“Do As I Say, Not As I Do”

            Hypocrisy is kind of an ironic thing when you sit down and really think about it.  I say this because almost everyone as some point in his or her lives is a hypocrite.  Everyone has that “Do as I say, not as I do” moment.            On a personal level, I have witnessed my own hypocrisy.  I am a recovering drug addict, I was addicted to cocaine for several years, and I am currently clean and have been for 8 years.  I talk to my daughter who is now 16, about drug use and abuse.  I tell her that there is no good reason to touch the stuff.  I tell her that it can ruin her life.  But who am I to say that when I did.  That is the part that scares me a bit about it.  Because of my hypocrisy, she can say, “Well you did it and you’re fine.”  It’s kind of like those parents that say “Don’t smoke” as they light another cigarette.
            On a public level, I have also witnessed hypocrisy.  The area of Northern New Jersey where I grew up had a very large population of people who were members of the Roman Catholic Church.  Because of that the Roman Catholic Church had a huge voice in the community.  I was always taught that God creates everyone and because he is our creator He loves us unconditionally.  I was also taught that because God loves us so much, that we in turn should love not just our friends but our enemies as well.  Now here’s where the hypocrisy come in.  If anyone were to listen to a Roman Catholic homily or read Catholic literature about this topic, they would hear that it’s a sin, and immoral.  It would also be taught that because most homosexuals do not ask for forgiveness of this sin or try to change their lifestyle to one that is not in sin, they are not entitled to God’s unconditional love.  So basically, I see it as the Roman Catholic Church being a huge hypocrite.  In one breath they preach that God’s love is unconditional and pure for everyone; in the same breath, they preach that God’s love is only for those who live a Roman Catholic acceptable lifestyle.
            Personally I am a homosexual, I have an amazing relationship with God, my creator, who loves me unconditionally.  He created me, a homosexual; it was NOT a choice, because if it were I would choose to be straight!

(FYI: I am NOT a Roman Catholic and I won’t hold it against you if you are!)