St. Maximos' Hut

Jef Jacoby has a nice column reflecting on the Abramoff scandal from a religious perspective. After enumerating Abramoff's troubling behaviors, Jacoby concludes that none of the behaviors themsevles are the worst things Abramoff did. Instead:

The worst is that Abramoff is a Jew. Not only a Jew, but an Orthodox Jew -- someone who claims to be committed to strictly observing Jewish law and faithfully adhering to the Torah's ethical standards. But instead of upholding those ethical standards Abramoff trampled on them, and a ''religious" Jew who behaves so corruptly disgraces not only himself but all religious Jews. He brings his faith into contempt. He is guilty of what Jewish tradition calls, with disgust, ''chillul ha-Shem" -- a desecration of God's name.

For me -- also an observant Jew -- that is the worst thing of all.

Coincidentally, my family had just read Matthew 6:1-8 as part of the "read the New Testament in a year" program we are following from the Orthodox Study Bible. Matthew gives Christ's injunction:

[1] Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
[2] Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[3] But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
[4] That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
[5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
[7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
[8] Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Not surprisingly, we find a concern with hypocrisy in both the Jewish tradition and Jesus' teaching. (The more Scripturally adept among the Hut can undoubtedly add additional references denouncing hypocrites.)

What is so offensive about hypocrisy? One reason is surely the "externality" that such behavior creates for the rest of the group of believers. As Jacoby notes, the public proclamation of faith by someone who is actively undermining the values of the faith tend to bring the faith into public disrepute. This discourages the faithful and undoubtedly hinders evangelizing - thus not only does the hypocrite harm himself but he serves as a snare for others as well.