Exercise in a common premise

[MoGrace2U]

Here is the premise:

"I don't go to church because church is full of hypocrites."

What the underlying belief here is that by not going to church, one avoids being thought of as an hypocrite. This prompted some possible questions and answers one might engage in with a person who says this.

Q: What makes one a hypocrite?

A: Acting pious in church when that is not how one behaves elsewhere. They pretend to be something in church that they don't do otherwise.

R: Then it is not those who are in church behaving piously that are hypocrites because that is the proper behavior one expects to see in church. (I would expect a somewhat disgruntled agreement here)

Q: Would it therefore be hypocritical if one also acted piously when he was not in church?

A: Expected answer is No.

The logic here is that behaving rightly is what one ought to do whether he is in church or not.

Q: When or why would it ever be wrong to behave right? Or the transverse - when is it right to ever behave wrongly?

A: Expected answer is Never.

R: If right behavior is always right, and wrong behavior is always wrong, then it would only be hypocritical to behave wrong because you know better. Therefore it is not those who go to church and behave right, but those who think they can behave badly at all. Because they are the ones going against their own conscience which tells them bad behavior is always wrong.

Just some musings of mine because I have a sister who thinks this is a valid premise to hold...

[MoGrace2U]

What step would you take next, assuming the hypocrisy argument has been killed, to help get them to talk about the real objection they have? Which we know stems from their enmity with God.

[Allyn]

Sometimes we feel we need to make up excuses just to have an answer. It seems to be a stigma if one does not go to church and even the unchurched can be mad to feel guilty. My approach is not so much how often one goes to church but rather what is the relationship one has with God and His people. Going to church does not settle either one of those relationship questions.

[MoGrace2U]

Of course 'going to church' doesn't solve a thing. But that such an activity is seen as evil is what needs to be overturned in their mind. That complaint of 'hypocrisy' sets up a false dichotomy in their minds, which they don't even realize they are doing. Church is not an evil place, nor are those who attend doing wrong. But it is a place where they can hear about God - and His goodness. And that seems to be the real fear! I know in my sister's case, she thinks her own ignorance is a point of justification.

[Michael J Loomis]

I wonder...Would someone make a similar statement about Christians meeting from house to house?

[Karen Whitejlw]

Story time, folks.

I can remember years ago, being in church, listening to a very boring minister give a very boring sermon when he said something like "You should not be Christians just on Sunday". I can also remember my reaction of total surprise. I would not have been 20 years old (I am well over 50 now) and it is funny how that has always stood out in my mind.

There is a mentality among some Catholics that because you go to confession on Saturday take communion on Sunday, do your penance - whatever the Priest tells you - that it is okay to more or less do as you please the rest of the week. I do not understand that mentality. You are either a full time Christian or at least striving to be one, or you are not. Bit like being pregnant, no half maybes there.

cheers