Tag Archives: political correctness

I want to be offended! (revised)

21 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in Bulletin Article, Communication

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Years ago, there was a television commercial role play by the actor Robert Conrad, wherein he challenged the television commercial observer to knock the battery off his should (“Come on, I dare you?”). That was yesterday. Today, we say the same, but only so we can be offended!

Not long ago, a family put up a Christmas display, and shortly after they did so, another family complained that it offended their religious sensibilities.

Some have chosen to look at our easily offended society, especially the young people, and call them “snow-flakes.” I suppose the name snow-flake represent a quick meltdown when warmth is applied.

Though I am sympathetic to the strong response to and against the easily offended community, I would like to offer two words of exhortation. First, with regard to the signage in the front yard that speaks to “Jesus, the reason for the Season.” Those who know Scripture, know the Lord put no (absolutely zero) emphasis on the date of the Jesus’s birth. Much attention is given to His birth, but no emphasis is given to the date. Moreover, there is nothing in Scripture that speaks to gift-giving on account of Jesus’ birth. Both of these are traditions of man, and of no real consequence. Those who want to observe it, let them observe Christmas as a day they think is best. If opportunity allows me to teach, then I will.

A second word of exhortation is related to the words of the apostle Paul. The Good News Bible reads this way: “Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone” (Colossians 4:5-6).

From these words of the Holy Spirit, we are exhorted to be thoughtful in the choice of words used, but those words used should be used in a positive direction. The positive direction I have in mind is not associated with how the world operates, but how the Lord operates. Those who love the Lord always seek to tell the truth in things that pertain to God (cf. Galatians 4:16).

It is not my intention to ever offend a single person. I am not naïve, however. Some people just want to be offended in order to bring attention to themselves. If there is nothing you do or say that is offensive, then these same people will make something up; they did that with Jesus, Stephen, Paul and they will do that with us also. That is the nature of those who think along these lines. When you speak the truth of God, then be sure that some will be offended – they just want to be! RT

Hating Ways

24 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by in Behavior, Doctrine, Faithfulness

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“Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104, NKJV). In our “ecumenical” society today, it is incumbent on all to get along, talking and thinking nothing negative about something or some ideology. This is generally under the moniker of “political correctness.” Political correctness is a vague term that does not mean the same with each person. Whatever good one might think there is about it, the unfortunate truth of the matter is that political correctness is an approach to life and behavior that is damning. There is no chance Paul or Jesus could have lived by its vague idea.

Notice the above passage in Psalms; two things are made plain. First, from the Lord comes understanding; second, with that understanding, everything that stands opposed to the Lord is hated. This means that false religions are hated. Webster’s defines the word hate “To dislike greatly; to have a great aversion to.” In Scripture the word can be understood as “love less,” but not in the sense of which we are talking (cf. “Hate,” The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp.743-744). The “love less” application in various contexts might allow for one to have some degree of loyalty to the thing (person) or things (persons). The Lord, however, will brook no compromise with another ideology; He will not allow any “love less” approach! The sooner we come to accept this the better our lives will be at bringing glory to the Lord’s way.

We don’t want to hate any person, but when the Lord’s way is challenged by the way of any man, then that way (or ideology) of man is to be hated. The apostle John said it this way: “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6) and “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [the doctrine of Christ], do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 10-11).