Hypocrites Anonymous
"Hello, my name is Dave, and I'm a recovering hypocrite."
(Audience replies in unison)"Hello, Dave. Glad to meet you. We're hypocrites, too."
And, so begins the next session of Hypocrites Anonymous.
I'm a charter member. Please, do not think me to be too bad a guy. After all, I've been sober for 17 minutes.
Oops...there goes a relapse. Where's the phone number to my accountability partner?
Perhaps we should print up some t-shirts and start a website. Really there is no need. Hypocrites Anonymous already meets in a variety of places.
Churches on Sunday mornings.
t-blog.
And, when you sit down for that first cup of morning coffee, at that very place is a meeting of one.
What is a hypocrite?
Comic Milton Berle said, "A hypocrite is somebody who sets a good example when there is an audience around.".
In classical Greek, the word is hupokrisis, refers to stageplaying and acting.
A hypocrite is one who puts on a mask and feigns himself to be what he is not.
Inherent within this definition are two troublesome ploys.
(1) You intentionally mislead others, deliberately selling a lie.
(2) You hold another to a standard of judgment that you are unwilling to hold self to.
We are quick to spot and condemn hypocrisy in others.
And we are quick to defend and justify hypocrisy in ourselves.
Reflections
I have been studying Matthew 23, in which Jesus almost unmercifully lambasts the hypocrites in His midst. I'm not ready to teach/preach this chapter, mostly because I've yet to recover from being knocked down by it.
Here's some applications I'm considering:
*I'm a hypocrite if my behavior shuts the door in the faces of those who otherwise would enter the Kingdom (v. 13)
*I'm a hypocrite if I'm busy converting others to a religion and not a relationship (v. 15)
*I'm a hypocrite if I'm so preoccupied with my faith that I neglect God, and people (vv. 16-22)
*(And, the big one...)I'm a hypocrite if I'm more concerned with your outward conformity than my inward purity (v. 26)
------------------------
Conversation With God
God is irritatingly consistent about these things.
Just the other day I was sitting in my office, with God, recalling some connections of the previous week.
Dave: Remember that guy who calls me on the phone? He's gay.
God: I know. I love him.
Dave: And that guy who is always talking religion to me? He can't carry on a decent conversation about anything.
God: Yeah, he and I are working on that thing. I love him.
Dave: How about that lady who insists upon answering my rhetorical questions during assembly. Irritating?
God: Not really. I love her.
Dave: John Kerry? Teddy Kennedy? Osama bin laden?
Gad: Ditto, Dave.
Dave: God you irritate me. I've got some legitimate complaints about these people. Clearly they are poor reflections of what you intend. I criticize, and all you can do is love them?
God: Here. Look in this mirror.
He handed to me the most amazing, reflective mirror I've ever seen; far superior to the dull ones I like to use.
I took a gaze, and dropped my head.
God: Dave, I love you.
-----------------
It's about time for another meeting of Hypocrites Anonymous. Would you like to join me?
10.02.06 (10:26 am) [
edit]
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (8:25 am)
Man, when you're on, you are ON. Great post. One of the best I've ever read.
Imagine if they sold those mirrors? Nah, who'd be able to stand it for more than a second or two? Not me, that's for sure.
posted by:
graceshaker (
reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (10:08 am)
im in. and i want the mirror too.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (10:44 am)
I second surrogate's comment.
posted by:
babe4jesus55 (
reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (11:25 am)
When are we making shirts? ;-)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (1:38 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
Wow. Interesting that some of my best writing is when I admit to being a hypocrite. But, hey, I know myself rather well. I'm not down on myself, nor with a disturbing inferiority complex- just a happy hypocrite. Hey, I think I've come up with another t-shirt slogan.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (1:40 pm)
Reply to: graceshaker
Welcome to the club. And, I think you already have that mirror.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (1:41 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
Alright, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor say "I am a hypocrite". And the vote is unanimous. First meeting is adjourned.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (1:42 pm)
Reply to: babe4jesus55
I've added a t-shirt to the post. Check it out and see what you think. You're a creative sort; why don't you go to the t-shirt site and design for us a "Hypocrites Anonymous" t-shirt? I want to see it.
posted by:
JT (
reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (2:02 pm)
I love the post, too -- especially your conversation with G-d. And maybe your best writing isn't when you're putting yourself down (remember, He loves you, too), but when you're being honest about how you feel.
The fact that you express it so well... okay, that's just talent.
posted by: weasy (reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (2:39 pm)
Hello, Dave. Glad to meet you. We're hypocrites, too."......im in...
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (5:34 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
You're not "admitting to anything" unless affirming your humanity is admitting to something bad. I loved the post and you slapping ineptly at yourself will not convince me to think less of it... or you, come to think of it!
posted by: thesilkshade (reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (6:44 pm)
With the complexity of the human mind, I find it difficult to not be a hypocrite. Especially when I'm debating an issue with myself. I can see both sides of the argument almost equally. Ah, well. I guess I need to get myself a shirt and a mirror as well.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (7:17 pm)
Reply to: weasy
Always good to meet a fellow hypocrite. Maybe we can get together and discuss how much better we are than the rest of these t-bloggers?
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (7:19 pm)
Reply to: thesilkshade
I think it is healthy to thoroughly examine an issue, and realize there are usually great shades of gray in most matters. Many times, the best understanding does not lie at either extreme. To me, such makes for wisdom, not hypocrisy.
posted by: seochris (reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (8:58 pm)
seochris
That conversation with God was simply fabulous. I like you thoughts regarding hypocracy. God blz u.
posted by: idiotbubble (reply)
post date:
10.02.06 (11:59 pm)
hello Pastor Dave! I'm starting to read the bible these days. Made it a point to read everyday I come back from school. Hypocrites huh. Well, I know a lot of them! And I have to admit, sometimes I am one too. Somehow, it's hard to always do things and before doing it, think. People tend to do things without thinking how he/she will sound to others. And sometimes, we're just so afraid to show our true self.
posted by: radiohead (reply)
post date:
10.03.06 (7:37 am)
Set up an ebay store for the shirts, I'll buy one...
posted by: sebastianjoshua (reply)
post date:
10.04.06 (6:21 pm)
hypocrites... devil with angel face.
too harsh... hmmm nope
"Comic Milton Berle said, "A hypocrite is somebody who sets a good example when there is an audience around.". " what happen when u are alone???
i know one guy... soft spoken, kind, love children, always talks goods things... one day his wife saw him molest a young girl (now a court case)
and another guy... really hard to see him angry, a very patient guy... BUT... one day cctv caugh him pee at wash basin in public toilet.
