Because Christians are sinners saved by grace, still in the process of being transformed (Philippians 1:6). Hypocrisy is real and serious — Jesus condemned it sharply (Matthew 23). But the failures of Christians do not invalidate Christ. Christianity is true because of Christ, not because of perfect followers.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones.”
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.”
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
“The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares.”
“Christianity must be false if its followers are hypocrites.”
Christianity stands or falls on Christ, not on Christians. If Christ rose from the dead, Christianity is true regardless of Christian failure. The truth of a teaching is independent of the consistency of its adherents. Judge Christianity by Christ.
“Christians aren't morally better than non-Christians.”
Christians claim forgiveness, not perfection. Some studies actually show practicing Christians give more, divorce less, and report greater life satisfaction. But even if Christians were not morally better, this wouldn't disprove Christianity — it would only show that Christians are still sinners being transformed (which is what we claim).
“The church is full of hypocrites.”
True in part. Jesus warned this would be so (parable of wheat and tares). But the church also contains many quiet, faithful believers whose lives adorn the gospel. Don't generalize from worst cases. And don't avoid the church because of hypocrites; the church is for sinners being transformed — you'd fit right in.
Christian hypocrisy is real and serious — Jesus condemned it most sharply. But Christianity is true because of Christ, not because of perfect followers. Don't judge Christ by his worst followers; investigate Christ himself. Read the Gospels. If Christ is real, Christianity is true regardless of Christian failure. The hypocrisy of others is not the issue; the question is what you do with Christ.
Many Christians live with quiet integrity; some are spectacularly hypocritical; most are in process. Christianity teaches all are sinners (Romans 3:23), including Christians. Hypocrisy in the church is real but is not the whole story. Don't generalize from worst cases. And don't make hypocrisy a basis to reject Christianity — Christianity stands or falls on Christ.
(1) Acknowledge the hypocrisy when real. (2) Distinguish hypocrisy from human imperfection — believers who repent are not hypocrites. (3) Don't reject Christ because of bad Christians. (4) Find genuine believers — they exist. (5) Examine yourself (Matthew 7:3-5). (6) Trust Christ alone. The failures of Christians don't disprove Christianity; they prove the need for it.
No. Christianity claims to be true because of Christ — his life, death, resurrection. If those are true, Christianity is true regardless of how Christians live. Hypocrites prove Christianity's diagnosis (humans are sinners) and the need for its remedy (Christ). Judge Christianity by Christ, not by his worst followers.
Jesus condemned hypocrisy more sharply than perhaps any other sin. Matthew 23 contains his most extended denunciation — directed at the religious leaders of his day. He called them 'whited sepulchres' (Matthew 23:27), 'blind guides,' 'children of hell' (Matthew 23:15). Jesus took hypocrisy very seriously. He calls Christians to integrity — the same person inside and out.