostle Peter because when he was preaching to the brethren in Antioch, Syria, considered Gentiles, therefore non-Jewish, he lived like them; but distanced himself upon arrival of the other Jewish Apostles.  And we get to read the Apostle Paul’s declaration of what true salvation and adoption into GOD’s kingdom really is—it is not a matter of works, or outward appearance of complying with traditions set by religious and political leaders, but a matter of faith, or a convicted heart who leaves a sinful life behind, and dedicates the rest of its days to obeying GOD’s will in our lives.

Something that can be outwardly seen as a matter of race relations and peer pressure, indeed actually is something that has a bearing on our spiritual lives.  When a person feels superior to others and looks down on people of other communities or cultures who do not share their skin color, language, financial and social status, or educational background, it might be a natural human tendency to defend against fear of the unknown and the misunderstood.  But it actually shows spiritual and emotional poverty.  When a person thinks they know too much, and therefore can sit in judgment and criticism of others who they think are less educated, less informed, and who are physically and materially less endowed, the human mind sees a pompous airhead.  But it actually shows that that person is devoid of spiritual wisdom, whose character as yet is unformed, ill-bred and immature.

And millennials, and even Generation Zs (those born 1997 until present), can see through all of that.  That is why both the webinar and the Word tells us from the previous generations to get our acts right.  We are the ones who set the stage for these two generations to follow, and if we live our lives with duplicity and ulterior motivations covered in outward acts of friendliness, chumminess, pakikisama, or fitting in with the crowd, we prove to be un-credible with our witness, we prove inadequate to teach them anything of value (particularly now that they see us 24-7 studying and working from home), and whenever we criticize or reprimand them, will only get insulted back in return. 

Maybe instead of feeling resentful or angry, this should be our wake up call.  Instead of trying to prove ourselves to the world, maybe we should stop it and instead let GOD’s Spirit live in us.  When He paid for our sins on the cross, He earned the right to be Our Redeemer.  When we accept that gift of salvation from Him, He becomes our Savior and Lord.  The last two verses say that, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of GOD, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.  I do not frustrate the grace of GOD: for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Indeed, with GOD, there can be no hypocrisy.  And if we start living our lives with Him and in Him, even without measuring our every step, we will be assured of being given the grace to live a consistent life, one that is able to teach, credible to rebuke and discipline, and worthy of respect and emulation.