HYPOCRISY: A DANGEROUS DILEMMA

One of the most dangerous things we could possibly do is to walk through this life in the guise of a hypocrite.  Truthfulness, transparency and authenticity are non-negotiable keys for admission into the grace and glory of God.  Jesus Christ expressed it quite simply and succinctly.  “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)  Consider the story of “The Jackal in the Lion’s Skin.”

An unwise jackal lived in the jungle.  One day he felt powerful hunger pangs.  He looked for an animal to eat for lunch, but could not find any.  But in that remote corner of the jungle, the jackal discovered the skin of a dead lion.  He donned the skin, then raced to the tiger family’s cave.  He called out confidently, “Is anyone at home?”

The tiger’s wife came out.  She saw the jackal in the lion’s skin and thought he was indeed a lion.  Mrs. Tiger was terrified.  “Please, sir,” she said. “What do you want?”  The jackal commanded loudly, “Give me some meat or I shall kill you and your children!”

Mrs. Tiger ran inside.  She brought out lots of meat.  The crafty jackal ate and ate till he could eat no more.  Then he went away.  But every day the jackal returned to the tiger’s cave.  The tiger’s wife was totally afraid of him, so she provided meat daily.  The jackal ate and ate.  In fact, he ate so much that he soon grew fat.

One day the jackal said to the tigress, “Today I shall take your children to the river for a bath.  Tell them to get ready.”  Mrs. Tiger told her cubs, “Children, your uncle is taking you to the river for a bath.  Get ready quickly and go with him.”  The tiger cubs were very happy and went along with the jackal.  They came to the river.  The jackal said, “You all can have a swim in the river.  I shall stand here and watch you.”

The tiger cubs jumped into the river with glee.  They swam in the water and had lots of fun.  Then they came out and offered, “Uncle Lion, now it is your turn to have a bath.”  The jackal was afraid to go into the water, but he did not want the tiger cubs to find out.  So he said, “Very well, children.  I shall have a bath now.  I shall take off my clothes.  So children, close your eyes tight.  Don’t peek!”  All the tiger cubs closed their eyes.

The jackal removed his lying lion skin.  Then he went to the river.  But he was afraid to go in.  So he stood near the water and called out loudly, “Chup-chup, chup-chup, chup-chup!”  The tiger cubs thought he was swimming in the river.  They could not see him, because their eyes were closed tightly.  But the youngest cub was very naughty, so he opened one eye to look.  And what did he see?  He spied a not-so-clever jackal standing near the river, simply perpetrating, and crying out loudly, “Chup-chup, chup-chup, chup-chup!”

So the youngest cub said to his elder brothers, “He is not a lion at all!  He is just a jackal!”  “Shhh!” his brothers whispered.  “Don’t say that.  He is a lion.  If he hears you, he will kill all of us!” 

“But I tell you he is a jackal!” the youngest cub insisted.  “Just look!”  All the cubs opened one eye and looked.  They saw that the so-called lion was only a jackal.  So, all at once, they pounced on the jackal and ate him up.  The cubs went back and informed Mrs. Tiger: “Mother, uncle is not a lion.  He is a jackal, and we have killed and eaten him.”

“Shhh!” cautioned the panicky mother.  “Don’t say that, children.  He is a lion, and if he hears you, he will be very angry with us!”  “But mother, he is not a lion,” the cubs repeated with excitement.  “He is a jackal.  He was only wearing a lion’s skin.  We have killed and eaten him up.”  Mrs. Tiger was now ecstatic.  “Thank you, my children,” she said with a smile.  “Now he will not cheat or bother us anymore!”

Consider this addendum to the story.  Not only is hypocrisy dangerous, it is downright uncomfortable.  Decades ago, I worked for a man who called himself “Dr. ____” and told everyone he had a Ph.D., when in fact, he did not.  One day, while we were dining with our group, a young lady walked up and asked him the following embarrassing question: “Dr. ____, where did you pursue your graduate studies and earn your Ph.D.?  My employer practically choked on his food!  You see, lying is unnecessary, and only leads down the path of additional deception.  Often, the only one you are really fooling is yourself!

The story of “The Jackal in the Lion’s Skin” is reminiscent of Christ’s strong warning to His Church: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)  However, the people of God are never without divine direction and protection.  Jesus advised his disciples, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)  It is of paramount importance that the people of God remain ever alert and watchful…lest we be led into the subtle snares of “ravening wolves.”  So…Watch and Pray!  (Nehemiah 4:9 – Matthew 26:41 – Ephesians 6:18 – Colossians 4:2 – I Peter 4:7)   My sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!