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By Travis K. McSherley NOTE: In an effort to comply with modern politically correct standards, the following Christian message has been edited to eliminate offending any person or group of persons. "Objectionable" words have been omitted, such as sin, judgment, wrong, man, spirit, truth, Creation, condemn, absolute, divine, hell, etc. Obviously it would be quite a futile effort to present a message about Christianity or salvation under the above criteria. But isn't this exactly what so much of the world is asking for? Doesn't this type of "filtered" doctrine better complement our "politically correct" society? After all, no one wants to hear that he or she is a sinner and doomed for hell. We want blessings without the curses. Praise without criticism. Rewards without sacrifice. Not everyone has accepted this politically correct system, of course, but the world (the U.S. and Europe specifically) seems to be more and more intolerant of ideas or values deemed to be "offensive" or "prejudiced." Instead, we are supposed to realize that no absolute truths exist in the world, and we are therefore unqualified to judge the moral values or actions of others. As John Leo of U.S. News & World Report writes, discussing Alan Wolfe, author of Moral Freedom: The Search for Virtue in a World of Choice: [Wolfe] sees the nonjudgmental ethic in generally positive terms. Americans are now unwilling to tell others how to live. By refraining from judgment, Wolfe thinks, Americans express a sense of humility and respect for the moral freedom of others. Nonjudgmentalism pushes us to interpret immoral behavior as a result of medical or genetic problems. The perpetrator is not at fault; he is the helpless victim of bad genes or a medical-psychiatric problem.(1)Rather than accept blame for our actions, many would prefer to blame hormones or parents or "society." Instead of accepting rules and laws, we would rather make our own. If and when someone steps in the way with disapproval or correction, he is labeled as "intolerant" or "close-minded." Charlton Heston, in a speech at Harvard University, said: I've worked with brilliantly talented homosexuals all my life. But when I told an audience that gay rights should extend no further than your rights or my rights, I was called a homophobe.It's almost humorous how ironic the politically correct "movement" can be. We pride ourselves and boast of our so-called diversity. We claim to be willing to accept everyone's ideas, morals, and opinions, yet those who hold opposition or criticism are branded as outsiders and pushed aside. Brian Stone, of "Wallbuilders," says, "'Political Correctness' censors any speech, and attempts to censor any attitude, which does not align itself with the prevalent philosophy held by those in power" (3). Andrew Sandlin of Forerunner.com adds: It is the policy on numerous American campuses to stifle discussion deemed to threaten the sensitivity of "under-represented" groups: homosexuals, blacks, women, the handicapped, etc. The supposed liberal tenet of free speech must now yield if under its protection comments are made that might offend the easily offended "minorities." (4)What begins as an effort to draw people closer together ends up pushing us further apart. When groups of people start to become oversensitive to being offended, they can eventually become bitter or spiteful of others. For example, the "women's rights" movement seems, in large part, to now be devoted to the hatred of men. While some groups may be seeking to mend legitimate holes where women are being treated unfairly, they are overshadowed by "womyn" who label men as oppressors and villains. Hardly a sign of equality, I'd say. And in catering to the "discrimination" of certain classes of people, often others end up being neglected or discriminated against. But many people accept the masquerade of diversity and "kindness to all" offered by the P.C. system. Some may be well-intentioned and sincerely interested in making the world a more "fair" place, while others may simply be searching for justification of immoral actions. But God is not fooled. "Wait just a minute," you may say. "Don't try and bring religion into this. It doesn't have anything to do with God!" My contention is that it has everything to do with God. In fact, I would even argue that political correctness flies in the face of everything for which Christianity and the Bible stand (at least for what they should stand). God is not only involved in the issue, He is at the very center of it! And lest you think I'm alone in drawing this conclusion, let me add this surprising observation. In researching for this series, nearly every reference I found on these issues -- on both sides of the controversies -- in some way recognized and/or discussed the conflict between P.C. and fundamental Christianity. The forces of rationalism and the advocates of "PC" only appeared