Fear Cause Two: Hypocrisy

When I purchased my first car (directly from my parents), it came with the decals and bumper stickers they had placed on it. While this might lead some people to think I was the proud parent of a US Marine, I was more worried about the fish on the car: I didn't want anyone to associate Christianity with my driving. For the same reason, many of us are hesitant to offer witness to the Gospel because we don't, for whatever reason, think we serve as good examples to the faith. We aren't loving enough, generous enough, patient enough, etc., to represent Christ well. We see prominent examples of self-proclaimed Christians acting in horrible ways, and how that turns off our non-Christian friends. Why provide more examples of hypocrisy?

One solution to this problem is simply to work on becoming more loving, generous, and patient; growth in virtue is valuable for its own sake, and it obviously helps with our witness as well. But growth in virtue is a long, difficult process, and there are people who need the Gospel now. So, we need to be honest about our failings when we do mess up. We need to be willing to apologize when we fail. Part of the Christian message is that Jesus came to save sinners, and that includes us. Only when we are willing to admit that we are imperfect can God work to change our lives for the better. And when people see God working in our lives, that's a powerful witness.

Challenge: When was the last time you admitted fault when you did something wrong? Do you show humility when you share the Gospel with others?