Christians Are Hypocrites

When I hear the word hypocrite I think of the Minister of Justice character, Claude Frollo, from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Frollo, who condemns the gypsy Esmeralda but is secretly consumed with lust for her, is an excellent example of someone who puts on a false appearance of virtue - which is how Webster defines a hypocrite. 

Many Christians, especially ones who have mixed moralism and/or Oprah style self-betterment ideals in with their faith, are hypocritical simply because they think they are doing pretty well. They are living up, to some degree, to the standard they have set for themselves. People who aren't living up to their standard are obviously inferior. These sinful 'inferiors' naturally notice the hypocrisy that the moralistic Christian is blind to; because, of course, no matter how well behaving the Christian is, they are still prone to envy, lack of compassion, selfish anger, and hubris (especially if they feel they are performing well morally).

But then there are Christians who live with some level of awareness of their sinful self-absorbed condition. They do not claim to be any better than the next guy. In fact, they are not any better; they are just forgiven. Hypocrisy in this case is simply due to perception. I think many people understandably operate on the assumption that Christians are to be better than non-Christians. But if we could be or get better, if we could improve (in any way) than why did Jesus have to die?  

I was reading something on this topic by Tim Keller recently, perhaps in his book The Reason For God. He says that it makes perfect sense that people who are not Christians often behave better, more morally, than Christians. Many of the people who are Christians started following Jesus because they had a deep need for change, radical change. This need for redemption is not obvious to every person who needs it (which I believe is everyone). If you are getting along okay in life why would you seek out help? From this perspective it would make sense that the most messed up people would want to follow Jesus. For them the gospel is actually really good news.

The Christians who don't look too messed up to begin with, or don't realize how real their need for redemption is, are perhaps wasting their time. Why would you take medicine you don't need? Or ask for a life preserver when you are sitting on the dry land?