Does falling short of one's standards make them a hypocrite?

[BCRanger10]

Whether it's a religious, moral, or political standard, if someone falls short of the standard, are they necessarily a hypocrite? Or is there a distinction to be made between a sin or mistake and a willful and intentional deviation?

[OlderAndWiser]

Real Christians aspire to live a life following the example of Jesus, but we fail every day, because we are all fallible humans. My church is full of sinners, but they also try each day to be a better person. That is not hypocrisy.

And there are people who flagrantly and intentionally flaunt the rules which they espouse for others. THAT is hypocrisy.

[thegreenyogi]

It depends on the situation. I think this also comes down to the difference between being flexible and inflexible. And I think we are only human so even if you're someone like me that sticks to their principles i can understand that there are situations in which you fall short of your principles for the greater peace or to avoid tensions to the end of a higher purpose and sometimes sacrifices must be made and not always does it come down to just hypocrisy.

[thegreenyogi]

Thanks!

[sage2021]

I believe that it is a conscience decision made by the person at the time it happens.

If it's their own standards we will never know. If you are taking about the world's standards, I don't think they should be judged one way or the other.

We all have made mistakes in our lives, but making a decision at the time it is happening they might believe it is the right decision at the time and may have regrets later on.

[sage2021]

Thank you for the MHO 🙂🧡

[Chazmatazz269]

A mistake is a fluke, or an opportunity to improve. If someone consistently falls short of their own expectations, then they are very likely a hypocrite. Especially if they weaponize their expectations against others.

[BCRanger10]

What if they are striving to meet and maintain that standard, but for whatever reason, they can't? Either because of addiction or some other reason, for example?

[Chazmatazz269]

Then they have to modify their expectations.

[NathanDavis]

not exactly, not always...

I'll always teach but not always by example... lmfao

specially, on the healthier ways

[Agape93]

If they still insist others meet those standards after they themselves fall short of them, yeah.

[BCRanger10]

Even if it happened only once and they've made whatever amendment they ought to have?

[Agape93]

Yeap.

Ok let's use my parents as an example. One standard of behavior they had, was it wasn't ok to have video games in the house, at all. If they brought in a Playstation and played doom on it, even as a whim, they'd be violating that standard. If they still insisted I adhere while they didn't, they'd be a hypocrite. If they threw it away, cool, no longer a hypocrite. But if they didn't, then they remain a hypocrite even if they did whatever Penance.

[BCRanger10]

And that's more or less what I was asking about, regarding amendment.

[strateguy632]

No. But jesus described hypocrisy in gospel.

[exitseven]

Everyone makes mistakes. You learn from it and move on.

[KimmySchmit]

Well we are all human.