Hypocrites, virgins, and sinners6 min read

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Recently, I was accused of choosing a stance on an issue because I was favoring my own situation.  Specifically, since I have married a formerly illegal immigrant Mexican, my moderate stance on immigration (which is different from my more conservative positions on most issues) was questioned, and I was accused of making my stance based on convenience, not conservative conviction.

Such an accusation, if taken seriously and without being defensive, forces one to examine the reasons WHY they take stances, and how those stances compare to one’s current habits, as well as one’s history.  And how our stances, compared to our history and current practices determines whether we are hypocrites, virgins, or sinners.

Actually, to examine the relationship between our stances on issues and our own righteousness, we need to separate what we are FOR from what we are AGAINST.

1. AGAINST Stances: hypocrite, virgin, or sinner?

If we create a matrix to compare our past and present activity in relation to our anti-stance on an issue, it might look like this:

Past History	Present	Result
TRUE Committed the opposed action	TRUE Commits the opposed action	HYPOCRITE
FALSE Never committed the opposed action	FALSE Do not commit the opposed action	VIRGIN
TRUE Committed the opposed action	FALSE Do not commit the opposed action	SINNER
FALSE Never committed the opposed action	TRUE Commits the opposed action	HYPOCRITE

So, for example, if I oppose premarital sex, I fall into one of three categories – a virgin (V), who has never done said action, a hypocrite (H), who currently engages in such (whether or not I did it in the past is immaterial if my present is bad), and sinner (S) – someone who admits it was wrong, and has ceased ‘sinning’ (and so in that sense, being an admitted sinner is a good thing ;).

Of the three, the most believable is the sinner, the virgin a bit less, and the hypocrite, not at all.  So, for the following issues (if you are against them), which are you?  My results below:

• Abortion – V
• Drug use – S
• Homosexuality – V
• Gay marriage – V
• Lottery – H
• Porno – S
• Premarital Sex – S

2. PRO-stances: hypocrite, advocate, or convert?

On the pro side, we have results that are in some ways analogous to the the categories above.  For clarity, the things we support below are NOT indisputable rights (like helping the poor), but questionable things (like being anti-immigration or pro-gay-marriage).

Past History	Present	Result
TRUE Performed the proposed action	TRUE Willing to perform the proposed action	ADVOCATE
FALSE Did not perform the proposed action	FALSE Unwilling to perform the proposed action	HYPOCRITE
TRUE Performed the proposed action	FALSE Unwilling to perform the proposed action	HYPOCRITE
FALSE Did not perform the proposed action	TRUE Willing to perform the proposed action	CONVERT

So, for example, lets say you are pro-abortion.  If you have had an abortion or supported it in the past, and would be willing to have one now, you are an advocate (A).  If you support abortion, but are unwilling to have one now (or allow your own daughter to, for example), you are a hypocrite (H). Now, I admit that you may, for instance, not want your daughter to have one, but you would not take that choice from others, and so in some way be consistent in your values.  But for the sake of argument, tentatively accept that such a position may be viewed as hypocritical.  Lastly, if you were unwilling to have an abortion in the past, but are now, you are a convert (C). 

So, how would I stand on issues I am FOR?

• Abstinence – C / H
• Contraception – A
• Day after pill / Plan B – A
• Faithfulness in marriage – A
• In-vitro fertilization – C
• ESC research – C
• Pathway to citizenship for aliens – C
• Speed limits – H

Now, I know this analysis works better for things you are against than for.  Mostly, because when you are against something, it’s really actions that count.  When you are FOR something, there are more variables.  I think that willingness AND action are probably worth looking at.  Many of us are willing to support a cause, but in actuality, don’t take much action on it.  Am I a hypocrite because I am pro-in-vitro fertilization, but have never used it?  Not necessarily. 

But what is important about willingness is, if we are unwilling to take an action ourselves, yet support the action for others, we are probably being hypocritical.

Even more importantly, we should consider our actions in relation to causes we support.  If we are FOR something (ADVOCATES), the question is, have we actually DONE it in the past or present.  If so, we may have a conflict of interest – that is, we may be justifying our behavior, not taking an independent stand.  In such cases, whether it be pro-gay or pro-immigrant, if we have something to directly gain from our stance, we are less believable.

I think each of us ought to at LEAST look at what we are for and against, and see if we are being hypocritical or not, and if we are possibly at risk of having a conflict of interest, and end up justifying our behavior, or having less credibility because of our conflict of interest.