Hypocrite: What does this word mean to you?

I don't think I would say our Baptist churches are "filled" with hypocrits...or play-actors. Yes, all churches have them to some extent.

For the most part, I think our people are genuine in their desire to know and please God. They just want to do so without the responsibility of being growing disciples. Maybe they don't know how. Maybe they as so involved in the world that it is hard to break the hold. Maybe some of them are tares among the wheat.

Remember that the church is like a hospital for those who are sick...not a trophy case for perfect people to be displayed.

 

One other thing...I think one of the major issues in our churches is that the Bible does not affect the way our people live and think. Somehow, they have missed it.

 

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hypocrite

one who puts on a mask and feigns himself to be what he is not; a dissembler in religion. Our Lord severely rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy (Matthew 6:2,5,16). "The hypocrite's hope shall perish" (Job 8:13). The Hebrew word here rendered "hypocrite" rather means the "godless" or "profane," as it is rendered in Jeremiah 23:11, i.e., polluted with crimes.

crosswalk.com

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Hypocrisy; Hyprocrite

2) "Hypocrisy," "hypocrite" are frequent in the New Testament, chiefly in Christ’s discourses in the Gospels. The word hupokrisis (primarily, "an answer," "response") meant generally, in classical Greek, stageplaying, acting, the histrionic art; hence, it came to mean acting a part in life, (snip) to pretend," "to feign,"
"Hypocrisy" (hupokrisis) occurs in Mt 23:28; Mr 12:15; Lu 12:1; 1Ti 4:2; 1Pe 2:1 (in Ga 2:13 it is rendered "dissimulation"); "hypocrite" (hupokrites), Mt 6:2,5,16; 7:5; 15:7; 22:18; 23:13,15,23,25 ff, 29; 24:51; Mr 7:6; Lu 12:56; 13:15; in Jas 3:17, anupokritos is "without hypocrisy," so the Revised Version (British and American), Ro 12:9 ("unfeigned," 2Co 6:6; 1Ti 1:5; 2Ti 1:5; 1Pe 1:22).


Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament WordsHypocrite

1 Strong's Number: 5273 Greek: hupokrites
corresponding to the above, primarily denotes "one who answers;" then, "a stage-actor;" it was a custom for Greek and Roman actors to speak in large masks with mechanical devices for augmenting the force of the voice; hence the word became used metaphorically of "a dissembler, a hypocrite." It is found only in the Synoptists, and always used by the Lord, fifteen times in Matthew; elsewhere, Mar 7:6; Luk 6:42; 11:44 (in some mss.); 12:56; 13:15.


Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament WordsHypocrisy1 Strong's Number: 5272 Greek: hupokrisis
primarily denotes "a reply, an answer" (akin to hupokrinomai, "to answer"); then, "play-acting," as the actors spoke in dialogue; hence, "pretence, hypocrisy;" it is translated "hypocrisy" in Mat 23:28; Mar 12:15; Luk 12:1; 1Ti 4:2; the plural in 1Pe 2:1. For Gal 2:13 and anupokritos, "without hypocrisy," in Jam 3:17, see DISSIMULATION.

blueletterbible.org


HYPOCRITE

n : a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he does not hold [syn: dissembler, phony, phoney, pretender]


hy·poc·ri·sy ( P ) Pronunciation Key (h-pkr-s)
n. pl. hy·poc·ri·sies
The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.
An act or instance of such falseness.


hypocrisy

n 1: an expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction [syn: lip service] 2: insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have

dictionary.com

According to definations of hypocrite, in the context of christianity, it is someone who professes to be a christian but is not. Many 'play' church, most are not saved, some are and for some reason do not take it seriously (some may have other opinions on this, I'm open to changeing opinions here). Why? I think possibly they are fooled by satan into thinking they are who they think they are. If they believe themselves to be christians, they will never beleive they have to be saved, they think they already are.


Bible says,

Job 8:13
So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

Job 13:16
He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

Job 17:8
Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

Job 20:5
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

Job 27:8
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

Job 34:30
That the hypocrite * * reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

Pr 11:9
An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

Isa 9:17
Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Mt 7:5
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Lu 6:42
Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

Lu 13:15
The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering ?


Isa 32:6
For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

Mt 23:28
Even so ye also * * outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Mr 12:15
Shall we give, or shall we not give ? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

Lu 12:1
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

1Ti 4:2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Jas 3:17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure *, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

 

So your defination of hypocrite is?

It is a dangerous word to play with, generally people use the word of anyone they disagree with. They generally base their judgements on themselves as what a 'christian' should be. When the rule of measure should never be ourselves,a s we are just as flawed as the person we like to call hypocrite, we just refuse to judge ourselves as we do others. The measure by which we judge should be Jesus Himself. We all fall short.
Please give scripture, or links that use scripture so we can all seek to understand your view.

 

Hypocrite: All members of the genus Homo and especially of the species H. sapiens.

 

hypocrite = liar = hypocrite

 

I'm sure, as has already been stated, that there are hypocrits in every church.

However, it's God's job, not ours, to decide who is and is not and it is God's job to convict them since we really have no way of knowing another's heart. Just like it is not our job to decide who is saved and who is not.

I don't think the word hypocrit has changed it's meaning since Biblical days.

I've heard people, who will not come to church, say, "I don't want to be around all those hypocrits".

I sure hope those people are saved, cause if not they're going to Hell, and there are gonna be a lot more hypocrits down there than they'll ever find inside a church building!

 

You know what, I do not see anyone on this board as having ultimate authority in scripture, not one can perfectly interpet scripture(that would be first, no one else can do it). So therefore what others have said means nothing as far as biblical authroity. Otherwise I'd be Catholic.

 

The application of hypocrisy today would be no different than at any other time. It is when we as people go about to establish our own righteousness, being unrighteous. Not only that, but it becomes even more ludicrous when we begin to enforce our "righteousness" on those around us.

 

Let me give you an example:

I had a pastor some years ago that brought a form into a Sunday evening service. This form was an agreement between every member and God (that is how it was worded). We all signed on the dotted line that we would not attend the theatre or even rent movies from a video store. I was young and naive and signed the form.

On more than one occasion, our pastor was seen in the video store himself renting movies. He wasn't sinning by renting a movie. He was sinning by being a hypocrite and enforcing his idea of righteous on everyone else.

It would have been best for him to have simply taught or preached of the dangers that can be involved in going to the theatre rather than enforcing a rule. One that he didn't even keep himself.

This is what I meant by many fundamentalists having mandates. These hard-fast rules make hypocrites out of well-intentioned people.

 

Theres the problem, people trying to force their idea of righteousness on others,whether they are willing to live that way themselves or not.

 

I believe the ultimate definition of hypocrite is found in Exodus 20:7 "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." For years I thought, like many other people, that this was in reference to swearing. Obviously, God is not impressed by those who use Him name to curse things, but this verse is referring to those who claimed the name of Jehovah without belonging to Him. Hence, a hypocrite. How many people today claim to be a "Christian", but when you ask them a few questions, it becomes clear that their definition of Christian is far different from the Bible's. Just my two cents worth.

 

The one thing about hypocrisy that has always stood out to me is that most people claim that a hypocrit is someone who says one thing and does another. They say someone who says lying is a sin and then lies is a hypocrit. I just can't follow that reasoning. That would make everyone in the history of the world a hypocrit. To me, a hypocrit is someone who says they don't lie and then lie. They falsely represent themselves.