Heidi Viars

I picked up the pen and hesitated for a split second before signing the petition to reduce the speed limit in our neighborhood. I am not against reduced speed – not at all-  but have an extremely heavy foot.

When a while ago blue and read lights lit up behind me, I knew it wasn’t because I had accidentally hit my neighbor’s Christmas tree. I was incredibly grateful for the dark, since I was only several hundred feet from home. I am sure a few curtains parted and my neighbors were glad that the kind officer was finally catching the offenders. I fumbled for the registration and my license with my head hiding behind the dash. I felt like such a hypocrite.

Sometimes our hypocrisy can be seen for miles. Our two faces can be obvious to those around us and embarrassingly clear, even to ourselves. However, sometimes hypocrisy hides in the darkness of pretentiousness and selfishness.

Hypocrisy becomes most evident when we ignore the law, actually, when we ignore the intentions of the law. I sped because I didn’t care about my neighbors at that moment; I thought that the reason for my hurry was more important than the reason for the law, namely to keep kids safe.

Jesus told us that the most important law is to love God and love our neighbor(s). He said that loving God and others was the entire reason for the law. Jesus said He didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.

Unfortunately, I need the law. I need the reminder of my own shortcomings and hypocrisy. I also need the One who paid my fines and continues to give me grace – like that kind officer who gave me a warning … “this time!”. I wonder if he knew I had signed a petition?

Romans 10:4
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Romans 12:9-10
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor”