October 07th, 2012

Hypocrisy.

It's a familiar word to most of us. Some have been accused of it. Many people involved in religion of any kind are often accused of being hypocrites. I know I have been. I used to argue that I was not. But I've changed my mind.

If I can't do what I tell others they should be doing, then am I really practicing what I preach? No. Not at all. I'm being a hypocrite by trying to make people do what is impossible for me. I'm preaching with the assumption that others should be like me, and that I have already accomplished everything I'm trying to convince them of.

But how is one supposed to preach without doing that?

It's easy, really. You teach people about your goals, not your successes. You keep in mind that all you're really trying to do is convince others to share your goals and ideals so there's another person to walk the long road with. And, if you believe this, so that the end of their road is more pleasant than the one they currently have before them.

Preaching and teaching are not ways to 'toot your own horn.' They are ways to help others, and also, I think, to remind us that as hard as we try, none of us are perfect.