Beware ... hypocrisy ...
when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
The word hypocrite comes from a Greek word (hypokrites) that was used to describe actors in a play. Similar words today are faker or poser. Hypocrisy means pretending to someone that you are not. It is really a much deeper problem that we think. It is a nasty business because it causes us to hide from each other and never really get past superficiality. We all want to be deeply known and deeply loved but hypocrisy prevents us from being vulnerable.
So why do you think that people hide behind hypocritical behavior? What is it in us all that fears being revealed. For the Pharisees I think that it was the curse of self-righteousness. For some I think that it is a deep insecurity. For others there is a fear of judgment by others. I think that from birth we are trained to be actors in this play of life strangely looking for the applause and approval of our fellow actors instead of the heavenly audience above.
Lord deliver me from hypocrisy today. Help me to not act but be who I really am.
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Oh the masks that we wear if we are not careful and constantly being real, not only with others, but with ourselves!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree Susan. Reminds me that the Greek actors (hypokrites) often wore masks.
DeleteYou know, I think the more we live with hypocrisy in our own lives, the more it seems real, and the danger of not realizing we are actors, but do such a good job deceiving ourselves, we don't feel the guilt of seeing ourselves for who we really are. Good article and insight.
ReplyDeleteSelf deception has to be the worst kind of deception Wanda. Thanks for the great comment.
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