O Lord, you have searched me
and you know me.
—Psalm 139:1
Merriam-Webster defines hypocrisy as “a feigning to be what one is not . . .” The Greek word means “someone acting under a mask.”
Hypocrisy runs on two tracks . . .
Some wear the “profane” mask, wanting to be regarded as worldly; worse than they really are.
Others wear the “pious” mask, wanting to be regarded as religious; better than they really are.
And some have both masks in their backpack; donning whichever panders to present company.
With God, we may as well trash the mask, for there’s nothing we can hide from him.
“Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. . . . You know my thoughts before I think them. . . . even before I say a word, you already know it” (Ps 139:1, 2, 4 NCV).
Leading a double life
inevitably leads to double trouble.