Hypocrisy

Galatians 2. As we saw in chapter one, Paul is astonished by the fact that these Galatians have so easily turned from the true Gospel and turned back to legalism. Not only is Paul astounded, but he is also heartbroken. He's not mad at the Galatian believers, per se; he's mad at the leaders. He's mad at the legalistic leaders and heartbroken for the followers. One of those leaders is the Apostle Peter. In vss.11-14 we have recorded for us the clash between the tentmaker and the fisherman; between the Apostles Paul and Peter. Paul opposed him (v.11). Why? Because he was in the habit of eating meals with the Gentiles, and meat served at that meal would be no problem for Peter. But when the Jews showed up, all of a sudden, Peter became a vegetarian (v12-13). When the Jews showed up it would play out something like this: "Peter, can I pass you the neck bones and rice?" "No thank you, I don't eat meat." Peter lied hoping to make the Jews smile. Paul rebukes Peter for playing the role of a hypocrite (v.14). "Peter, I smell ham on your breath? Have you been eating some pork? Why then, when the no-pork eaters show up, you go back to your kosher ways? Peter you are playing the role of a hypocrite!" And the result of Peter's actions led Barnabas and others away into this sin, into this bondage of legalism. Why would Paul come across so strong, so blunt with Peter? Because people take their cues from their leaders. And there's no room for this kind of leadership in the Body of Christ. Nothing must be allowed to dilute the truth of salvation by grace alone (2:15-21). And note, Peter's hypocrisy was especially surprising, considering his pioneering role in Gentile evangelism (Acts 10).
What this teaches us is that all of us are prone to play the role of the hypocrite, even when it comes to legalism. In our case it may not be a meat/no meat issue, but it could be something else. We may act one way around a certain group of believers, and yet another way around others. We may raise our hands in one church, but not in another. We may clap in one church and not in another. We may sing praise songs in one church and yet condemn it in another. We may ___________________ and yet __________________you fill in the blank.