Hypocrisy: Is there a grace period?
Ξ February 6th, 2006 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Theology |
I was thinking the other day that there is something interesting about hypocrisy. Have you ever noticed that there seems to be a grace period between when you discover something that you should be doing and when not doing it actually becomes hypocrisy?
I’m thinking with a theological, Christian perspective here.
We often think of hypocrisy as saying one thing and then not doing it. So in a Christian context that might be something like saying, “Love your neighbor”, when in your own life you never extend a loving hand to those around you. It happens all the time, right? We can all agree that it would be hypocritical to not follow one’s own understanding of the Bible.
So what about this?
What about when you previously didn’t know something? For example, let’s say you didn’t realize that you were abusing someone emotionally. I know it seems heavy, but I need something like this to make my point. Let’s say you thought your actions were not hurting someone at all, when all of a sudden in some way you learned that you were in fact responsible for someone’s emotional anguish. Let’s also assume that this is happening in a relationship that you have been in for a long time, like perhaps a marriage, or an old friendship.
So you find yourself convicted. You realize you need to make a change and you are inspired to do just that. At the same time you recognize that this change will cost you. It will be a difficult change to bring about in yourself, though you know in your heart that you can’t allow the change not to happen because you love the person you have hurt.
My thought is this. With God and all His grace, it would seem that in some cases something like this is not really expected to bring on immediate change. There is a period of adjustment that seems to be allowed. So during that change, are you in a state of self revelation, or are you a recovering hypocrite?
The prior would suggest that while you are figuring yourself out, you are still holding on to a piece of your innocence. God understands that we are slow learners sometimes, so do you think you are hypocrite right away, or does he give you time to make your move and after the clock runs out, you either become a hypocrite or you don’t? Like, if you don’t make the necessary change the moment you become aware of something, is that immediately hypocrisy? Or is hypocrisy when you intentionally and actively defy your own words with your actions?
Another example: Let’s say you have been a Christian for a number of years as I have. Let’s say you have spent a lot of Sunday mornings learning from the scriptures at church and all that. Let’s say that you believe what we are supposed to be doing is loving one another and telling the world about Jesus.
How long can you believe that and not do it before you become a hypocrite? How long does God allow for us to figure our stuff out before he really requires this of us? In my experience, it would seem we can go a LONG time.
How bad is it to be a hypocrite anyways?
It’s like there’s this thing that happens when God convicts us. He says, “Son, [or daughter] you’re missing something I need you to stop missing.” We immediately know our guilt and feel sometimes incredible shame. Immediately He seems to wrap His arms around us to comfort us. In this moment you recognize that forgiveness has already come, and though you know your shame, you feel as though you have been granted some kind of permission to sort of take your time in sorting the issue out.
It’s almost as though His love actually undermines what would seem to be His intention of convicting you in the first place. It’s weird to put it that way, but that’s what it seems like. It’s as though He loves us so much that He can’t stand to see us suffering, even when it’s our fault. But make no mistake, ours is not a flaky God. His way is always right and supremely just.
I don’t know, I just think it’s interesting that we don’t call ourselves hypocrite at the first sign of contradiction between our actions and our words. It’s almost like we save that label for people who just stop trying.
I’ve got to say that I never REALLY consider myself a hypocrite, but it’s quite possible that I’ve been one for most of my life.