The dictionary defines hypocrisy as: "a pretending to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel".
Man, that is convicting. I admit that I am a hypocrite. And if you say that you are not, then you just became one.
The pretending part is convicting in that at times we all have a false perception of who we think we are or would like to be that may not be reality. This often comes out in me caring more about what you think about me than what God knows about me.
Same with the feel side of the definition. I want you to think I feel certain ways at times not because I necessarily do but because I want you to think certain things about me and view me in certain ways that make me look better. I want you to think I am a caring person more so than wanting to be a caring person. I want you to think I am a person of character more than I am willing to work on my character.
I don't think having a desire to be something or having a standard of truth that you struggle with and yet fall short of is necessarily hypocrisy. I think leading others to think you have a standard you are striving for and yet truthfully you are not striving and struggling toward that standard is a better definition of hypocrisy.
Jesus was clear on his definition of being a hypocrite: "Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye, when you can't see past the log in your own eye. Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from our own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." Matthew 7:4,5
Jesus really has a way to break it down doesn't he?
Notice, He does not teach that calling a speck out in your brother's eye is wrong. He does teach to make sure we constantly practicing self-eye examinations as we encourage our brothers and sisters.
Ultimately, I want to point people to Jesus because I will always let them down as Jesus is the only perfect one.
Love to hear your thoughts on this subject of hypocrisy...
Peace,
Brad T.
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