“I’m not going to some church and sit there with a bunch
of hypocrites,” he barked.
To which I gently but, boldly replied, “But you are
content to stay home, ignore the Gospel, and spend eternity in hell with those
same hypocrites?”
You should have seen the look on his face. It was as if,
it was the first time the thought had occurred to him.
This is a portion of a conversation I had with a
co-worker some years ago. It wasn’t as bad as it sounds, honest it wasn’t.
We had become friends in the short time I had worked
there and I felt comfortable enough to be that straightforward with him.
All I did was invite him to church and stated that we
would love to have him visit sometime. But it provoked a strong and animated reaction.
Sadly, I soon learned that my friend/co-worker had (along with many others) been
enduring the shameful conduct of another employee who also claimed to be a
Christian. This man alleged to be very active in his local church, yet his behavior
in the workplace was often distasteful and dishonoring to God.
My friend said quite frankly, “If that is what a
Christian is, then I don’t want to be one.” Unfortunately, after working there
for only a few weeks, I understood what he meant. And even more disturbing, it
didn’t take me long to realize that he had some justification for feeling that
way.
Undeniably, not everyone who confesses to be a disciple
of Christ is truly saved. There are many who “talk the talk,” but do not “walk
the walk.” Not that any of us are perfect or sinless, but tragically there are
multitudes who claim the name of Christ but are merely imposters.
Jesus affirms this truth by the use of a familiar example.
He knew that within this world there would be those who are truly born-again converts,
and those who just “look the part.”
In Matthew 13:24-30 and verses 36-43, we learn that there
is indeed an adversary of all that is good and holy and he yearns to inflict
harm on the kingdom of Christ. One means by which the wicked one does this is
by sowing tares among the wheat.
In an agrarian society, one depending upon farming and agriculture
for its livelihood, this parable would have been easily understood. For someone
to sow tares (or weeds) among wheat was an act of agroterrorism. It was a
blatant assault against the future wellbeing of a people. There were even laws
forbidding such.
In the parable Christ shares, there was a man out sowing
good seed in his field anxiously anticipating a bountiful harvest, but unbeknownst
to him, an enemy also comes and sows tares in the field.
The Greek word that Christ uses for tares is the word
“darnels.” A common but inedible weed that was prevalent in Palestine. These
darnels were also called “bastard wheat” because they look so much like the
real thing. In fact, it isn’t until they began to bloom, or until the head
appears that they can be distinguished from actual wheat.
Later learning that the field has been sabotaged, the
field workers ask the owner if they should try to separate the tares from the
wheat. He replies by telling them no, instead allow both to continue to grow,
and at harvest time the reapers will separate them. Then the bundles of weeds
will be burned while the sheaves of wheat stored in the barn.
Christ uses this earthly story to teach a heavenly
lesson.
From Christ’s own interpretation we learn that God sovereignly
allows tares to grow among His wheat. Unlike the land-owner, Jesus is aware of
their presence. Yet He also realizes that, given time, their true nature will
be made manifest. Time will bear out whether they are useful wheat or useless
tares.
At the appointed time, when the harvest comes, He will
send His holy angels to separate them and the tares will be cast into the lake
of fire.
Readers, this world is made up of believers, unbelievers
and make-believers. Which are you?
Yes, it is true that there are many hypocrites around and
unfortunately some of them are sitting on church pews. And yes, they do damage
to the cause of Christ. But don’t let the hypocrisy of some keep you from
trusting in Christ.
Being too virtuous to sit beside hypocrites at church,
the ballfield, a restaurant, or anywhere else will not garner you favor with
God.
Ultimately, we will only give an account for ourselves.
Lewis Kiger
Memorial Heights Baptist Church
svdbygrace2@roadrunner.com
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