Editor's Note: This is the third column in a series on how to restore any lost respect for Christianity. See Part 1 and Part 2.
To some people, Christians are hypocrites because they seem to talk out of both sides of their mouth.
They espouse Christian truths when trying to share the gospel, but don’t live them in daily life. Love my neighbor? Get my gun. Help the poor? Let them get a job. Meanwhile, skin color, emotions, taste in music and sexual orientation still divide us in many places.
Jesus says the world hates his followers because his followers do not belong to this world. And yet, much of Christianity has been consumed by the world. Christians in this nation have had a place of privilege for decades. But now, it is no longer true. There is grumbling about other faiths “worming their way” into a society supposedly founded on Christian principles. Christians are screaming, “Not fair!”
I’m sorry, but Christians, in my opinion, have lost the right to complain about fairness. For a very long time, a position of privilege had been enjoyed; then the privilege became abused. And by abused, I mean taken advantage of, exploited, held out with pride in front of others. It seems to me that many Christians have placed themselves not only before other people, but above them as well.
Jesus never claimed a place of privilege. He was humble, putting others before himself.
In many ways, there are those among us who have become modern-day Pharisees — being legalistic, arrogant and expecting a place of honor and privilege. Jesus didn’t like them very much, either.
I wonder how he feels about us, today.
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview's pastor.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: Some Christians sound like modern-day Pharisees