Fake Christians

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Matthew 7:1-5

I love these verses because it is so true that we often turn a blind eye to our own iniquities to judge our own brothers and sisters, whether it be silently in our heads or with outward scorn or disapproval. Perhaps we hear curse words falling from their mouths, or hear of their past unholy actions from another person. We are quick to deem them as "fake christians", the ones who go to church and say that they are believers when asked, yet when you watch them they seem to live just as ungodly a life as the nonbelievers that surround them.

This passage reminds us that we should remember first our own transgressions and sin before we should concern ourselves with how anyone else lives their own life. Are we not hypocrites if we only lament the sins of others, all while living sinful lives ourselves? We must always be careful of the grip of sin in our lives; if we grow lax and unwatchful of temptation's hold in our lives, there is a good chance that we will fall to our sinful desires. I think that focusing on the purity of your own life first is priority because ultimately faith is between you and God. Fellowship is important, and as a body in Christ we are united to do His glorious works, but when you meet our Heavenly Savior in judgment, He will be judging YOU. When you see His face, He won't be concerning Himself with the sins that your friends or family members have committed, but He will see all that has happened in your life and His judgment will be based on what you have sowed on this earth for your place in heaven. Therefore, ensure that your life is one that shines His light-do not be a hypocrite who judges others for their iniquities while you yourself are living in sin.

The verses then follow to tell us that after we have "taken the plank out of our own eye", to turn and remove the speck from our brother's eye. This is where fellowship and establishing yourselves among a family of believers will benefit your life immensely. If we constantly thrive to live lives of Christ, then it is only appropriate we should every once in a while speak to our brothers and sisters gently if we see them falling fast from sin and desire. However, the passage also points out our own hypocrisy-how often have we fallen into the same sins as the ones we see our brothers and sisters struggling through? How often is it that we can see sins that both of us are dealing with, yet we only seem to notice and judge others for falling into that temptation? We are all sinners. Being Christian does not mean that we do not struggle with sin or temptation, it means that the iniquities we deal with have been forgiven, covered by Jesus' blood. So maybe that "fake christian" you see in your school is failing to address the sin in their lives-yet by turning a blind eye to our own sin in order to judge them for their lack of watchfulness is hypocrisy. Perhaps they are truly curious about Christ but are not taking His word to heart and praying for a heart of faith. Whatever the case may be, I do not believe we should shun them(even if only in our heads) for being hypocrites, for we ourselves can probably relate to a moment where we ourselves were under control of the same sin that they struggle with. Instead, offer them words of encouragement, and most importantly, your prayers.