CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – In public life, there’s nothing worse than being a hypocrite.
We revile politicians who flip-flop. Those who live their lives differently than the public positions they espouse are reviled. Changing your mind on the issues of the day makes you appear weak or deceitful or worse.
Consider what’s happening in the U.S. Senate race in Georgia. Herschel Walker, is running as a pro-life candidate. Earlier this month there was an allegation that he encouraged a former girlfriend to terminate a pregnancy 13 years ago. She claims to have proof that he paid for the procedure.
Some consider this the bombshell revelation of the campaign.
It isn’t.
There are many people who were pro-abortion who are now pro-life. I welcome them to my side – the moral side – of the issue. I don’t consider them hypocrites at all. I’m glad that they’re no longer wallowing in sin and death.
Let’s assume the most generous explanation, that Walker’s opinions on the issue have changed over the past 13 years. Maybe he is being politically expedient. He’d merely be joining a long list of politicians who’ve changed their positions for political advantage. The first President Bush was pro-choice, and changed to make himself more appealing to conservative voters. Barak Obama and Bill Clinton were both opposed to gay marriage, and changed their positions as the political winds changed.
The bible is full of hypocrites, who are now considered champions of faith. King David saw Bathsheba and became an adulterer, and plotted the death of her husband. Moses was a liar who kept himself in Pharaoh’s household. Simon Peter knew that Jesus was the Christ, and denied knowing him three times. Mary Magdalene was a woman of ill repute who is now revered as a saint. What’s the alternative? Continue in your sin to save face?
This is an important lesson about faith. We’re not called to be perfect. Who is? We’re called upon to be transformed. Who we were yesterday isn’t who we are today. And who we are today is not who we’ll be tomorrow.
I’m Chris Conley
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