Glimpses of Truth

Honest Hypocrisy – Part I . . .

Remember the 60’s?  The “new morality” love, or the loving thing to do, became the standard by which everything could be judged.  Translated it says, “It’s all right as long as you don’t hurt anybody.”  Oh, me!  How foolish we are!

We’ve come a long way, or we’ve gone down a long and wrong way.  The 60’s theme has now even become too restrictive.  The ideas today are even worse.  And let me remind you that they are being forced upon us and our children in almost every walk of life.  This new moral catch-all says, “It’s all right as long as you’re honest about it.”

Honesty has become the buzzword, the ultimate standard of worth.  This so-called honesty can transform the most irresponsible behavior into virtue.

Live as you please, do as you wish, go where you may, say what you will, no need to hide your lifestyles, don’t feel guilty about it.  “Why keep pretending and deceiving?  We’ve got to be honest with ourselves and others.”  Solution—they dispose of their families and start living in an “honest and open relationship.”  The wheel continues to turn, and everyone is given a license to find comfort in the fact that, “Well, at least I’m honest about it.”  This new honesty implies that people shouldn’t repress anything—I mean, anything!

Today, a person who exhibits self-control or abstinence is labeled as one who is being dishonest.  “Don’t hide what’s really inside you,” we are urged.  “Just be honest about how you feel.”

So the results are flourishing.  Teenagers tell their parents, “Studying is just not me.”  Women who feel tied down by toddlers suddenly face up to who they are:  “I’m not cut out to be a mother.”  Men who feel the pressure to succeed say, “Everybody else cheats, one way or another.”  Honesty has become an easy escape from all of life’s responsibilities.

Let’s not get caught in the trap of honesty equals being right.

What about real honesty before God—next week.