Hypocrites...

You cannot live a lifetime without running into hypocrites. They are everywhere. They have one set of rules for themselves and another set for everyone else. They act holier than thou and preach about morality, when all the while they are doing the same or worse things that they accuse everyone else of doing. Somehow, when they are doing the very acts they condemn, they have a justification for it that makes it ok.

Everyone knows that hypocrisy is wrong and can spot it immediately when someone else it doing it, they just don’t see it in themselves. They seem to have a special measuring stick whereby their slightly imperfect actions could never be as bad as someone else’s. Even when you point out their flaws, they use rationalization to ease their guilt and distance themselves from the responsibility of what they have done. They point to people who are bigger hypocrites and say “I’m not as bad as they are.” It’s as though finding guiltier parties diminishes the immorality of their own behavior.

I think the majority of us are hypocrites at one time or another. We are human and are born imperfect. We may try to live good, decent lives, but there are going to be times when we slip up and behave badly. What can you do? We can recognize and admit our faults and try to do better. We all start off with good intentions, but then we get off track for whatever reason. Whether we stay off track or get back on track is up to us.

Hypocrites judge others and their behavior. Maybe their time would be better spent taking a closer look at their own behaviors and correcting them. I found this quote:

“Most folks spend far too much time assessing the sins of other people. The fact that people are unable to live perfect lives is not really breaking news. Instead of measuring our lives by what hypocrites do, we need to model our lives after the One who set the perfect example.”

Everyone can improve themselves and strive to be better. There is no need to judge and criticize others in order to make yourself appear more virtuous. There are enough faults to go around, everyone is guilty of some wrong doing at one time or another. It’s what you do about it that counts.