Duplicity Revealed

God says, “Quit doing one thing while proclaiming to do another. Stop saying you believe in Me if you’re not going to follow My word.”

While it’s complete folly to say there is no God (Psalm 14:1) it’s even greater folly to proclaim belief in Jesus Christ and live as if He doesn’t exist. But this is how many who call themselves Christians are actually living their lives.

They say they believe in God, but live their lives the way they want without regard to what the Bible says. Plain and simple it’s the sin of hypocrisy, or the sin on duplicity, that is, being deliberately deceptive in both one’s behavior and speech.

In essence it’s talking a good game, it’s feigning belief, it’s paying God lip service, but with the express intent of never following Him.

Jesus said, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God’s commands with their own man-made teachings.’” (Matthew 15:7-9)

God calls these people wicked saying, “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.” (Psalm 50:16-17)

God then reveals the truth.

“You thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.” (Psalm 50:21)

What they’re doing is making God after their own image and according to their own likeness. Literally it’s idolatry. They’re determining for themselves what God is to do and how God is to act.

And God is saying, “Stop telling people what My word says because you don’t believe it yourself, and stop pretending obedience when clearly you have no intention to follow.”

The solution is simple; it’s called repentance.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)