Denver Christian Docs

DenverDocWife and I have had numerous discussions about an interesting American phenomenon. It seems that you just cannot criticize immorality unless you are perfect. So we have Dr. Laura Schlesinger, who criticizes immorality all the time, pilloried for a lapse in her college years. A representative who engaged in some pretty bad emails is drummed out of congress, and his entire party criticized for weeks for his transgression, while a member of the other party had a homosexual escort service run out of his Washington office with no consequences. He still serves. A president who lies under oath remains a political icon, just because he doesn't claim any moral position at all.

Recently while we were out of the country, a pastor came under attack. He has homosexual temptations which he has given in to. Is he a hypocrite?

First Things writers weigh in on this question with interesting conclusions. I must admit I like their conclusion. As best I can state it, if someone believes something is wrong, wishes they weren't doing it, but does it anyway, they are NOT being hypocritical. They are being sinful, human, perhaps weak.

If on the other hand someone professes to believe something is wrong, does it anyway, but really has no regrets about doing it, THEY are being hypocritical.

So a man who says he believes in fidelity but keeps a mistress, enjoys it, and has no guilt about it is a hypocrite. If he feels regret, but can't seem to help himself, he is weak but not a hypocrite. Makes sense to me.