For Real?

A while back I'd asked a friend if they'd read my blog. They replied that they had, they liked it, but the spiritual bit scared them. They said they'd had a bad experience with some hypocritical people from church. It seems this hypocritical thing has been a constant descriptor of "church people" through the ages. Wikipedia defines Hypocrisy as "The act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie." Pretty heavy stuff at the tail end of this. "Hypocrisy is thus kind of a lie.". I think the origin of the word comes from Latin or something which means actor, or playing a part. Not being real.

Hypocrisy escapes no one. We've all been there and done that. It is far too often in leadership positions and roles. Be it a do as I say, not as I do form of parenting or some finger wagging politician who is wrought in scandal. We are not holier than thou—if thou is just someone else.

The reality of hypocrisy within the church is a shame — a tragedy. And Jesus clearly spotted the hypocrites and called them out (Matthew 23 is loaded with this). I hope that the words that I've been typing within this blog, as well as the life I am leading is transparent enough to have me not veiled or saying I am things that I am not. I do my best to place myself, my faith, and my life out in the open, as well as try to look in the mirror for self-examination. I fail. I succeed. I insult. I encourage. I fall short. I get up again...by the grace of God.