Playing At Religion
There has never been a period since the establishment of the kingdom of God when there were no dangers facing it. The problems which threatened the early church were manifold. The New Testament is replete with mention of many of these early problems. Indeed, some of them are perpetually existent. Thus, the church has never existed during a time when there were no problems or dangers confronting her.
But what is the greatest danger which confronts God's people at this time? Can we place our fingers on any given danger and thereby designate it as the greatest threat to God's people? If we were to ask each member of the church what he considered to be the greatest problem facing the church, there is no doubt but that the answers would be greatly varied. What would you say? "Catholicism?" "Protestantism" or Denominationalism?" "Atheism?" "Infidelity?" "Extremism?" "Modernism?" "Liberalism?" Who would deny that these are threats to the harmony, peace, and well-being of the Lord's body? Some, perhaps, are willing to shut their eyes to the dangers which face the church, but such should never be done.
It may be that we can never know just what is the greatest danger facing the kingdom of Jesus Christ at any given moment of time. But surely, brethren, one of the greatest (and certainly one of the oldest — one which seems to be perpetual) is hypocrisy in the church. Or we might call it playing at religion.
A hypocrite is one who "acts a part," "assumes a counterfeit character," or "pretends." The word is derived from a Greek word (hypokrite) which literally referred to an actor or a counterfeit. At one time it was commonly applied to those who appeared in plays or dramas. The New Testament, however, uses the term almost, if not, exclusively in a derogatory sense. It carries with it the stigma of wickedness or sinfulness.
In the church there are those who are "playing at religion" as an actor would play a part on the stage. Some of the world's most ungodly inhabitants are the stars of stage and screen. In their plays and movies they often "assume counterfeit characters" of purity and godliness. This is certainly true, also, of some church members. In their lives they "assume counterfeit characters." As the professional actor has no intention of transforming his true character into that noble, pure, godly character which he sometimes assumes in his role, so it is with the hypocrite in the church. He does not intend to transform his true character into the pure, holy, faithful character of a genuine Christian. He desires to be known as a Christian. He wants man to accept him as a Christian. He may even become enraged if someone expresses doubt as to his genuineness. But he isn't willing to conform to the stipulations of God's will in order to actually be a Christian. He is content to be a counterfeit. He is content to play at religion.
If there were more Christians in congregations throughout the world and less of the "play acting" fellows, would the church not have far less worries and problems than it now has? Certainly so! It would grow much more rapidly spiritually, which would result in greater numerical growth. For, although it is true that we can have numerical growth without having spiritual growth, we cannot have spiritual growth without numerical growth following. The church is a grand and glorious institution but its grandeur and glory are marred by the "pretenders" who claim to be a genuine part of it. Most congregations need to "purge out...the old leaven...." (1 Cor. 5:7) because "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." (vs. 6)
Hypocrites today are no better than those who lived in the days of our Savior. They are still "full of hypocrisy and iniquity." (Matt. 23:28) Such still "shut up the kingdom of heaven against men." (vs. 13) They "shall receive the greater damnation...." (vs. 14) For they are "children of hell" (vs. 15), a "generation of vipers" who are doomed to the "damnation of hell" (vs. 33) unless they repent.
May each of us examine himself in the light of God's Word. Let us not claim to be that which we are not. May we not be found playing at religion.