At various times in our lives, we have all been chastised and denounced as hypocrites. Certainly, being labeled with that moniker was not meant to edify your behavior or intellectual posture. On the contrary, it is most often used to eliminate one’s credibility as a legitimate contributor to a philosophical debate. In these times of growing secular positioning, the word [hypocrite] has gained accelerated, liberal acceptance as an expedient means of claiming victory in any discussion of social values.
I am going to go out on a limb on this one and say, it is not necessary a bad thing to be called a hypocrite. To understand my thinking, one must consider the path to avoiding the purposed pejorative – simply claim no principles.
The New Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language defines “Hypocrite” as: One who feigns to be what one is not; assuming a false appearance of piety and virtue; insincerity; pretending goodness or religion. Clearly, pretending virtue or goodness is not an admirable personal attribute, but labeling someone as described, can be a subjective or intended misrepresentation of character. I would posit that more often than not, this would be the case. You may have noticed that Christians tend to be frequently targeted for this belittling stamp. Belly-dancers, Congressmen, and lawyers generally get a pass.
Prior to Jesus’ arrest by Pontius Pilate, had the disciple Peter been feigning love for his Savior? Was Peter, in fact, a hypocrite [note: The descriptive noun did not exist at that time] for denying his association with Jesus? Or, had Jesus merely predicted mans’ weakness when separated from God? God understood the intrinsic nature of man and sent His Son as a sacrifice for mans’ sinful behavior. Jesus knew Peter’s impetuous heart and his human frailties, yet Peter was the disciple whom Jesus told to “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15). If in the eyes of others, Peter was a hypocrite, it did not appear to disqualify his appointment by Jesus as leader of the disciples.
As Christians, we understand the sinful nature of man. We know that our sins are only forgiven by God’s grace and mercy. Does this knowledge suggest that we continue to live as God has instructed us, or yield to the imminence of future sinful behavior to avoid the dreaded “H-word” slander? Sadly, the fear of hypocrisy keeps some from making a commitment to Jesus in the first place. Interestingly, it is often a self-inflicted burden. But is putting one’s faith in Christ (for seeking wisdom and righteousness on earth) hypocrisy, when comprehending mans’ true nature? Certainly not! Should we hide our faith in Christ from others for fear of being called a hypocrite? In this context, it is not necessarily a bad thing to be called a hypocrite.
