Recently, I read the story of a husband and wife who walked out of a movie theater partway through the film Milk. Both were disgusted after seeing actor Sean Penn, portraying former homosexual politician Harvey Milk, kiss another man. So they approached the box office attendant and demanded a refund. The attendant suggested they swap their tickets for a film that was about to start—The Changeling. He warned them, though, that it featured scenes of a serial killer axing children to death. The wife thought for a moment, then turned to her husband and said, “That sounds OK.”

I don’t know if the couple were Christians who felt that a public stand against homosexuality was required, or simply conservative folks who found the storyline of Milk to be distasteful. Either way, their actions reflect the hypocrisy that too many of us live out. Enraged by some sins, we turn a blind eye to others—a homosexual kiss onscreen is an outrage; a film enacting violence against children is “OK.”

Unknowingly, many believers in Jesus have adopted a list of “acceptable” and “unacceptable” sins. We are quick to declare that homosexuals, adulterers, and idolaters will not enter the kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9), but fail to see that neither will the greedy (v.10)—which probably describes many of us. We may be prone to complaining and arguing, while not acknowledging that it’s wrong to do so (Philippians 2:14). Few of us will talk about the sin of gluttony as we line up at the restaurant buffet bar (Proverbs 23:20). And when we worry, we fail to see it as a lack of trust in God (Matthew 6:25-34).

The apostle Peter encouraged his flock to get rid of all evil behavior, including hypocrisy (1 Peter 2:1). May Jesus open our eyes to see the “acceptable” sins that we’re failing to see, even as we rage against the “unacceptable” sins of others.