Friday, September 22, 2006 Hypocrisy list and some others By Rene Lizada Papa's Table
THE word hypocrisy comes from the Greek word hypokrisis, which means "acting on the stage, pretense." The word hypocrite comes from hypocrites, which ultimately means "an actor on the stage or a pretender." The origin of this word is enough to explain what a hypocrite is. Someone who loves to take center stage and pretend. Someone who loves the adulation (even if they deny it and most often they do deny it).
Someone who loves to pretend and act and then be applauded for their acting and pretending. Someone who does things to get the respect and the admiration of others even if what they do is for personal reasons.
Jesus was a gentle person, a kind and loving being and yet when it came to hypocrites he had very harsh words for them. He kept saying "Woe to You." There were actually seven of those woes. Christ did not like hypocrites, He pitied them but He warned us about them too. Perhaps in the Jewish setting it was easy to spot the hypocrites because they could be seen in their priestly robes walking along with forlorn faces and showing themselves in prayer. They were easily recognized because they were always at the temple showing how pious and prayerful they were. We could have spot them from the distance. But today hypocrisy is a little difficult to recognize.
Hypocrisy today is more subtle. It is very difficult to spot hypocrites today because they disguise themselves as holy, unselfish, pious and even loving persons. There are hypocrites who speak well that you could be mesmerized with their hidden agenda, there are hypocrites who build churches and yet destroy lives and there are hypocrites who give act so innocent that you would never know the venom. But I guess it is true. The more things change, the more they stay the same. In Mathew 23 Christ gives us, tell us the traits of hypocrites. Let us look at them one by one.
One, they exclude and prevent others from entering God's kingdom. There are people who inspire and people who lift you, who make you better and for sure those are not hypocrites. Those who inspire and those who lift you do no think of themselves but are only concerned about you. They are not hypocrites because they draw their strength not from what they can get or what others will say but rather they draw inspiration in doing good. Avoid those who only want things for themselves. Who try to portray themselves as pious and holy and patronizing. They could be hypocrites. If you join them be ready for the consequences.
Two, they devour widow's houses. In the Biblical sense widows were helpless people who needed help and compassion. But instead of giving them help and guidance the hypocrites would take advantage of the widows, the poor and helpless. They would devour whatever it was the widows had. They had no pity, no respect. They only had their own greed and justifications. Same thing today.
Three, make long pretentious prayers. I guess we do not have to elaborate on that because that is self explanatory.
Four, vigorously proselytize. The word proselytize means "to try to convert somebody to a religious faith or political doctrine." A hypocrite will try to convince you that his is the best way, hers is the only way and theirs is the best way.
Five, do not understand the spiritual significance of the Creator. Perhaps they know about God but they do not know God. There is a difference.
Six, meticulously tithe yet gloss over weightier matters, such as judgment, mercy, faith. People who are shallow are often times materialistic. In the olden times the Mosaic Law ordered that the land be tithed. There was nothing wrong with this per se but the hypocrites placed a lot of emphasis on the tithing and forgot the loftier or the weightier things like judgment, mercy, faith and compassion. They got stuck with their money and the triviality of things. True before, true today.
Seven, appear to be righteous, but actually are extortionists of other people's money and have a total lack of self control. The one trait that hypocrites have is they are deceivers. They will use all that they have to get what they want. Mostly they will use good intentions for their selfishness. They will disguise themselves as righteous and as saviors but in reality they have secret conspiracies to profit only themselves. And as for that self control let me tell you this story. There is this person I know who loves to think that she is always right. One day she gets mad and the person she gets mad at is pregnant. As a result of her tongue lashing the pregnant lady starts to bleed. This supposedly pious person finds out about it and immediately she apologizes and says these unbelievable words "I am sorry I just could not help myself." Can you believe that? This pregnant lady bleeds because of the vicious words and all this person can say is "I could not help myself." In short the woman's baby was placed at risk because this supposedly pious person could not control her temper?
