Citizen Columns
Citizen Columns >> Answer (September 30th, 2006)
Question
Skeptics often accuse church members, especially clergy, of being hypocrites
who are no more successful than anyone else in living a good, moral life,
and in fact, stumbling in more spectacular, public ways. How do you respond?
Answer
Jesus and the Old Testament prophets were just as skeptical. They often made
the same accusations against the religious people of their day. But they
didn't abandon the love of God or the community or the desire to serve just
because they saw others stumbling. The Bible makes no secret of the very
public falls of some of its great heroes: Samson, David and Solomon all had
trouble with their sexual passions. Peter was a coward and abandoned Jesus
at the cross. Paul was a violent persecutor of the earliest Christians. But
there was a lot more to these people than their failures. With God's help
there was also forgiveness and another chance to get it right.
Examples like this help keep Christians human and humble when we struggle
with our own temptations. It keeps us from being harsh in pointing fingers,
correcting, judging and condemning others. "Let him who is without sin cast
the first stone."
They also inspire us to get up again when we fall. For many this is a quiet,
daily struggle and a lifetime of little acts of charity. But think also of
the spectacular public works that have been inspired by Christian faith:
music, art, literature, hospitals, universities, and care for the poor. And
don't forget the churches, monasteries and communities that have been places
of spiritual rest and recharging for countless people. There is virtually no
area of public good that has been untouched by people inspired by Christian
faith. We can't allow our hypocrisy to get in the way of trying to love God
and serve our neighbor.
I'm skeptical of the skeptic. Suppose his hefty neighbor signs-up to run a
marathon and starts talking about dieting and getting in shape. But one day
Skeptic catches the guy eating a box of donuts. "I would have run the
marathon too, but he's such a fake." So he stays in front of the TV. Who is
the real hypocrite here?
Father John Jillions
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