Hypocrisy

“Hypocrisy”

Hypocrisy is NOT failing to practice what we preach; it IS pretending to have beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, etc. that we do NOT actually possess. Religious/spiritual hypocrisy is pretending to have moral or religious beliefs/principles, etc., that we do not adhere to.

“A hypocrite is one who acts contrary to what they say or what they believe.” (Jeremiah 42:20)

All forms of hypocrisy are deceptive. Oftentimes, hypocratic deception not only deceives those around us, it deceives us as well, and corrodes our well-being.

"Your health is bound to be affected if, day after day, you say the opposite of what you feel …" (from Doctor Zhivago)

When a hypocrite's words and actions do not match, anothers faith can be destroyed. Religious/spiritual hypocrisy is one of the main reasons that people to turn away from religion/spiritual teachings. Every wisdom tradition teaches us that judgments we place upon others, resonate with us because they are, in some way, self-judgments.

Rather than seeing others as hypocrites, it will serve us well to look deep within ourselves before deciding to cast the first stone. When we see the faults of others and refuse to see our own faults, we are hypocrites.

"Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye." (Luke 6:42)

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” (Romans 2: 1)

One of the saddest things about religious/spiritual hypocrisy is that outwardly, we may appear faithful, but we are nothing more than actors, playing a part.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matt. 23:27-28).

When our religious/spiritual practices are hit-or-miss, we remain in bondage; when we are play acting or faking it, we can not connect with or be healed by the Divine Light/Jesus. Our religious/spiritual practices needn’t be a full time job, but our thoughts, words and actions, do need to come about naturally from our heart, on a full time basis.

“His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.” (Psalm 55:21)

“Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:7-9).

If we are unable to put into practice the moral or religious beliefs/principles, etc., that we profess to believe in, we are being hypocrites. There is simply no excuse to hypocritically adhere to a religion/spiritual teaching or tradition that we not believe in.

“A little less hypocrisy and a little more self-knowledge can only have good results in respect for our neighbor; for we are all too prone to transfer to our fellows the injustice and violence we inflict upon our own natures” (C.G. Jung, 1966). Two Essays on Analytical Psychology, Collected Works, Volume 7, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.)

Let us not be religious/spiritual hypocrites. The same Creator made all of us; we are all part of this ONE Creator – no matter what name we choose to call Him, so let us take the time to look at our own lives, before we judge others. Let us consciously strive to understand our own dark or hidden side; it is part of who we are. After we have shed light upon our own dark side, we can shine our light more brightly for others.

“Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.” (John 2:9) “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (1 John 1:6)

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. (James 3:17) “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” (1 Peter 2:1)

So it is, sealed in trust, faith and truth, in the Sacred Divine Light.
Amen