An ancient and modern thing …
Why is it such a common practice and such an easy thing for humans to vocalize and act one way and be hiding incongruent and blatantly disingenuous behavior? From Biblical stories to historical accounts of hypocrites … people have voiced their values in one way when they were living in a completely opposite manner. Acting religious while living another way is hypocritical, and it was a sin in ancient times and it is a sin in the modern era as well.
The harshest words, our Lord Jesus spoke towards others did not have to do with those that struggled with sin but with those that acted like they were righteous when they were wicked. The writings of the New Testament highlight the coming judgment of all hypocrisy as well when there is an absence of true deeds of righteousness. Outward actions that note a person’s faith are absolutely useless if the heart and the behaviors of a person are not congruent with their faith.
It is foolish to delude yourself into thinking you can hide your sinful behaviors from an all-knowing God. There is only one way to live as Christ’s true follower; it is to live in obedience to all that He asks us to do. We will give an account for all falseness and hypocrisy.
He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness (New Living Bible Translation, Romans 2:6-8).
Connecting with Christ Daily Bible Readings, Romans 2