Fishocrites

This week’s Christian Carnival links an interesting post on Christianity and hypocrisy. It’s a good read. For example:

But there is another, more common, motive behind such charges of hypocrisy. Religion in general, and Christianity in particular, are not simply benign, quirky notions without consequence, such as believing in alien spaceships or in your fairy godmother. Religious conviction has consequences–consequences which require personal decisions which often go counter to our natural inclinations. Although generally dismissed as mere superstition by secular skeptics, religious faith demands that we change, and conform our lives to the dictates of morality and–particularly in the case of Christianity and Judaism–be accountable to a personal God. The religious person asserts, through both his faith and his actions, that behavior has consequences beyond that easily foreseen. Such a testimony can prove threatening to those who would prefer that their actions and lifestyles be unassailable, no matter what their impact on them personally, the people around them, and society in general. Christianity is, furthermore, by its founding and nature an evangelical faith, seeking to actively call men away from self-centeredness toward the goodness and mercy of God through personal change and repentance. But this proactive endeavor is–unsurprisingly–threatening and uncomfortable for many, even when done for the best of motives.

He goes on at great length, in what is a great treatise on hypocrisy; however, I’ve always thought the words of Eli’s Hypocrite Song rather fitting:

I’ve been quick to point a finger
At things I find outrageous
Well, I wonder who I’ll point at
When I read my life on pages
When I’ve played my final number
It really won’t take long
To realize I sang a hypocrite song

Chorus:

Oh ly-dee-dye, oh ly-dee-dee
I thank the Lord that there’s a Heaven< br />Full of hypocrites like me
So tell the angels to get ready
Cuz it may not be too long
Until I come and sing my hypocrite song

I preach about redemption
As I look you in the face
Then I’m convinced I must be dyin’
But it’s just somethin’ that I ate
But it’s Jesus who gives mercy
To make a weak man strong
So he can stand and sing
His hypocrite song

Repeat Chorus

I can’t wait to see my Savior
And look Him in the face
Shake His hand and plainly thank Him
For forgiving my mistakes
And for helping me remember
That even when I’m right I’m wrong
Then we’ll rejoice and sing this hypocrite song