tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021346565171482910.post2646996589830670851..comments2023-05-26T10:55:27.696-04:00Comments on Jc_Freak: UnchristianPart II: Hypocrisy Jc_Freak:http://www.blogger.com/profile/14780031497091443526noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021346565171482910.post-26091821810481973442009-06-09T17:22:02.110-04:002009-06-09T17:22:02.110-04:00Overlooked in this discussion, I think is the noti...Overlooked in this discussion, I think is the notion of hypocrisy as exhibited by the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law in Jesus' time. This was (partly) saying one thing and doing another about specific issues, but I think it was more about making a big deal about others' shortcomings as major failings, while ignoring their (our) own. This is evidenced in Jesus' parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee--where the issue was with the attitude of humility on the part of the first and arrogance on the part of the second. It's also obvious in Jesus' "woes" in pretty much the entire chapter of Matthew 23.<br /><br />I would say that the modern church's obsession with homosexuality (the "other guy's sin" while ignoring straight marriages ending in divorce "our sin") is a good example of this. Not that there isn't a moral standard to which the Bible calls us, but that people prefer to spend their time calling out the sins of others, not working on their own.<br /><br />Perhaps if we looked a bit more at the morality of economic and social oppression--something Jesus and the prophets had a whole lot to say about--we'd seem more "relevant" to a generation that seems (IMHO) to care more about justice than personal purity. Along the way, as they discover Jesus they'll be called to purity too, but that isn't what affects the world they care about. . .<br /><br />Which may be (part of) what you meant, Martin, when you talked about the gap between "looking Christian" and "being Christian."Dan Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01635080266346679464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021346565171482910.post-71178684723642538832009-06-07T18:10:43.331-04:002009-06-07T18:10:43.331-04:00I do not really think that is the definition that ...I do not really think that is the definition that we are dealing with. Niether does Kinnaman. He begins his chapter:<br /><br /><i>What does it mean to be a hypocrite?<br />At the core of the perception that Christians are hypocritical lies a debate about what hypocrisy means. In the most basic terms, hypocrisy occurs when you profess something that you do not really believe...<br />Yet if you ask Mosaics and Busters, they rarely apply logic or technical definitions to their complaints about hypocrisy. Hypocrites are people are two faced or who have double standards. Anyone who says one thing and seems to do another is subject to the label."</i><br /><br />To some degree, I do not think that they are judging us for being imperfect. Rather I think they misunderstand what they claim about ourselves. <br /><br />I cannot speak for Austrailia, but here in America there is a tendancy for American Christians to expect the rest of the country to be Christian, and therein act like Christians. Therefore, Nonchristians are often berated for their behavior by Christians and believe that behaving perfectly is what Christianity is all about. <br /><br />As such, the label for hypocrisy lies not on Christians failing to live up to their ideal, but on Christians who try to enforce a higher ideal to the people around them than Christianity itself expects.Jc_Freak:https://www.blogger.com/profile/14780031497091443526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5021346565171482910.post-26729385400992100102009-06-06T23:28:05.500-04:002009-06-06T23:28:05.500-04:00The issue I have is what people mean by hypocrisy....The issue I have is what people mean by hypocrisy. Of course the word may have changed its meaning to that of not living up to one's ideals. But then we will have to change the NT as that is not what it means there.<br /><br />The problem with the modern definition is that it favours having no morals. The less you expect, the less you break. We are all sinners. Christians should sin less, but people come to Christ at different points. Direction of your life is more important than any single action.<br /><br />But the real meaning of hypocrisy is to say that something is not okay for you and yet okay for me.<br /><br />Perhaps the meaning could be stretched to those who condemn others and hide their own same behaviour. But to say something is wrong, and do the same, yet condemn one's own behaviour, is not really hypocritical. I guess one should just be less judgmental in their stance.bethyadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08990677679970591625noreply@blogger.com