the truth shall set you free

I’m in the process of reading Neal Stephenson’s Diamond Age, which I recommend highly. It’s science fiction (more accurately “cyberpunk”), but Stephenson turns out to be a very savvy social commentator as well. The book parallels a lot of the ideas that I plan to deal with on this site, so I’m going to use a short passage as a springboard introduction. To give some context, the book takes place in the future, where nanotechnology has exploded and become a part of everyday life on practically every level. In the midst of this advancement exists a group of “neo-Victorians” who emerged from a childhood of moral relativism desiring a return to the virtuous lifestyle of the Victorian age. The passage I’d like to consider is a discussion among a few neo-victorians regarding the nature of hypocrisy.

“You know, when I was a young man, hypocrisy was deemed the worst of vices,” Finkle-McGraw said. “It was all because of moral relativism. You see, in that sort of a climate, you are not allowed to criticize others - after all, if there is no absolute right and wrong, then what grounds is there for criticism?” . . .

“. . .this led to a good deal of general frustration, for people are naturally censorious and love nothing better than to criticize others’ shortcomings. And so it was that they seized on hypocrisy and elevated it from a ubiquitous peccadillo into the monarch of all vices. For, you see, even if there is no right and wrong, you can find grounds to criticize another person by contrasting what he has espoused with what he has actually done. In this case, you are not making any judgment whatsoever as to the correctness of his views or the morality of his behavior - you are merely pointing out that he has said one thing and done another. Virtually all political discourse in the days of my youth was devoted to the ferreting out of hypocrisy.”

Stephenson very aptly describes hypocrisy and it’s usefulness in passing “non-judgmental” judgment. This brings to mind the focus on hypocrisy throughout the Bible - particularly in the New Testament - and whether or not it is, in fact, the “monarch of all vices.”

In Diamond Age, hypocrisy is presented as a “ubiquitous peccadillo”, that is, a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin. It was perceived by some as a greater sin, namely those in the midst of moral relativism. Their critical, “censorious” nature persisted, even in the absence of objective morality. Keenly noted is the “ferreting out” of hypocrisy in the political arena, an area of discourse which seems to focus more on trumping competitors than searching out the truth. Unfortunately, this mindset is not limited to politics; we all employ it to a certain degree, the secular world certainly applies it to Christians, and it is a particular blight within the church itself.

The question at hand is this: Is hypocrisy really a “piccadillo”, or is it the “monarch of all vices”? As early in the scriptures as Job, we see proverbial warnings against hypocrisy coupled with the instruction that hypocrisy is simply temporary deceit. Francis Bacon, in his essay on Truth, quotes Montaigne as follows:

Montaigne saith prettily, when he inquired the reason, why the word of the lie should be such a disgrace, and such an odious charge? Saith he, If it be well weighed, to say that a man lieth, is as much to say, as that he is brave towards God, and a coward towards men. For a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.

In other words, deceit is nothing more than cowering before our fellow man for fear of temporary humiliation or pain while simultaneously standing up to all-knowing God, blatantly disregarding His demands for virtue and honesty.

Job 27:8 says, “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?”

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus urges his disciples to worship from the heart in privacy, rather than displaying their devotion in hypocrisy (Matthew 6:2,5,16). Immediately following these examples, Christ points out that hypocritical judgment is unrighteous (Matthew 7:5). Note Matthew 15:7-9:

“Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men.”

In Matthew 23, Jesus focuses on the Pharisees’ hypocrisy by describing the superficiality of their behavior.

He says, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.”

James 3:17 says,

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.”

Hypocrisy is undoubtedly a grave sin. It misplaces one’s allegiance causing one to fear men and scoff at God. Beyond this, the cause of Christ is damaged and souls are eternally lost when supposed “disciples” live hypocritically. Countless times in my studies with friends have I heard the excuse “the church is full of hypocrisy.” To many, this justifies their rebellion. Let us consider again Stephenson’s description of hypocrisy. He notes that even those that have abandoned morality for “relativism” are capable of recognizing hypocrisy.

“For, you see, even if there is no right and wrong, you can find grounds to criticize another person by contrasting what he has espoused with what he has actually done. In this case, you are not making any judgment whatsoever as to the correctness of his views or the morality of his behavior - you are merely pointing out that he has said one thing and done another.”

It has been said that the sermon lived is more effective than the sermon preached. This rings true when we consider that those who desire to destroy the faith - though they may not know one scripture - are capable of recognizing our hypocrisy. With this in mind, let us always remember to be peaceful, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere as we seek to do God’s will and bring the lost to Christ!