“My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?” (James 2:1)
As I entered the checkout line at the local supermarket, I looked behind me to see a lady with whom I had worked a number of years before. As we chatted while waiting for the line to move, I asked about her nephew who had also worked with us at one point. Remembering that he had studied the culture of Indian tribes, collected memorabilia, and at one time lived on a reservation – I inquired how he was doing. I thought I had posed a very logical question by asking, “Is he still living with the Indians?” She looked at me hesitantly and said, “You mean Native Americans, don’t you?” I replied, “Well I guess I do.” The interesting thing about the conversation is that I don’t recall this individual being a particularly sensitive person, especially as it would have related to the realm of political correctness.
Every day, our culture provides us with what our appropriate references should be toward others so that they do not take offense. Much of the time, most of us fall in line in order that respectful communications and positive relations can be maintained. It has come to the point, however, that any mention of God or love of country can force us to be thrown off a team, ostracized by the neighbors, or lose our livelihood. It’s infiltrated our culture and is forcing young people to be raised with a whole new set of values and self-expression. Examples include a high school track team disqualified because one of the runners “made a gesture thanking God” once he had crossed the finish line. At one California school, five students were sent home for wearing shirts that displayed the American flag on the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo. A student at a western state university was ordered to take off a cross that she was wearing because someone “could be offended“. For those of us who grew up publically wishing folks a “Merry Christmas” – we are often surprised when we get more than a “Happy Holiday.” I say it anyhow.
The concept of Christianity from its very beginning was offensive to those who followed the old law of Jewish custom and tradition. Jesus was frequently politically incorrect. When He dined with Levi, many tax collectors and sinners of that day were also gathered there. The teachers of the law criticized Him for doing so. “When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (Mark 2:17). He was questioned about fasting and also healing on the Sabbath. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!’” (Mark 2:27-28). People often use the notion of being visibly offended as a way to gain support in labeling or judging the motives of someone’s heart. At other times, political correctness can become overly focused on issues of self-esteem. In either case, when these become your motivation – you risk distancing yourself from the One who loves you the most.
Political correctness in and of itself is not a bad thing. If we reduce it to mean that we treat people of different backgrounds with respect and do not use gender stereotypes, racial slurs, or other derogatory references – then we are practicing what is, in fact, very Biblical. After all, we are each part of God’s creation. As Believers in Christ, we must not allow our sensitivity for political correctness to diminish our expression of faith to that of second-class citizens or less. The Apostle Paul warned his young friend Timothy to not be ashamed to preach the Gospel, saying: ” preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Christians should boldly focus on being Biblically correct. We must not allow correctness in the secular or political arena to be our primary concern, for our ultimate citizenship is not of this world but rather in Heaven with our Creator who is correct in every way.
REFLECTION: Have there been times in your life in which you have been so concerned about being politically correct that you failed to consider what Jesus would have you do?
A NEW LOOKUP DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., APRIL 9, 2016. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.