Seeking Shortcuts to Virtue

Yesterday, Jayme Metzgar wrote a fascinating piece in The Federalist, in which she drew parallels between the hate crime hoax perpetrated by actor, Jussie Smollett, and the sin of Ananias and Sapphira described in Acts 5 and pictured in the painting by Rafael above (see article here).  Metzgar highlights the fact that we all struggle with the desire to be seen as virtuous without actually doing the hard work of being virtuous.  Different religions produce different forms of hypocrisy, and the religion of identity politics is no exception.  As Christians, we must seek that genuine virtue, which is only possible through Jesus Christ.  May we celebrate His triumph over hypocrisy, which He accomplished by becoming a true victim in our place.