Hypocrisy is an interesting topic. 

I love the irony that culturally in America, hypocrisy is most associated with Christianity, and yet it was Christ who is credited with coining the phrase in a rare moment of spoken frustration. Calling religiously judgmental people hypocrites comes out of our culture, and it has rightfully been turned back on us.


I think of the many ways I'm a hypocrite.

Certainly, as a Christian, I'm a hypocrite in the religious/moral sense even though I try not to be. I'm also a hypocrite in wanting to be "green": I fly to Florida to get out of the cold, I drive well past the ideal cruising speed of my car, and I use disposable diapers. I'd like to say I'm against consumerism, and yet I can see plenty of it in my own house. I'd love to see more people in need be helped, and yet I can easily waste money on a Starbucks. I'd love to say my wife knows I cherish her, but too often I'm too busy with things on my list.

I wish I wasn't self-centered, and yet that appears to be my main mode of operation.

I think we're all hypocrites. I don't think I've met anyone, religious or secular, who doesn't have some sort of internal moral conflict. We all are judgmental of the people who cannot live up to the morality that comes easily to us, and outraged by people who can't offer grace to failures that hit close to home.


We probably just need to work on extending grace to the people we least want to give it to. (gay people and judgmental Christians included)