“The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform.” This is Google’s definition of hypocrisy. Wikipedia defines hypocrisy as “the contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations,” Both of these definitions imply that it takes effort to be a hypocrite. You got to practice or build up skills to be a good hypocrite apparently. I believe there are a whole bunch of people that seem to be very skillful in the practice of hypocrisy. I refuse to use this platform to speak specifics as can only speak for myself but I suspect in reading this message, examples of hypocrisy abound. I am sure anyone can watch the news and see hypocrisy at its finest. The skill of concealing real character is always at play when the video and microphone is live. Who is living true moral standards and who is living hypocrisy? We may never know.
In Mark 2 starting at verse 23, we have a perfect example of hypocrisy when Jesus contradicted the laws of the Sabbath. How dare he break the Sabbath law said the Pharisees by picking wheat from the fields to eat. How dare he continue to defy the law by healing the withered hand of a man at the synagogue. Jesus asked if it is legal to do good or evil on the Sabbath? Nothing has changed in over 2,000 years in my opinion. Hypocrisy still is practiced to perfection. I believe that regardless of what day you consider sacred there is no day labeled “non-humanity day” as every day was created for humans not visa versa.
When we have that moment of opportunity to serve, will we conceal our real character in a shroud of hypocrisy or will our real character shine out of darkness to reveal the light of knowledge? (2 Cor 4:6)
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