Love Without Hypocrisy

Pastor Phil Bray

“Let love be without hypocrisy.” (Rom 12:9a). In fact, “the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Gal 5:14). God is love, and those who have been born of God love as God loves. We have genuine concern for and commitment to the well-being of others, even if it costs us greatly. Jesus said that all men will know that we are His disciples by our love for one another (John 13:34–35).

So, what does this love look like in action? How does one actually love like Jesus? Paul speaks to an issue that I think is often glossed over as insignificant and immaterial. We reduce this command to love one another to mere acts of sentimental charity. We treat people nicely. We don’t say anything that might offend them. Or, we go to the opposite extreme and provide lavish help, all the while laughing at them behind their backs. We hold our noses and pretend to care about them, but in reality, we care about doing the right thing for our own sake.

Our love must be real. Our love, which overflows into action for the benefit of others, must be authentic and not pretend. We cannot go through the motions, acting lovingly toward people we simply cannot stand. No. When Jesus transforms our hearts and calls us to imitate Him—chiefly in the area of love—we must love like He does. He does not mock us, and neither does He ignore our sin as irrelevant. Jesus has genuine concern for and commitment to our well-being spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. His actions flow forth from that reality.

What is the posture of your heart? Are you loving genuinely or hypocritically? When we make jokes about sinners who are tempted to sin in ways different from the ways we are tempted to sin, we love hypocritically. We cannot make homosexual jokes while claiming to welcome them into our church with outward displays of kindness and hospitality. On the other hand, when we refuse to speak the truth compassionately about sin—such as homosexuality—thus failing to warn people of the everlasting danger this ongoing behavior poses for their souls, we love hypocritically. This sidestepping of truth in the name of “love” is hypocritical. It is pretend love. The Bible calls us to love without hypocrisy.
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Love is characterized by genuine patience, kindness, and humility. Love does not act disgracefully, and it is not selfish. Love is a posture of heart that considers others more important than self. Love rejoices with the truth, not with unrighteousness (1 Cor 13). Love is what flows from a heart that is conformed to the heart of Christ. Do not pretend to love. Do not simply fake it until you make it. Repent of having a hard and selfish heart and ask God to produce in you the fruit of the Spirit, which is love (Gal 5:22). Pray for God to change your heart and fill you with love. “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;” (Php 1:9–10).