Pondering the Principles of Proverbs
It is a term I use in reference to Christians, not atheists.
Most pre-believers will not see it in our lives, but the saints who are pressing on for the fulness of what God has for them will.
Hypocrisy in such cases is a well-deserved moniker.
The hypocrisy I refer to, however, is much more 'acceptable,' especially among Christians. The reason it is acceptable is that it is not recognized. It is not recognized, because there is a great chasm between our belief and our actions.
That, my friend, is hypocrisy.the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform;
The rub is that we do not necessarily lay claim to some specific moral standard, but those outside the faith have their ideas of what that morality ought to be. And, if we do not measure up to their standard, then we are a hypocrite in their eyes.
Yet, if we claim to be a bible-believing Christian, then the responsibility to measure up is on us to do so.
It is here where I find so much practical atheism.
I'm not saying that we have to measure up to everything that is in the Bible. I am saying that we must measure up to that which we say we believe.
For instance, the person who says they believe God is in control and then spends their time whining about the way things are is a practical atheist. They reveal an incongruity between their belief and their action.
How about the one who says they believe that the Lord provides for their needs, but as soon as they lose their job they go into a panic? Practical atheist.
The Bible is too full of "ways to be" that help guide our life for me to list. Any one of them can be claimed as a belief but then be negated by an action.
So, it is obvious that there may be a few different solutions to this.
- Don't concern yourself with it, and let things remain as they are.
- Quit saying you believe anything.
- Attack me and say that I must be a practical atheist.
- Begin trying to ensure that your life lines up with your words (the old walkie-talkie thing).
For the one who is pressing on to know the Lord in the fulness of His glory, and the power that is available in this life, let that one begin to examine his or her self deeply by asking, "Do I really believe that what I believe is really real?"
Applied on a regular basis, that one question will begin to bring changes in your life.
Obviously, this has been a digression from my usual punditry about Proverbs. However, the writer of Proverbs spoke to this in one of his other writings--Ecclesiastes 5:5.
Thank you for your kind attention.
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