2007-09-21 03:35:34 · 19 answers · asked by Sharon 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
According to Merriam-Webster:
hyp·o·crite
1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
For Christians to err or sin is natural, but to do so consciously or willfully without repentance is an example of hypocrisy.
2007-09-21 03:47:39 · answer #1 · answered by detailgirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because nobody is or can ever be absolutely perfect. A hypocrit to my way of thinking is one who pretends to be one thing....in fact makes a big play of being devout and all that but repeats the same commandment breaking again and agian with no real effort at not repeating the sin. AND is stupid enough to think that everyone still thinks the hypocrit is devout and good etc.
2007-09-21 09:00:15 · answer #2 · answered by eagledreams 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. A hypocrite might be someone who condemns someone else for something but does the same thing himself.
Ted Haggard is a hypocrite. He condemned gays while he was paying for the services of a male prostitute.
I would also consider someone a hypocrite if they "cherry-pick" the verses in the Bible that they like and ignore the ones they don't like. I've seen churches that do nothing to "feed the poor, heal the sick, and visit people in prison", even tho Jesus said they should. There are some that do, and I applaud them.
2007-09-21 03:43:45 · answer #3 · answered by Robin W 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My definition of a hypocrite is a Christian who does not follow the teachings of Jesus.
Nobody's perfect.
2007-09-21 03:41:07 · answer #4 · answered by Marvin the pedantic martian 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nope.
My definition of a hypocrite is either:
1. Someone who judges others by standards they themselves cannot measure up to.
2. Someone who tries to ACT like they are far more righteous than they really are in order to claim moral superiority over another
3. Someone who selectively picks and chooses a moral code or rules (religious or not) according to their own personal predjudices or based on who is acceptable to be picked on.
An example of this is the emphasis certain Christians give to Paul when it comes to gay people (because of their own personal dislike) but how they leniently interpret his words regarding women being allowed to lead or take up any superior positions over men church (because gender equality has become more socially acceptable).
If you are going to say a book is 100% absolute truth and the ONLY measure of human behavior and use it to judge others then you committ yourself to following its dictates in EVERY aspect of YOUR life too.
To do otherwise would make you a hypocrite.
2007-09-21 03:52:08 · answer #5 · answered by pixie_pagan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting. Are Christians supposed to be perfect!!!
If a hypocrite is a person who is not abolutely perfect! that means everyone on earthy. Not just the Chritians. Everyone.
None of us are perfect.
2007-09-21 03:44:36 · answer #6 · answered by Soleil 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I don't assume all Christians are consciously hypocritical, some actually believe the crap they preach.
But many, as witnessed on this forum, are very quick to attack other religions and point out faults in others whilst not acknowledging the logical inconsistencies, contradictions and moral abhorrence inherent in their own faith. This is a hypocritical stance, but again, many of them as so blinkered and small-minded they simply do not notice that they are behaving hypocritically, so to what extent can you really call them hypocrites?
2007-09-21 03:41:14 · answer #7 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. It just so happens that most of the Christians who come in here *are* hypocrites, because they act nothing like how Jesus told them to act.
2007-09-21 04:14:29 · answer #8 · answered by Cap'n Zeemboo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone can be a hypocrite. Madelyn Murray O'Hair (sp?) whined about Christians being unforgiving and then said she would never forgive her son for becoming a Christian.
.
2007-09-21 03:45:03 · answer #9 · answered by Weird Darryl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it means that you are holding people to a higher standard than that of yourself. So if you are a Christian and you tell everyone that lying will make them go to hell and you yourself lie, then yes, you are a hypocrit.
2007-09-21 03:43:49 · answer #10 · answered by Ktcyan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