| The Grapevine Number 64 January 8, 2004 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15 Biblically Correct, Not Politically Correct by Jack Northart As is seen in our world today, being politically correct is so important to many people, governments and nations. They deem the laws of social acceptance higher than the laws of the land, and many times higher than the Word of God itself. Political correctness is intended to redress historical injustices in matters such as race, class, gender, creed and sexual orientation. Eventually, these edicts of social acceptance invoke change and become laws themselves. The biggest problem about their nature is that people become overconcerned with such change, often to the exclusion of other matters of greater importance. As we study the Word of God, we see that these same types of problems faced believers and men of God. The Gospels show this occurring time and time again. One such example is in Matthew. Matthew 15:1-9 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. The Pharisees made a point of telling Jesus that he was transgressing the tradition of the elders by not having his disciples wash their hands prior to eating bread. It wasn’t a commandment of God, it was a tradition of the elders. There is no problem with having a little tradition in life, but the problem with these tradtions were that they “transgressed the commandment of God.” Plus they were “teaching for doctrines [right believing] the commandments of men.” Furthermore, Jesus called them hypocrites. This probably put Jesus into the category of political incorrectness because he called the head religious leaders hypocrites. That’s not something that you did in Israel! These men were supposed to be holy and you didn’t criticize anyone that was holy. Apparently Jesus didn’t understand the rules of social engagement when dealing with these religious leaders. Jesus hadn’t taken the “Social Skills 101” course in seminary school. To the contrary, Jesus considered being Biblically correct much more important than being politically correct. He said, in no uncertain terms, what God Almighty thought of their program of social reform, not because he wanted to be a revolutionary, but because it was the truth of God’s Word. Another example of choosing to be Biblically correct rather than politically correct, is found in the Book of Acts. This is the record of Peter and John after they healed the man who was lame at the Temple Gate Beautiful. The priests, the captain of the temple and the Saducees came upon them and arrested them. The next day, they called them on the carpet to explain their actions. Acts 4:7-10 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Verses 16-20 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Peter also missed the course on “Social Skills 101.” However, he did speak God’s Word when it came to explaining his position on the issue. “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” He was Biblically correct, not politically correct. This attitude got him in trouble with the authorities, but kept him in right standing with God. His preaching of intolerance was not from man’s perspective but from God’s perspective. It is our right, privilege and authority as Christians to speak the Word of God in this day and time. If we are to alter the social ills of our society today, there must be a sufficient number of people who want it altered. Individuals who care enough about a given issue to make the sacrifices necessary to bring about change. The first step in all social change is a strong public opinion; the education of the public mind. Speech enables us to communicate the Word of God to the public mind. Boldness in holding forth the Word of God on a regular basis is required in order to affect change. The standard of the Word of God and the standard acceptable to the state are diverging more and more widely. To deter such a divergence must be primary and can only be brought about as God’s Word is spoken and believed. To be a nominal Christian is to conform to a non-Christian society. Romans 12:1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Our society has held together as long as it has because there has been a majority of people who have held the Word of God in high esteem for many generations. If the highest good is possible for man today, then our highest duty is obviously to act so as to make the highest good possible for future generations. As we are transformed by the renewing of our minds, we prove what is God’s good, acceptable and perfect will. When a society chooses to use men, instead of seeking God’s providence, we must not be surprised to have moral problems to which there are no apparent solutions. The introduction of political correctness is man’s answer to problems and does nothing more than bandage an infection. It does not deal with the real issue and bring about real solutions. Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation [hypocrisy]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Too many people cleave to evil rather than abhor it, and abhor that which is good. Wake up, people! That is backwards. Don’t allow yourself to be callously indifferent to the truth of God’s Word. Stand for truth and speak it to others. Know who you are in Christ and all that God has made you to be. Forget the excuses of the past and bury the apathy of the present. Let the love of God rule in your life once again. II Timothy 4:1-5 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. The past is gone. People talk about the “good ol’ days,” as if life was so much better at another time in history. What has happened in the past is over and gone. Trying to live it over again just brings heartache, resentment and misery. However, we can make a difference now if we but rise up to the challenge set before us. Let us make up our minds to be Biblically correct and not politically correct. Philippians 3:13,14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. |
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