The Theatrical Christian

     The Theatrical Christian loves to talk about how loving, respectful, passionate and God-fearing they are, but sadly, their actions speak louder than their words. The theatrical Christian professes to be a Christian, but most notably evades to percolate like a Christian. Not only is the Theatrical Christian's approach to being Christ-like absurd in the way that they fail to practice what they preach, but they merely fail to practice what the Bible itself teaches. Their hypocrisy is so ludicrous, it makes it obvious and questionable the validity of calling themselves "Christian". Even the Bible clearly states that those who practice hypocrisy really are not Christians at all.  1 John 4:20 says "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that lovest not his brother whom he hath seen cannot love God whom he hath not seen".
      Let's make something clear though, it is very important to not confuse sin with hypocrisy. A hypocrite is a phony; someone who says one thing, but does another, and does this on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, every Christian is guilty of all sins, including the sin of hypocrisy. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God".  The Bible also says "Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death: so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life" (Romans 6:4). The difference is, a true Christian admits he is a sinner, and is constantly repenting and striving to live a Godly life.  
      Jesus had many things to say to the hypocrite. He directly confronted the hypocrites; usually scribes and pharisees, and openly spoke out against their hypocritical acts (Matt 7:5, 6:5, 23:1-39).  Yes, God condones hypocrites, but God says in Isaiah 9:17b, "For everyone is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still". God loves the hypocrite, and wants them to repent and live a Godly life "For God so loves the World, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever sinneth, shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). 
     Jesus points out in Matthew 7:15-20 that is is by our fruits that we shall be known. Let us follow God's example and be an authentic witness to the nonbeliever; not a hypocrite. "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:12). We must follow what it says in James 1:22 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves".