The Seven Woes of Hypocrisy

A Modern Day Warning to Politicians and the Religious Right, or more aptly the Religious Wrong.

Today the seven woes of hypocrisy are every day occurrences in those that profess the name of Christ, as Christians, which means a follower of Christ.  Jesus taught not that hate and abuse should rule, but that love and a true, humble devotion to God should rule those that profess to follow Him.

Having been a Southern Baptist Preacher, I have personally witnessed the loving, caring, and gentle nature of those that indeed are true Christians, as they are the very ones that carry the message of Christ in their hearts and live their lives accordingly.  I've also seen an increasing level of hypocrisy, especially among the religious zealots of our day, who seek not to love or honor God, but rather seek to serve their own personal desires, beliefs and for self-gain, all through hate, not love.

Politics and Government are not the avenues to promote one religious belief or system over another; however, such is becoming common place here in the United States as our government has been led by hypocrites favoring an extremist view of Christianity.  When a minority seeks to govern the majority, they implore underhanded tactics to force their views upon the populace completely ignoring what is right, fair and just; not to mention, ignoring the very principles of a religion they profess.

Thus, I say unto all of those today who seek to be the overlords and not the servants, "Woe unto you, Republicans and Christians, hypocrites!  You will receive greater condemnation. You are witnesses against yourselves.  Thus, beware that you do not continue upon a false path of righteousness."

The Seven Woes of Hypocrisy

Jesus present these seven woes or warnings in the Gospel of Matthew 23:1-39.  Matthew precedes the woes with a discussion of the Great Commandment (or two greatest commandments), the first of two commandments cited by Jesus in Matthew 22:35–40.  These two commandments are taken from the Law of Moses in the Old Testament and should be the basis of Christian ethics.  "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

The woes are warnings of hypocrisy and illustrate the differences between inner and outer moral states.

The seven woes of hypocrisy are:
1. They taught about God but did not love God — they did not enter the kingdom of heaven themselves, nor did they let others enter. (Matt 23:13-14)

2. They preached God but converted people to dead religion, thus making those converts twice as much sons of hell as they themselves were. (Matt 23:15)

3. They taught that an oath sworn by the temple or altar was not binding, but that if sworn by the gold ornamentation of the temple, or by a sacrificial gift on the altar, it was binding.  (Mat 23:16-22)

4. They taught the law but did not practice some of the most important parts of the law — justice, mercy, faithfulness to God. They obeyed the minutiae of the law such as titheing spices but not the real meat of the law. (Matt 23:23-24)

5. They presented an appearance of being 'clean' (self-restrained, not involved in carnal matters), yet they were dirty inside: they seethed with hidden worldly desires, carnality. They were full of greed and self-indulgence. (Matt 23:25-26)

6. They exhibited themselves as righteous on account of being scrupulous keepers of the law, but were in fact not righteous: their mask of righteousness hid a secret inner world of ungodly thoughts and feelings. They were full of wickedness. They were like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside, but full of dead men's bones. (Matt 23:27-28)

7. They professed a high regard for the dead prophets of old, and claimed that they would never have persecuted and murdered prophets, when in fact they were cut from the same cloth as the persecutors and murderers: they too had murderous blood in their veins. (Matt 23:29-36)

The term “morality” can be used either
1 - descriptively to refer to some codes of conduct put forward by a society or,
some other group, such as a religion, or
accepted by an individual for her own behavior or
2 - normatively to refer to a code of conduct that, given specified conditions, would be put forward by all rational persons.

Definition of HYPOCRISY
1 - a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially  the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion

Why did I write this?  The answer should be clear.  A false christianity has taken over our government and it is time such is removed before those with such false christianity are allowed to condemn our country and everyone based upon their false ideals.

• It is my firm belief that the time has long past and religion should be restrained and removed from all forms of politics and government.
• It is time to pass legislation to ensure that no elected or appointed official is allowed to express a particular religious view, nor allowed to present legislation or rules that would force a particular religious view upon the populace.
• It is time that churches are no longer provided tax exempt status.
• It is time that all people be allowed to live knowing that they are free to worship as they please, to be free from other's religious persecution, and to be supported by their government in their right to such freedoms.
• It is time that politics and government focused on providing for the general welfare of all of the people.
• It is time for revolution, not through the taking up of arms, but rather through peaceful acts of retaking our government for the purpose of removing the current religious hypocrites that are damning themselves and our country.

