Hypocrisy—Human Nature?

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Posted by Connor on July 1st, 2006

“An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.” (Proverbs 11:9)

Hypocrisy is “the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform”. I propose that each and every one of us is, or at some time has been, guilty of hyopcrisy. It is part of our carnal nature to hold others to a higher standard than our own.

To illustrate, here are some examples of public hypocrisy:

Self-labeled “human rights organizations” demanding civil treatment and Geneva convention protections for insurgents (who, obviously, are not a state-sponsored group and therefore are not entitled to such) when no fuss is made about the human rights of American soldiers being brutally beaten and tortured by these same people.
Larry Miller removing Brokeback Mountain from his theater while allowing other bad (non family-friendly) movies to remain.
Catholic priests and the widespread abuse scandals.
Rush Limbaugh becoming addicted to pain medication, when he himself has been outspoken against drug abusers.
“Reverend” Jesse Jackson counseling Bill Clinton on the Lewinsky scandal, when he (Jackson) was having an affair of his own, resulting in an illegitimate child.
John Kerry hypocritically stating “I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as president”, when he had vigorously protested and opposed the very war he was now using to boost his numbers in the polls.

I mention these examples not to vilify, point blame, or accuse those listed (though such might be merited). I simply wish to illustrate that even those with good intentions (Larry Miller’s removal of a filthy movie from his theater, for example) can, at times, become a hypocrite. We hold everybody else to such high standards, but then don’t raise a flag or sound a trumpet when we ourselves fall short. We all fall short. That is why we all need the Atonement.

Wisely did Jesus say: