A few days after the mid-term elections this thought came to my mind. Many are trying to decipher why the Republicans lost their majority and the Democrats gained. Many Republicans won the previous election by promising to enact conservative programs yet compromised and reneged. Some Senators and Representatives ran on family values. Tom Foley of Florida admitted to having a homosexual relationship while others are implicated in taking money from lobbyist for votes.

Let me submit my two cents worth in this matter. The election was not a sign that Americans have rejected family values and God in place of accepting homosexual marriages, partial birth abortions, and increasing our taxes, but it was a rejection of hypocrisy. Fact is, nobody likes a hypocrite. Various politicians have openly stated their homosexual activities but they never claimed not to be practicing homosexuality. Claiming to represent the average American, some took bribes. In short, the Republicans blew it!

The scribes and Pharisees felt the sting when Jesus called them hypocrites in Matthew 23. The harm of hypocrisy is described in various passages. "The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor" (Proverbs 11.9). They claim to be doing the will of God but are either doing it for show for what they want.

Keep in mind that hypocrisy will eventually be revealed. This is true in the area of politics and religion. A hypocrite may fool some of the people some of the time but he can not do so all the time. Also, the end of hypocrisy will be destruction. "For what is the hope of the hypocrite, thought he gain much, if God takes away his life" (Job 27.8). Sadly many will either be mislead or will reject the truth because of the hypocrite.

Let this be a lesson to us. If we claim one thing and do another we will be lost and cause others to reject the truth. Such will be a hard burden to bear on the Day of Judgment. D. T.