Texas HB2 - Opposed

An Open Letter to the Texas House of Representative's State Affairs Committee

As narrow-minded, religiously controlled politicians (mostly Republican) continue to violate the very basis of freedom, many have gathered to show opposition to extremely limiting bills that will force the closure of access for many women in rural areas of Texas.  Media may portray this as an abortion rights issue, but the fact is that this IS a human rights issue, a Women's rights issue, and a Religious issue!  The authors of HB2 are women, which is amazing considering the heavy price women have paid to achieve equal standing and the right to choice, irregardless of religious convictions.

Not being able to be present at the committee hearing today at the Texas State Capital in Austin, I did compose my response and emailed it to every committee member, although experience has shown that few politicians actually consider the views of the people and show a total disregard for the communications sent to them, well, unless such is joined with a large campaign contribution.

Here is my response to the House Bill 2 - HB2

Authors: Laubenberg | Burkett | Harper-Brown | Greg Bonnen
Coauthors: Frullo | Rick Miller | Simmons | White

May I begin by stating that as a man, a registered Republican, and as a former Southern Baptist preacher that I, by pure logical reason, have to call into question the motives and reasoning of the current legislation being presented as HB2. 

Over the last many years, elected officials, such as the authors of this bill, have completely disregarded the desires and direction of the people they represent, calling into question whether they are capable and reliable to effectively represent.  The State Affairs Committee hearing regarding this potentially damaging legislation is being held today, and as I cannot be present in person, I am writing this via email to show due cause for the cessation of this bill and to request that you personally ensure that this bill isn't allowed to continue. 

If this bill was truly in the interest of the public, then it would be widely supported by the voters of Texas, which it isn't based upon a recent poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research - "A majority of Texans oppose the legislation currently being considered by the legislature that imposes restrictions on abortion and 80 percent do not want abortion to be raised during the special session of the legislature called at the end of May by Governor Rick Perry." 

The bill states, "the state has a compelling state interest" which is not the case, as the state has no interest in governing the rights already obtained by women - the right to choice, which was established via Roe vs. Wade. 

"does not impose an undue burden or a substantial obstacle..."  This bill does in fact cause undue burden and substantial obstacles by forcing the closure of many rural facilities that allow lower income and those that are challenged by location/transportation easy access. 

"is located not further than 30 miles from the location..."  Such a limitation is cause enough for cessation, as most rural towns do not have hospitals and furthermore, most even lack more than a general physician. 

Further from the point of the mere act of Governor Perry calling an expensive Special Session, "Eight in ten voters agree that the special session should be focused on issues like "education, jobs, and economy instead of bringing up social issues like abortion; 71 percent think that the Governor and the legislature should spend less time passing laws restricting abortion." 

Responsible government doesn't seek to limit the rights of its people, it does provide for the freedom and liberties and ensures such.  The Texas House of Representatives is dangerously allowing the future of the failure of a democracy.  Adolf Hitler once commented, "The National Government will regard it as its first and foremost duty to revive in the nation the spirit of unity and cooperation. It will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built. It regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life."  History has clearly shown the downfalls of government attempting to legislate moral issues and to elevate a particular religious view over others.  Will your participation in this bill be marked throughout history as the very stepping stone that allowed the demise of democracy and the very freedoms it is built upon?

Finally, in the words of Thomas Jefferson, "Nothing can be more exactly and seriously true than what is there [the very words only of Jesus] stated; that but a short time elapsed after the death of the great reformer of the Jewish religion, before his principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, and aggrandising their oppressors in Church and State; that the purest system of morals ever before preached to man, has been adulterated and sophisticated by artificial constructions, into a mere contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves; that rational men not being able to swallow their impious heresies, in order to force them down their throats, they raise the hue and cry of infidelity, while themselves are the greatest obstacles to the advancement of the real doctrines of Jesus, and do in fact constitute the real Anti-Christ." 

Our country was founded on freedom from religious persecution, and this bill is itself a form of religious persecution, as it raises into law one religions ideals of morality and ignores the very fact of allowing individual choice, freedom, and rights.  Therefore, I encourage you to not allow yourselves to be entangled by such and to instead show support for such as is right, fair, and just by not allowing this bill to continue on any level or derivation. 

Signed:  Sebastian Barrett St.Troy

Yes, I do Stand with Texas Women and fully support their rights, shouldn't you?  Yes, I'm a proud Texan, an active Voter, and I am very ashamed of Governor Rick Perry (who should address his own 'sins' of not being forthright and honest about his sexual orientation) and the politicians supporting this legislation, especially considering the fact that Perry's Special Session is costing Texas taxpayers millions, which should be spent on education, improved infrastructure, and public transportation!