hypocrisy

hy·poc·ri·sy   /hɪˈpɒkrəsi/ [hi-pok-ruh-see]
–noun, plural -sies.


1. a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.


2. a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude.


3. an act or instance of hypocrisy.

Last night was our weekly free English conversation club. We had a full program planned but only three showed up this time (normally we have about 10-12), so we nixed the original program and just sat around with coffee and cokes and passed out these conversation starter questions. Filip's question was "What 5 characteristics are most important in a wife?"  His answer was dominated by this....that she not be a hypocrite. His idea of a perfect woman is not one who says "God is everything", but then acts in ways that conflict with what she says. We have never discussed God together, Filip and I, as he is Danny's student and I see him rarely. But you should have seen the passion behind what he was saying in his terribly broken English. The idea of people saying one thing and then acting in a contrary manner clearly offended him. His other main point was that if we say we love God then we should respect our lives and others, our planet and, as he said, there are more living things on this planet than just humans. We hadn't intended on this particular evening to delve into a spiritual discussion, but God cuts His way through our plans in a most beautiful fashion, revealing His purpose as He removes the layers of our agenda. Filip, in his zeal, reminded me that we are all hypocrites from time to time, I being among the worst. As he was talking I felt awakened from a complacency in which I have been soaking. Saying who we are and what we believe over and over again dulls our senses and  tricks us into thinking that we are living the life we are supposed to be living. Yet, the word "living" is a verb and requires some action, an action that is in tune with the words falling from our lips. Just food for thought today...

Your declarations of love last no longer

than morning mist and predawn dew.

That's why I use prophets to shake you to attention,

why my words cut you to the quick:

To wake you up to my judgment

blazing like light.

I'm after love that lasts, not more religion

 

Hosea 6:4-6