The following are a few notes from a lesson I heard on 6/11/23.
The speaker defined a hypocrite as someone who says one thing and does another.
This statement misses a little bit of the point of what it truly means to be a hypocrite. The speaker gives multiple definitions of what a hypocrite is and I think this is useful.
Practical Takeaway: Someone who says one thing and does another is an example of a person who simply fails. And simple failure is not the same as actively being a hypocrite.
I think a more rounded definition of what a hypocrite is is a person who preaches one standard of behavior and then lives according to a completely separate standard of behavior.
A good example of this is a person who preaches about the danger of climate change and the importance of controlling greenhouse gases while still flying in their private jet, such as Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The speaker makes a comment that some people come forward to repent for the show of it.
This is very true. We’ve mentioned this a little bit in the problems with youth groups. Much of what happens that is called repentance at many hormone rallies is really just a show. People repent, they know they will get lots of support, hugs, and love from the rest of the group, but they do not actually try to change their behavior.
That is an excellent example of repentance for show. And this is what many people are guilty of.
Later the speaker takes the time to define a functional atheist. A person who prays if no one else is on the other end of the prayer. I like this definition and find it very interesting. It is reminiscent of the Jordan Peterson line when asked about his belief in God where he says that “I act as if God exists, which I believe is the definition of belief”.
In our lives, we need to act as if God is listening, is aware, and is going to answer our prayers. Whether or not those are answered with an affirmative or negative is up to his discretion.
Near the middle of the lesson, the speaker makes the statement that “You cannot survive physically without God”. I did not find this to be a particularly compelling argument. Because many people live physically without God, so it would seem. Or perhaps it is true and this is one of the ideas conveyed by the passage stating “God sends rain on the just and on the unjust” [Matt 5:45].
The speaker states that prayer is an opportunity to “get the almighty God to act”. This is true and a powerful statement. How often do we waste the avenue of prayer even though we have the right, the privilege, and the ability to petition God for our needs?
