Of Hypocrisy And Religiosity In The Church by Kukogho Iruesiri Samson

The level of hypocrisy in religious circles is just baffling, so much that I can’t understand it. What I don’t get is the way people are dedicated to the religiosities of their faith, say Christianity, but totally live the opposite in terms of spiritual expectations. Take for example a ‘Christian’ who does morning devotion unfailingly, is a member of the choir and other groups, prays regularly and is always present at church events – a good Christian. But this man is a chronic liar, secret alcoholic, a wife/girlfriend abuser, sneaky fornicator and a collaborator in pen-stealing. Take also a woman who leads the prayer group and teaches Sunday school, yet keeps several lovers, abuses her house help and refuses to pay her workers as and when due, even though she could afford to do otherwise.
Some girls on a sleepover at boo’s house will say morning prayers after having all-night sex with their boyfriends – knowing fully well that the next night will also be a sweating-and-creaking-bed session. I also once worked with a guy that finishes his morning devotion before jumping into lewd talk. His favorite Lagos spots are strip bars and smoking joints.
And then I ask myself: “why are they wasting their time being in the church?” instead of just living the sinful life to the fullest?
What makes it worse for me is that they are not in the church as sinners seeking redemption. No, they are the righteous ones, preaching to us the sinners and mocking the unveiled manifestations of our humanness. In the end, they become so hemmed between sin and holiness that they see nothing wrong in their folly and would rather make excuses than accept that they are farther away from Heaven than Adolf Hitler.
It is therefore with great disdain and disgust that I view such people. I would rather befriend a drunkard who does it openly and a prostitute who says that’s her source of living, than be with a pastor that steals church money or the occasional sip or two of the alcohol he preaches against in church or the choir mistress that has a sex body count that you can’t account for with your fingers alone – all within the church.
If the “things of the world” are so sweet, why not just stick with it and enjoy it without pretense. Or, if the “things of the spirit” are so desirable, why not make a total breakaway? What’s the motive behind speaking and doing on two opposites? Is there any reward that I am not privy to?
Well, I am not a preacher, but I do know that the Bible spoke clearly about hypocrites – those who are neither hot nor cold will be spewed away.

Matthew 23:15
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

2 Timothy 3:3-5
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.