CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

January 25, 2004

THE FOLLOWING NEED PRAYERS:

Our congregation                                                  Our nation, leaders and military

Our college students                                             The Stolte’s in Germany

David and Leon in the Navy                                 various friends, relatives and co-workers

Bob Stolte and Preston Rushing, both in the hospital

COMING UP:

May 6 - The National Day of Prayer

ALL THAT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.  Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 26:4-5).

I don’t know all that Solomon had in mind when he penned those words but one idea is that one just cannot win no matter what one does.  And that is the folly of political correctness.  It started about a decade ago.  At first it was humorous and most paid little attention to it.  That has changed.  Now it is part of the cultural philosophy.  The idea is that we do not want to offend anyone that is in the “in” groups so certain words, phrases, and ideas are not allowed to be expressed.  The cartoon strip Kudzu has often made fun of political correctness.  In a recent strip, we have two of the characters talking; Ida Mae and Reverend Will B. Dunn.  Ida Mae says the following: “So here’s a complete list of sensitive acceptable terms for the departed.  The consciousness impaired…The decompositionally abled…The pulseless…People of Lackluster.”  There is a pause after which the Reverend Dunn says, “So ‘stiffs’ is out of the question?”

Political correctness is becoming a greater problem in a number of areas.  Universities are threatening the status of conservative and religious organizations on campuses with expulsion unless they sign statements that they would not discriminate against people even if they are diametrically opposed to their purposes.  For instance, a practicing homosexual should be allowed to run a Christian organization.  Several Supreme Court justices now advocate that for them to make decisions, they need to study and bring into account laws of other nations such as Jamaica and some African nations.  The President, in the beginning of the war on terrorism announced the “axis of evil,” a phrase that has angered a number of “allies.”  “How dare we call something ‘evil!’”  Racial profiling for no reason is prejudice and wrong.  But it is not wrong in other situations such as terrorism.  It wasn’t tall blond Swedes who hijacked planes on 9/11 but young middle eastern men.  Students in a number of universities after 9/11 wanted to put up American flags as a show of patriotism.  Many were criticized and flags were torn down or prevented from being put up by administrations. 

Who has made political correctness a standard of culture?  Mostly it is those who some call the “elite” or those who are in some position to rule people.  This includes politicians who can gain an audience especially through a supportive media, college professors and other teachers that can threaten students with grades and expulsion, and organizations that can complain enough to bring criticism on those they oppose.  The Ten Commandments and Christian ideas and symbols are politically incorrect, hence the number of lawsuits on these subjects. 

So what does all of this have to do with us?  Well, we are effected by it in some way or another.  The courts are just one area that comes to mind.  It is seen in areas that we cherish.  For instance,  marriage.  Recently the Supreme Court in Massachusetts basically told the legislature to allow “gay” marriage.  Some politicians are twisting and turning on the subject, others support it, and many are against it as is a majority of Americans.  Yet the politically correct crowd will use such terms as homophobia and other words to cause shame so that people would not want to be identified as such.  Other terms employed in other areas would be right wing extremist, a Christian fundamentalist, etc.  As Christians we believe homosexuality to be a sin.  The idea of a “gay” marriage is opposed to what we believe.

What about the church?  We need to be careful not to fall into the same traps.  Political correctness does not allow discussion; there is only one way to see things and you are intolerant if you don’t.  I’ve seen this in the church.  A preacher teaches on a subject and gives a word a different definition from the traditional point-of-view, and is labeled a “liberal” and eventually let go.  Elders complain about attendance but when asked why we attend on Sunday nights, their only response is that they made the decision to do so.  That is not an explanation and when challenged, they see their “authority” being questioned.  One well known preacher was accused of teaching this and that by some who never bothered to call him to see what he really taught.  Attaching labels such as liberal or conservative, legalist or progressive, can end discussions and cause disunity among us.  We need to search the scriptures (Acts 17:11) and study (2 Timothy 2:15).

Political correctness is a foolish philosophy that appears to fit with what Solomon said.  You just can’t win.  Don’t answer them and they will think they are wise but answer them and one could become like them.  It is a bankrupt philosophy that common sense can overcome.  God’s challenge to Israel through Isaiah said to come and reason together (Isaiah 1:18).  That is what we need to do.

                                                                                                     George B. Mearns