Why have religions and religious leaders become so hypocritical?

Question

Recently Ted Haggard was forced to resign from his position in an Evangelical Church, after several noted public gay bashing remarks, it was discovered he was having a homosexual relationship of his own. How can a "religious person" persecute and spread messages of hate, and say it with a straight face, and then still claim to be a messenger of God? I thought the most important lessons from God was to love thy neighbor...Judge not...and that God loves all his children. What happened to that all loving God? I'll admit I am not a very religious person, but, is this not fundamentalism? Interpreting the "word" to suit one's own agenda? Then why an agenda of homophobic hate? Why not spread acceptance, diversity, understanding and a positive atmosphere instead?

I never said I was perfect, I just asked why the constant messages of hate, I thought religion was about love and understanding?

It's not that I have a problem with religion or Jesus, but why is the homosexual issue an issue? Who cares, is it not between them and God? I never got the whole point of confession, if he is a true all knowing God, then why do I need to tell other members that I "said I hated my sister" what business is it of theirs other than to persecute and try and one up eachother? No one is perfect, I know that, but why does a "loving religion", hate homosexuals? I thought is was about acceptance, would god hate the mentally handicapped? (and if any fundamentalists want to say being gay is a "lifestyle choice", and "they can be changed" you are fooling yourself and living in a glass house and education and acceptance are definitely not your strong points.) I just want to know, is it not hypocritical to say love they neighbor, but not the homosexuals? If that is so, then i cannot and will not accept your God, for he is not mine, my God is all loving.

Answer 1

I know I cant do your question justice ... But I have to agree with ever word you said.
..the bakers( okay Jim .. anyway... Tammy was in trouble from the make up police.) taking thousands of dollars from the church.. .. jimmy swaggert.(.another happy John )he had an affair w/a prostitute .... Strom Thurmond also comes to mind... the affair with the black maid..his unrecognized mixed illegitimate daughter...his payments through a lawyer to her... and the failure to support any change of civil rights... until a change of his heart later on.. and his daughter coming into the public light. after his death.. she didn't want to embarrass him...

I think that more and more people from all walks of life are finding they are gay. and I think that science will prove that this is some thing that occurs during fetal development. not a choice but something your born with.. the fact that the bible forbids this is going back to roman times and the way people lived. Sodom and Gomorrah come to mind and lots wife.. and salt lots of salt..
I agree about the teachings of Jesus being used to suit the situations of the people I mentioned .. sadly religions have been used to "suit situations "for a long time. I think that in this situation the evangelical church needs to re focus and think about spreading the word of Jesus... the way Jesus intended and not a spin that the churches have put on it.... I also think that god puts us all on a path... gay or straight. THESE heads of churches are showing everyday people that their lives are no different than the common man... okay the common criminal in some cases.. The average guy might be a better christian than these people...

Answer 2

Some religious people have always been hypocritical. It's a form of emotional masochism, and emotional masochism is a strong dynamic in their attraction to religion in the first place.

Answer 3

It's good that you're not a religious person. God HATES religion. He also, however, HATES sin. ALL sin.

"What happened to that all loving God?"
God loves us ALWAYS, He absolutely HATES what we do when we sin.
Let's take Ted Haggard for example. God hates his homosexuality, his hypocrisy, and his lying equally, but He still loves Ted Haggard.

"Why have religions and religious leaders become so hypocritical?" "How can a "religious person" persecute and spread messages of hate, and say it with a straight face, and then still claim to be a messenger of God?" "Why not spread acceptance, diversity, understanding and a positive atmosphere instead?" You ask. Unfortunately, because people are human. That's why we ALL need Jesus.


Re 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Answer 4

I bought an apple the other day. It had a bad spot on it. Should I judge all apples as being bad just because the one I got was brused?
There are many religions in the world today but Christianity is the only one that teaches true love and forgiveness. Many may not understand the true princilpes of Christianity and that is understandable.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man (One who has not established a relationship with God) receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Anyone who preaches a message of hate is not of Christ but an enemy. The real enemy it the great deceiver, the Devil, who has used the faults of some Christians to destroy any faith you might have (that you must have) to be saved.
Christianity is the only religion that Satan fears. He will do anything to destroy it. But he can't. He may cause you to not believe in Christ but there are too many believers who will not compromise their faith it the Lord Jesus Christ.
Once we accept Jesus' words as the truth, we believe we are sinners and that Jesus alone can take away our sins, and when we confess and turn away from those sins, Jesus forgives us and the Holy Spirit begins to clean our hearts from the ravages of sin. We become a new creature (in Christ) with a new start. A "Born Again" if you will. This does not mean that we no longer have temptations and trials of our faith. It does mean that we now have power over the Devil. We are no longer slaves to his evil control but are set free to do as God will in our lives. This new found freedom floods our soul with joy and a wonderful peace. We are now able to truely love God and to worship Him.
The Holy Spirit begin to work in our lives to rid us of anything that is not pleasing to God. I don't know why some turn from the faith to fulfill the lust of the flesh. I do know that each person makes his own choice wheather to follow Christ or not. I must allow the Holy Spirit to continue His perfect work in me. Each day His work in us makes us more like Jesus. We are more loving ,forgiving, and the fruit of the Spirit becomes more evident in our lives.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

Answer 5

Many people teach the word even though they themselves may fall in to a sinful lifestyle. Some teach the word and never believed it but were only in it for the money. Others may well be hypocrites. Hard to say. All of us are sinners and are still in our sinful bodies in a sinful world. We that know the truth are only saved by faith. He who endures to the end is truly saved. As far as bashing any sinnner it would be wrong but teaching the word of God and his righteousnes is not wrong. All of us are sinners so condemning sinners is pointless. We all are sinners some have accepted the atonement of Christ and therefore are saved by faith but the only difference in any man is the difference that God makes in them.

Answer 6

It's because these hypocrites have become too involved in politics and politicking, it's all about power these days and it's easier to get support by pandering to popular prejudices... it's much harder and less popular to to educate people out of their prejudices.

Answer 7

That's called" the pot calling the kettle black." When ever you are pointing your finger at someone else, you can't change the fact that you still have 3 more pointing back at yourself.

That man was not called to the ministry by God. This is just the beginning of many churches finding out that they are being led by a false prophet.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Study the word of God in your home every day and you will not be fooled by these false teachers.

Answer 8

Some “evangelical Christians” who are caught in scandals are unredeemed charlatans and false prophets. Jesus warned, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves … Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:15-20). False prophets pretend to be godly men and women and appear to be solid evangelical leaders. However, their “fruit” (scandals) eventually reveals them to be the opposite of what they claimed to be. In this, they follow the example of Satan, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Answer 9

It's reasonable for an individual to be labeled a hypocrite, but, is it right to label an organization as hypocritical? Are ALL Christians hypocrits? I don't believe so.

Answer 10

The Devil is powerful. He will do anything to make religion look bad. But just because a religious leader stummbles does not mean that the religion has lost credibility or that it's "wrong".

Bill Clinton stumbbled when he had sex in the oval office. But America is still America, and it's still a great country.