Do what they tell you to do but don't do what they do.

This is a response to I'm A Christian, But I Also Understand Why Christianity Can Be Hard To Follow.

The Bible contains many wise sayings and teachings that can guide us in our daily lives. One such phrase that can be found in the book of Matthew is "do what they tell you to do but don't do what they do." This phrase has been interpreted in many different ways by different people over the centuries, but at its core, it speaks to the importance of following good advice and living by positive examples.

The context of this phrase comes from a conversation that Jesus had with a group of his disciples, in which he criticized the behavior of some of the religious leaders of the time. Jesus pointed out that these leaders were good at giving advice and telling people what to do, but they didn't always practice what they preached. They would often do things that were hypocritical and self-serving, which led to a lack of trust and respect among the people.

So when Jesus tells his disciples to "do what they tell you to do but don't do what they do," he is encouraging them to separate the good advice from the bad behavior. He is saying that it's important to listen to the wisdom of others and follow their guidance, but not to blindly copy their actions if they don't align with your own values and beliefs.

This phrase can be applied to many different areas of life. For example, it can be easy to be influenced by the bad behavior of others, whether it's in the workplace, in relationships, or in other aspects of life. But by taking the time to evaluate the advice that we receive and making sure it aligns with our own values and principles, we can ensure that we are making the right choices for ourselves.

This phrase highlights the importance of actions and consistency in our lives as Christians. It is not enough to simply listen to what our religious leaders say, we must also make sure that we live out our beliefs in our actions. This can be difficult, as it requires us to be honest with ourselves about our own shortcomings and weaknesses.

One of the reasons why this can be hard is because we often feel pressure to conform to the behaviors and attitudes of those around us, even when they do not align with our values. This pressure can come from many different sources, such as our friends, family, or even our own desires for acceptance and belonging.

Additionally, as fallible human beings, we may struggle to live up to the standards that we hold ourselves to. We may make mistakes or fall short in our attempts to follow the teachings of Jesus. However, this should not discourage us from striving to do better and to live our lives in a way that is consistent with our beliefs.

In conclusion, the phrase "do what they tell you to do but don't do what they do" reminds us of the importance of separating good advice from bad behavior, and of the need to lead by positive example. By following this guidance, we can ensure that we are making the right choices for ourselves and setting a good example for others to follow.