How do you deal with Christians who are hypocrites and use God as a smoke screen to manipulate?

Answer 1

This is a hard question...well lets see. These "Christians" are most likely not aware that they are doing this. Then again they could just be really ignorant and stubborn. The best thing you could do in one of these situations is to voice your opinions. You should exercise your right in the USA to speak up. Tell them how you view what they're saying. tell them exactly how you feel and how what that makes them look like. Maybe they will dissagree with you and if they do then just drop it. They oviously are very stubborn and not open to others opinions. So it would be no use to agrue with them. Even if you are not around at the time most times they will think about what you said later when they are alone and watch what they say and how they say it more often. Even though the would never amit that to anyone!

Another View:

I would deal with them the same way I would deal with anyone else who is hypocritical and manipulative. I would have to discreetly point out their hypocracy and let them know in no uncertain terms than I am aware of their attempts at manipulation and that I will not tolerate it.

If they persist, then I would avoid them if possible. If avoidance is not possible, i.e. a family member, refuse to be baited, change the subject, leave the room, whatever it takes to make your point.

A person can only be used or manipulated if he or she allows it.

Additional Comments:

Well, for starters, I don't vote for them.

Another Answer:

Great answer! The above answer is great! :) Well, first of all, if you are a Christian pray for them...maybe they are struggling as we all do. If not, remember none of us are perfect (Christian or not) and we all have our downfalls (lying, cheating, stealing...I'm sure you can think of a number of examples) Maybe its best to avoid these people. They may not be Christians at all and they may think claiming it makes them sound good. If it really bothers you to the point that you must say something approach them and kindly ask them about their Christian beliefs and remind them how they have been acting. If they are a true Christian the fact you helped them to recognize how unChristianly they've been acting may cause a change, because it will convict them. But remember..."Do not attempt to remove the splinter from your neighbor's eye when you have a log in your own" Unfortunately, this probably occurs much more often than anyone would like to admit. First, if this is happening in a church you are attending, I would think carefully about staying there. Second, avoid them if possible. Third, if not possible, pray for them and do not allow yourself to be manipulated by them, or by anyone else. I do not know if you are a Christian, but if not, please be aware that not all Christians are like this, but there are plenty that are. There are those type of people in every situation, not just Christianity. If you KNOW first hand of someone whom is doing something that scripture teaches is a sin and yet proclaiming they are not doing those very things asked them point blank why do they do such. Many times being confronted lovingly is all it takes to turn them around. After all it is written, "If you see a man whom is living in sin you are to warn him. If you warn him and he dies in his sin, then his blood is on his own head. If you do not warn him and he dies in his sin then his blood in on your head." "How do you deal with Christians who are hypocrites and use God as a smoke screen to manipulate?"

Another Opinion:

The question should include how do you deal with anyone that hides behind religion to committ fraud and manipulate others. The answer is easy: EXPOSE THEM!!! I just shrug my shoulders. There are jerks everywhere. Whatever.

Another Answer:

Should we let others see our good works? Yes, we should.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.

1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that ... they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Another View:

No, We should not...

Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 23:3, 5 Do not ye after their works ... all their works they do for to be seen of men.

==new answer== By providing something unexpected, silence. This allows space for the other person to hear their own thoughts. An argument or reaction is what they expect. No one wins an argument.

If you want someone else to be something, first be that yourself.

Additional Comments:

To be truthful, all Christians are capable of being hypocrites, which is saying one thing and doing another. Christians are not perfect, just forgiven. As far as using God as a smoke screen, that is using God to advance your own agenda. So I would have to question their love for God, because do you really use some one you truly in a selfish way as this? Others above have already expressed this: we ALL have problems and hang-ups, believers and non-believers (like myself) alike. When Christians act as described in the question, they are demonstrating their own doubts, they are missing the very point of their faith which is that it is the indwelling Christ that acts (or should act) through them. They've gotten confused and have started believing that their own actions (and hatreds) are Godly. This kind of dynamic is virtually always a result, to one degree or another, of fundamentalist theologies. The best thing to do is treat such people with love, compassion and graciousness-- things that they don't believe that you even possess. If the Christians who's doing the talking believes on what he is saying, then even if it's not true, it's not hypocricy; it's simply ignorance. There must be an intention to deceive for it to be called hypocrisy (lying).

New Answer:Pray for them first. If you have prayed about it and believe you can approach them in a humble and loving way, then point out to them what you see. Otherwise just pray for them. Be sure you are living an exemplary life yourself before you criticize someone else's walk. But yes there are hypocrites. Remember though that we can't escape hypocrisy, because we would not go anywhere if that were the case. Hypocrites don't just go to church but to the grocery store, theater and all the places we go and more. So that is no reason to stay out of church. God will judge each of us for what we have done or not done. that is what the name Daniel means "God is judge". Our job is to be close to God ourselves, pray for those who we believe are living wrongly, help them if we can, be a good example ourselves, etc.

Another Thought:

It is indeed paradoxical and unfortunate that the very pharisees Jesus thrashed and denounced the most are today's hypocrites who "use God as a smoke screen to manipulate" dominate and rule the world. What, then, is this "Christian World Domination all about if not precisely that?

Another Opinion:

Ignore them, each one will have to face God in judgment if they don't repent of their hypocrisy. The Lord says in Luke 17 that it would be better for those for a milestone to be hanged around their necks than that he should offend his little ones.

Another View:

Dealing_with_hypocrisy_is_often_a_very_difficult_thing_to_manage._it_is_often_easy_to_become_enraged_that_such_hypocrites_can_get_away_with_their_deceit._However,_the_most_logical_ways_to_%deal_th_such_behaviour_would_be_to_either_ignore_the_individual._On_a_more_personal_level,_if_say_the_person_were_acting_hypocritically_around_you_or_your_workmates,_they_may_eventually_try_a_different_tactic_at_achieving_whatever_they_are_attempting_to_do._When_religious_hypocrites_such_as_those_sometimes_found_in_the_public_sector_raise_their_head,_a_potential_solution_would_be_to_expose_their_hypocrisy_in_such_a_way_it_cannot_be_denied._In_short_humiliate_or_embarrass_them,_preferably_using_said_hypocrisy_against_them,_whether_by_pointing_out_the_hypocrisy_to_the_public_eye_through_one_or_more_mediums_or_manipulating_events_to_allow_that_hypocrisy_to_undo_the_person_involved.">Dealing with hypocrisy is often a very difficult thing to manage. it is often easy to become enraged that such hypocrites can get away with their deceit. However, the most logical ways to "deal" with such behaviour would be to either ignore the individual. On a more personal level, if say the person were acting hypocritically around you or your workmates, they may eventually try a different tactic at achieving whatever they are attempting to do. When religious hypocrites such as those sometimes found in the public sector raise their head, a potential solution would be to expose their hypocrisy in such a way it cannot be denied. In short humiliate or embarrass them, preferably using said hypocrisy against them, whether by pointing out the hypocrisy to the public eye through one or more mediums or manipulating events to allow that hypocrisy to undo the person involved.