Avoid hypocrisy

The Lord taught the importance of aligning what we do outwardly with what we think and feel inwardly. He said:

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matthew 12)

In scripture, “words” is a metaphorical descriptor of an individual’s outward actions.¹ You speak “idle words” when your outward actions are misaligned with your thoughts or feelings. Instances of “speaking an idle word” include:

• Pretending to be someone you aren’t.
• Doing something you don’t believe in or desire.
• Not doing something you believe in or desire.
• Saying something that you don’t believe to be true.
• Not saying something that you believe to be true.
• Holding a self-worth higher than your actions or desires merit.
• Criticizing someone for doing something you also do.
• Criticizing someone for something less bad than what you do.

All of the preceding behaviors are examples of hypocrisy. A hypocrite is someone who claims to think, feel, or act differently than they do. All forms of hypocrisy make you a liar.

Hypocrisy is a problem because it precludes sincerity, which precludes the spirit, which is required for inner (or any) growth. When your outward actions and inward thoughts and feelings are misaligned, you condemn yourself to lesser outcomes in life than you could otherwise have, because you will never choose what is best without intentionally aligning how you think, feel, and act. Hiding from yourself or hiding yourself from others may provide some positive outcome in the short-term, but never as much as expected, and never for very long. The price of dishonesty is always more than the benefits it brings.

Because God is just, all hypocrites will eventually be brought to judgement. To be brought to judgment as a hypocrite is to receive the consequences of what you actually think, feel, and do, and not what you tell yourself or others.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matthew 12)

To avoid being a hypocrite, live in accordance with what you actually believe and desire. “...Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” (Romans 12:17) Think, feel, and act according to what is best, as far as you can figure it out. Do not participate in rules or systems that you do not see as right or valuable. You don’t have to play games you don’t care about or live by rules you don’t agree with. Don’t allow yourself to be corralled into systems, restraints, and incentives you do not agree with.² Don’t do things you don’t care about. Don’t waste your time with what doesn’t contribute to what is important to you. Don’t allow other people to dictate your morality to you. Always do all you can to learn about as much as possible about reality—including from others—but always trust your own idea of right and wrong above the edicts of others.