When did hypocricy first appear in the Christian Church?

Question

A lot of people say they don't like the Christian Church because it's full of hypocrites. When did that start? And is there a group of people who are easily ablt to live up to the high standards that Christianity has?

Answer 1

Hypocricy has existed in the church as long as the church has been in existance. This is because hypocricy has been in existance as long as human beings have been. The church has all kind of people joining it. This is why Christ instructed us not to look at other people as a standard of living but to look at Him as the standard.

I've heard it said, "It's better to go to heaven with the hypocrites than to hell with the saints" (not my quote).

So is there a group of people able to live up to the high standards of Christianity? The truth is, true Biblical Christianity doesn't have high standards and never did. It is God Almighty who has the high standards. If it was possible for any group of people to live up to God's standards then there would be no need for Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. So the answer is no.

Answer 2

When did sin start in the Church? That would be when the Church started. Since the Church is made up of sinners, and the purpose of the Church is to minister to sinners and guide them to salvation, therefore every kind of sin was present in the Church from the beginning - hypocrisy, dishonesty, lust, disobedience, you name it. Otherwise there would have been no need for a Church. Or a Savior. Of course there are just as many sinners outside the Church. The only difference is that those within the Church are undergoing healing, rather than being mastered and ultimately destroyed by their sin. The Church is not a club for saints, but a hospital for sinners.
.

Answer 3

Hypocrisy began with Adam and Eve. Contrary to many opinions it was not invented by Christians and has been found in all groups and cultures throughout history and around the world.

Answer 4

The Galatian church was falling back into Judaic law, requiring circumcision. This of course was going against the Christian faith of saved by grace, not the law. In this way, they started towards hypocrisy.

Answer 5

the challenge of Christ is not easy for anybody and I would be skeptical of those who say that they do it readily, I would question their humility on this, I think that the first hypocrites were those medieval Lords and Bishops of my own Catholic church who told the people one thing while they practiced another, they ate well and loved their luxuries, and had mistresses.
of course most of these were already landed gentry who bought their way into the church for gain or had their sons or relatives elevated to important clerical positions.

Answer 6

Precisely at 3:69 PM in 27 AD.

Answer 7

There were twelve disciples who became Apostles of the Lord. One betrayed Him. One denied Him. One didn't believe He was resurrected until he saw the nail prints in His hand. All twelve of them fled from Him on the night of His betrayal and arrest.

Point is, we are all human and all play the hypocrite at times. It's part and parcel with the frailty of our frame: "He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust" (Ps 103:7-14).

Don't be so quick to judge us hypocrites. He who knows us best loves us most, and has compassion on us in our frail human frame. Praise the name of the Lord!

Answer 8

Following the death of the apostles, the good news came to be overshadowed by pagan teachings and philosophies. As foretold, false teachers distorted and polluted the pure message of truth. Gradually, true Christianity was eclipsed by a counterfeit called Christendom. A clergy class arose that tried to keep the Bible out of the hands of the common people. Though the numbers of those who called themselves Christians increased, their worship was not pure. Christendom grew geographically and became a powerful institution and a dominant force in Western culture, but it had neither God’s blessing nor his spirit.

John was the last of the apostles to die. In about the year 98 C.E., he wrote that “the last hour,” the final part of the apostolic period, had already commenced.—1 John 2:18, 19.
With the alliance of religion and political power sealed by Roman emperor Constantine, the spiritual, doctrinal, and moral condition of Christendom plummeted. Many historians agree that “the triumph of the Church during the fourth century” was, from the Christian point of view, “a disaster.” ‘Christendom lost her high moral level’ and accepted many practices and philosophies from paganism, such as “the cult of Mary” and the adoration of the “saints,” as well as the concept of the Trinity.

After her false triumph, the condition of Christendom deteriorated. Decrees and doctrinal definitions by popes and councils, not to mention the Inquisition, Crusades, and “holy” wars between Catholics and Protestants, produced an irreformable religious system.


Ask yourself, ‘What religious group is noted for sticking closely to God’s Word, even when its teachings differ from the beliefs of most people? Who stress the importance of God’s personal name, even using it to identify themselves? Who optimistically point to God’s Kingdom as the only solution to all human problems? Who uphold Bible standards of conduct, at the risk of being considered old-fashioned? What group is noted for having no paid clergy, all of its members being preachers? Who are praised for being law-abiding citizens, even though they refrain from taking part in politics? Who lovingly spend time and money in helping others to learn about God and his purposes? And despite all of these positive things, who are still looked down on, ridiculed, and persecuted?’

16 Millions of people throughout the world have evaluated the facts and have become convinced that Jehovah’s Witnesses alone are practicing the true religion. They have reached this conclusion on the basis of what Jehovah’s Witnesses teach and how they conduct themselves, as well as on the basis of the benefits their religion has brought. (Isaiah 48:17) Millions are, in effect, saying, as foretold at Zechariah 8:23: “We will go with you people, for we have heard that God is with you people.”

If you would like further information or a free home Bible study, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 9

Hypocrisy started when people realized they could take advantage of religion to keep the population under control.

Answer 10

it has always been there thats why we get holy wars and the brainwashing of countrys into beleaving thay have the true god and is all one big con that has been destroying this planet for 2000yrs