Jamaican reggae icon, Jimmy Cliff, once belted out a piercing line that has refused to go away: “You can get it if you really want, but you must try, try and try… Hypocrites go to church on Sunday.” While the song was primarily about striving and resilience, that haunting line about hypocrisy left a deeper message, a bitter truth that echoes not just in reggae, but in reality. It calls out those who carry their Bibles only on Sundays and return to their worldly ways the moment they leave the church pews.
As controversial as the lyric may sound, it raises a fundamental question: Why is there often a disconnect between what is preached on Sundays and how some people live from Monday to Saturday? This is not just about optics or reputation, it is about integrity, spiritual consistency, and representing Christ not just in word but in deed.
For many, going to church has become a weekly ritual, dress your best, show up, sing, shout “Amen,” drop an offering, and leave. But Christianity was never meant to be a once-a-week event. It is a daily walk. The Bible puts it plainly: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
Attending church is essential. Hebrews 10:25 commands us not to neglect gathering together. But what is more essential is that what is heard in church must transform the individual. A church-goer whose heart and behavior remain unrepentant contradicts the very essence of the gospel.
The Gospel is not limited to pulpits or pews; it thrives in the marketplace, in homes, at workplaces, and even in traffic jams. What’s the point of hearing a powerful sermon on love, only to insult your bus conductor over N50 the next day? What is the value of singing “I surrender all” in church, only to scheme and cut corners at work?
Jesus condemned this brand of religious performance: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8). That scripture paints a chilling picture, a church full of people saying all the right things but living in complete opposition to those words.
The world is watching. And for many, you are the only Bible they will ever read. Your actions, decisions, and daily conduct either affirm or discredit your faith. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 3:2, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.”
There’s a dangerous trend today where many profess Christ but live like He never existed. Jesus asked in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” That question is still relevant today. The mark of a true Christian is obedience, not just Sunday praise, but Monday honesty; not just Wednesday Bible study, but Thursday patience.
One of the strongest indictments against the early Church was that their lives were different. That was not a bad thing, it was their witness. Acts 11:26 says, “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Why? Because they lived like Christ. Today, many are called Christians without ever demonstrating the nature of Christ.
Jesus emphasized fruit-bearing: “By their fruit, you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16). It is not about how many scriptures you can quote or how loud you shout during worship. It is about love, kindness, humility, integrity, and truth. These are the fruits that must be seen.
Church is like a filling station. You do not just visit it for sightseeing, you refuel so you can keep moving through the week. Every sermon should ignite reflection, conviction, and transformation.
If you are taught about forgiveness on Sunday, let it show when that colleague offends you on Tuesday. If you hear about integrity, do not inflate figures at your office. If the message was about love, be the first to call that relative you have been avoiding.
The Bible is very clear in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The renewing happens when we allow what we hear in church to reshape our values, conduct, and lifestyle.
There is no greater contradiction than someone who is deeply religious in public but morally bankrupt in private. Jesus warned about this double life in Matthew 23:27: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead.”
It is hypocrisy to pray for mercy in church and be merciless at home. It is hypocrisy to preach holiness but live in hidden sin. It is hypocrisy to cry during worship and then cheat your neighbor. Let us prove Jimmy Cliff wrong.
Matthew 5:16 encourages believers: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Light is not selective, it shines everywhere, not just inside the church. If your Christianity only shines under stained glass and church lights, but not in traffic, in your office, or on social media, then it is mere performance.
Jesus said we are salt and light (Matthew 5:13-14). Salt does not just season itself; it affects everything around it. Light doesn’t hide under a basket, it reveals truth, exposes lies, and brings clarity.
If after attending church, your environment does not feel the impact of your faith, you are not shining. Real Christianity makes you uncomfortable with sin, even when no one is watching. Real Christianity apologizes, forgives, gives, loves, and grows.
Christianity is not perfection, but it is progression. The goal is not to act holy on Sunday and return to filth on Monday. The goal is to mature spiritually until Christ is formed in us (Galatians 4:19).
Let your children, spouse, colleagues, and even your enemies see the difference church is making in your life. Let them see a gentler, more patient, more forgiving you. Let your prayer life reflect in your choices. Let your Bible study reflect in your character. Let your worship reflect in your humility.
It is high time we stopped giving unbelievers ammunition to call Christians hypocrites. Let our daily lives match our Sunday declarations. Let our character silence every reggae lyric, every mocker, and every skeptic.
So, every Sunday, like today May 11, 2025, when you walk out of church, do not just leave with your offering receipt or bulletin. Leave with a decision, to live out the gospel. Not just in your mouth, but in your actions. Let the world know that Christianity works, and that hypocrites don’t live here anymore
