I have been amazed at the very public (and hypocritical) cry of support and love at the passing of Mitchell Guist.
We don’t have satellite, so I don’t get to watch Swamp People much anymore, but I enjoyed these brothers living life their own way. They were almost innocent in the way a frog or alligator gar could bring such happiness to their day. So, what is this talk of hypocrisy? We are…
I have been in ministry long enough to know, and fairly certain at that, that if this man had walked into “our” church on Sunday morning, many would have rejected him. They would not have wanted to sit by him. They wouldn’t have wanted him to track on the sanctuary carpet. He would not have been in khakis and a button-up, much less a full suit. He would have spoken unintelligently. Our children would have pointed and asked questions or even laughed. He would not have gotten an invitation to lunch with your family at home or in a restaurant.
We have people just like Mitchell Guist living in our communities that are not even an afterthought in our lives. The only difference is that he was glorified on television while that odd woman down the street or the crazy old hermit across town lives outside our focus because we don’t want to see them. Further, we go to great lengths to avoid them. We dare not make eye-contact, much less share the Gospel. What’s worse is that most of us would not invite this person to church because they would not be accepted. We know, because, deep down, we’re not willing to accept them.
Woe to us hypocrites! We who beg for grace, but give none. Lord, let us see as You see, love as You love, and serve as You serve.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separatesthe sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
-Matthew 25: 31-46-
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Hypocrisy on Display
May 15
Posted by Jeremy A. Byrd
I have been amazed at the very public (and hypocritical) cry of support and love at the passing of Mitchell Guist.
We don’t have satellite, so I don’t get to watch Swamp People much anymore, but I enjoyed these brothers living life their own way. They were almost innocent in the way a frog or alligator gar could bring such happiness to their day. So, what is this talk of hypocrisy? We are…
I have been in ministry long enough to know, and fairly certain at that, that if this man had walked into “our” church on Sunday morning, many would have rejected him. They would not have wanted to sit by him. They wouldn’t have wanted him to track on the sanctuary carpet. He would not have been in khakis and a button-up, much less a full suit. He would have spoken unintelligently. Our children would have pointed and asked questions or even laughed. He would not have gotten an invitation to lunch with your family at home or in a restaurant.
We have people just like Mitchell Guist living in our communities that are not even an afterthought in our lives. The only difference is that he was glorified on television while that odd woman down the street or the crazy old hermit across town lives outside our focus because we don’t want to see them. Further, we go to great lengths to avoid them. We dare not make eye-contact, much less share the Gospel. What’s worse is that most of us would not invite this person to church because they would not be accepted. We know, because, deep down, we’re not willing to accept them.
Woe to us hypocrites! We who beg for grace, but give none. Lord, let us see as You see, love as You love, and serve as You serve.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separatesthe sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
-Matthew 25: 31-46-
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