HYPOCRISY! Will It Ever End?

PANAYIOTA grew up on an island in the Mediterranean. As a teenager, she took a keen interest in politics.  Later, she served as the secretary for a political party in the village where she lived.  She even went from house to house to raise funds for the party. As time passed, though, Panayiota became disillusioned.  Nepotism, ambition, friction, and jealousy persisted despite party members calling each other comrade.

Daniel was raised in a staunchly religious family in Ireland. Sadly, however, he had vivid memories of the hypocrisy of the priests who drank heavily, gambled, and stole from the collection plate, all the while preaching to him about burning in hell if he sinned. 

Jeffrey spent most of his working life in marketing and sales for international ship owners based in the United Kingdom and the United States.  He recalls many instances where clients and competitors resorted to fraud when negotiating with government officials.  Hypocritically, they were willing to say almost anything in order to secure a contract.

Regrettably, these are not the isolated cases. Hypocrisy is all too common today in nearly every area of human activity-political, religious, and commercial. Appropriately, the English word "hypocrite" comes from a Greek root that denotes a speaker or a stage actor, often donning a mas. In time, the term came to mean anyone who was putting  on an act to deceive others or to advance certain selfish goals.

Hypocrisy can arouse strong emotions in those affected by it, including bitterness, anger, and resentment. In frustration, the victims may say:  "Hypocrisy! Will it ever end?" Thankfully, God's Word gives us reasons to believe that it will.  

Next time: HYPOCRISY! Will It Ever End? - HOW GOD AND HIS SON VIEW HYPOCRISY

From the Watchtower magazine