A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, “Come, the banquet is ready.” But they all began making excuses.
One said, “I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.”
Another said, “’I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.”’
Another said, “I now have a wife, so I can’t come.” Luke 14:16-20
People can come up with a lot of excuses to keep them out of church or out of God’s kingdom.
In this example of excuses you’ll find someone that has bought a piece of land he’s never seen; someone that has bought oxen and wants to try them out; and there is even a hen-pecked husband.
One of the greatest excuses that I hear is, “There are too many hypocrites in the church!”
That can be a correct statement at times. When those that claim Christ as Savior live opposite that claim then you have hypocrisy.
What is hyposcrisy?
Jesus said, “Don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity!” Matt 6:2
Matt 6:5 – When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them.
Matt 6:16 – When you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting.
Matt 7:3-5 – Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
Evidently a hypocrite is someone that calls lots of attention to themselves.
When it comes to Christianity, the attention should go to Jesus.
If Bob doesn’t come to church because of Joe, then Joe may be calling attention to himself and not pointing to Jesus.
The only way someone can lift up Jesus is to live for Jesus. The only way someone can live for Jesus is to get rid of all the things that are contrary to that kind of life.
Don’t let yourself be an excuse to keep someone from church; be an example for others to come to church.