either elongated or squished out of proportion , so the truth becomes distorted and harder to recognize .
• Then , with the truth out of focus , hypocrisy causes confusion . Like the little boy in the story at the beginning of this chapter , we aren ’ t sure what God thinks is right or wrong .
• Finally , when the truth is distorted and people are confused ( including ourselves ), hypocrisy leads us to believe lies and disbelieve truth .
This last point plays itself out in the church by causing divisions , which the Lord hates ( Prov . 6:16 , 19 ). Paul warned the Christians in Rome to have nothing to do with those “ who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned ” ( Rom . 16:17 ). In fact , his admonition to Titus was even stronger : “ If people are causing divisions among you , give a first and second warning . After that , have nothing more to do with them . For people like that have turned away from
the truth , and their own sins condemn them ” ( Titus 3:10 – 11 NLT ).
One way these divisions played out in the early church , and in our churches today as well , was by pitting one preacher against another . For example , people often tell me who their favorite preachers are — David Jeremiah , Chuck Swindoll , Charles Stanley , and so on — and then they obligingly add as an afterthought , “ And of course , you , Dr . Jeffress .” But it ’ s clear where I rank ! Now , don ’ t misunderstand me ; I couldn ’ t care less about where I rank on someone ’ s list of personal preferences . But it ’ s all too easy for Christians to start believing that the messenger is more important than the message . Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth , “ I have been informed concerning you . . . that there are quarrels among you . Now I mean this , that each one of you is saying , ‘ I am of Paul ,’ and ‘ I of Apollos ,’ and ‘ I of Cephas [ Peter ]’” ( 1 Cor . 1:11 – 12 ). But he was having none of it . He explained that Paul , Apollos , and Peter were servants of Christ . Each man
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