By Dick Lambert
The term “Politically Correct” today appears to carry the same connotation as the philosophy of “situation ethics” from the seventies. The end of both ideologies is that there are no absolutes. Everything is said to be relative dependent on the person and the circumstance. What is wrong for one person may be right for an-other. Society in general is expected to tolerate and accept most anything that is sincerely believed or practiced at the moment .
There are churches that are embracing the “Politically Correct Idea” and abandoning the absolutes taught in the Bible. For example, the government has endorsed homosexuality and other acts of perversion and calls them alternative life styles. This politically correct idea has crept into some churches. Instead of teaching what the Bible says about this they have not only accepted homosexuals into the church but have appointed them as priests and to other leadership rolls. The Bible teaches us that this deplorable practice is an abomination to the Lord God of heaven. It also says it is an unnatural act, it is lust, it is sexually immoral, it is unclean and dishonorable. The Bible further teaches that if one doesn’t repent of homosexuality they will not inherit the kingdom of God but will have their place in the lake which burns with fire and brim-stone (1 Cor. 6:9-10).
As another example of being politically correct the government rewards laziness and calls it welfare. There are churches that do the same and call it a ministry to the disadvantaged. The Bible teaches that the church is to help the needy saints, however if able bodied folk won’t work, neither should they eat (2 Thess. 3:10).
It isn’t politically correct to call people what the Bible calls them. Society says that alcoholism is a sickness or an alcohol problem. The Bible calls such people drunkards. It is sin and such will not inherit the kingdom of God. Many churches choose the politically correct approach which is to ignore it and not teach on drunkenness.
Jesus wasn’t politically correct to the chief priests, the scribes, or the Pharisees and he certainly wouldn’t be in our day. He told the Pharisees that they honored him with their lips but their hearts were far from him. Their worship was in vain because they were teaching the commandments of men instead of the commandments of God. His disciples came to him and asked him if he knew that this had offended the Pharisees? Jesus didn’t apologize for teaching the truth but told them they were like blind guides leading the blind and both would fall into a pit (Matt.15:8-9, 12-14).
On another occasion he told the scribes and the Pharisees that they were serpents, a generation of vipers and asked them how they thought they would escape the judgment of hell. He did not take the politically correct approach and tell them what they were teaching and saying was their freedom of expression. I wonder what Jesus would say if he visited many churches today?
The philosophy of political correctness idea is a determent to society and will certainly destroy the church. Instead of solving problems it intensifies them and creates more. The church needs to call Bible things by Bible names and teach the precepts of God from Scripture. God’s word spans the bridge of time and gives solutions to our problems as well as the problems of society.
God so loved the world (people) that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Therein lies the hope, the peace, the contentment and salvation for those who believe and obey the gospel. Churches need to preach and teach “Thus saith the Lord” and forget about what man thinks is politically correct!
Guardian of Truth XL: No. 21, p. 5
November 7, 1996