to be arrayed against each other. They are both actually arrayed against biblical Christianity. Western liberalism embraces the primacy of reason; advocates of "political correctness" embrace the primacy of "equality." Neither embraces the primacy of God who revealed himself in Holy Scripture. (5)As you could tell from the title, the central theme of this series of articles is that God is not politically correct. Does this mean that God doesn't love everyone equally, or that He wants to weigh us down with rules, or that He does not hold compassion for those in rough situations? Of course not. What it does mean is that He does not try to hide who or what something really is. God hates sin. While we try to justify our improper actions with medical conditions, genetics, bad teaching, or "peer pressure," God shakes His head and says, "Sin is sin." He doesn't validate each person's relative definitions of right and wrong. "Sin is sin," He says. Unfortunately, it seems that many people today, including many churches, seem to be defending our "right" to sin, rather than condemning it as God does. This will be a significant part of the discussion in this series. But why does He hate sin so much? Because sin separates us from Him. God can't have evil in His presence, and by sinning we put a wall up between ourselves and the Father's loving arms. Sin sentences us to death -- not merely physical death, but eternal separation from our Creator (Romans 6:23)! In addition, we have all earned that death sentence (Romans 3:23). However, God has intervened and offered us a rescue plan. "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-1). God loves us so much, that 2000 years ago, He sent His Son -- a part of Himself -- to earth to become man and to be offered as a perfect sacrifice for all sin, that we might be able to live with Him forever. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). So if God takes sin so very seriously, why do we have the tendency to treat it with such indifference and passiveness? He doesn't mind at all making us feel guilty for our wicked thoughts and deeds, yet we try to push that guilt aside and replace it with things like the "if-it-feels-good-it-is-good" philosophy. Do we really believe that we will be more joyful and happy if we are free to do whatever we please? Isn't it possible that, though God does ask for obedience, maybe His ways are best? Living life God's way may not be the easiest route; and it may even require putting aside personal desires and doing what you do not want to do. But the rewards far outweigh the self-sacrifice. God wants to offer you the world -- literally! (Revelation 21:7, Matthew 5:5). In the coming weeks, we're going to hit a few of these controversial issues and worldviews head on. Certainly some will take offense, and all could. Maybe you are reading this article as a Bible-believing follower of Christ, and you are already trying to live a life in His image. Praise God for that! Through this series, I hope the Lord will lead you to a new respect for the importance of these issues and for the need to stay on your guard and in His Word. On the other hand, perhaps you are reading with heavy skepticism and a critical eye. Maybe you find yourself justifying sinful actions. I can't guarantee that you won't be offended in the upcoming articles, but my goal and my prayer is that you would be able to start looking at the world as God looks at it. The purpose of these articles is not to pick on any certain group (or groups) of people. We've all sinned, myself definitely included, and God hates every form of sin. My prayer is that God can somehow use the words in this series (1) to help you see yourself and the world around you as He does; (2) to help you take God's Word seriously, that you may be changed by it rather than to try to change it; (3) to help you learn to hate sin as passionately as He does; (4) to show you the beauty of living a life for Him, and most of all (5) to give you a glimpse of just how much He loves you. To accomplish these things
will require treading through some pretty rough waters. I realize
that what I have to say goes against the current flow of ideas taught in
much of our liberal society, including many churches. But if we can
start to look at the world from the point of view of the omniscient Creator
of the universe, then miracles can happen.
(1) John Leo. "My morals,
myself." U.S. News & World Report.
(2) Charlton Heston.
"Winning the Cultural War."
(3) Brian Stone. "How
important is it to be 'Politically Correct?'"
(4) Andrew Sandlin.
"Political Correctness and the Coming Culture War."
(5) Andrew Sandlin.
"Political Correctness and the Coming Culture War."
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If the world hate
you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of
the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth
you.
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