Christian Political Correctness - How important is it?

[JimfromOhio]

What Christians are doing today, modifying the message to make Christianity more attractive, then what you have is not Christianity. How did Jesus approach the crowd about His purpose for His followers?

Jesus commanded us to take up our cross and follow Him.

 

[billwald]

Neither did he make the message overly complex - love God and neighbor (and you are saved).

 

[paleodoxy]

Neither did he make the message overly complex - love God and neighbor (and you are saved).

I didn't see the original post calling for a "complex" gospel.

I wasn't aware that "attractive" (popular, politically correct) = "simple".

Nope...the Gospel in my Bible is both simple and politically incorrect - and I suspect that's what makes is so unpopular in a culture of smarmy political correctness.

paleodoxy

 

[ebia]

What Christians are doing today, modifying the message to make Christianity more attractive, then what you have is not Christianity. How did Jesus approach the crowd about His purpose for His followers?

He certainly didn't say "The religious people have got everything right - follow their example."

 

[edie19]

I didn't see the original post calling for a "complex" gospel.
I wasn't aware that "attractive" (popular, politically correct) = "simple". Nope...the Gospel in my Bible is both simple and politically incorrect - and I suspect that's what makes is so unpopular in a culture of smarmy political correctness.
paleodoxy

In fact the gospel isn't "attractive", we preach Christ and Him crucified - Paul refers to the cross as an offense.

Not just a culture of political correctness, but a culture that believes there is no such thing as absolute truth (i.e. just because it's true for you doesn't mean it's true for me). The morals of today's culture change with the direction of the wind.

edie

 

[holo]

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."

Well, if we must be worthy of the cross, we're all doomed. He died for us while we were yet sinners. I don't belive that what Jesus said here has anything to do with salvation.

And this talk about a modified gospel... I dunno. I, for example, don't have a problem with gay people, and I know and understand why a lot of christians are disturbed by that. But it has nothing to do with the gospel IMO. The gospel is Christ, and Christ crucified. If someone are offended by my preaching that, I won't back down. But if I was still a gay-bashing legalistic moralizing moron, I'd better expect people to dislike me and shun what I was preaching. Christians in western countries are often disliked because they act like the gospel is about making everybody as morally correct as they think they are themselves, and it's sad to see people fighting for the "real, old, complete gospel" by being as strict and "biblical" as they possibly can.
Gospel means good news. It has nothing to do with moralizing people, and it has everything to do with Jesus.

If the gospel is to be watered down somehow, it must mean that Jesus crucified isn't being preached.

 

[Adiel batKelev]

political correctness is killing the truth - but then that is it's core purpose dressed up in a message of being "sensitive" to the "feelings" of others

 

[Letalis]

Was Jesus politically correct? How often did he hide or dress up the truth to make His message appealing?

 

[BarbB]

Neither did he make the message overly complex - love God and neighbor (and you are saved).

You are not saved by love - these are the commandments for those who have submitted to the kingship of Jesus! I believe this is where the confusion enters!

 

[intricatic]

PC = sorry, no thanks.

 

[tulc]

Was Jesus politically correct? How often did he hide or dress up the truth to make His message appealing?

The idea that there is only "one" way to present the truth of God has always struck me as wrong. The truth gives offense, that doen't mean we have to be offensive. For instance Jesus had a very different approach from John the Baptist He Himself said:

18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

So why does everyone in the Church have to share in the same way? Some respond to "hell fire and brimstone!" others don't. Just because it isn't to your taste doesn't mean the meat is bad, right?
tulc(got saved in pretty "turn or burn" kind of Church, but Mrs.tulc got saved in the exact opposite type!)

 

[Adiel batKelev]

I don't think the preaching method (gentle ve harsh) has all that much to do with PC - as long as unbiblical methods are not used as the vehicle (i.e. the "stripper for Jesus" philosophy...)

rather I think the PC issue is about the message rather than the method

what i think is meant by PC is the "softening" of the message to the point of denialing issues about what is sin, what is abomination, what is required as holy living, etc.... the truth on issues such as these are diametrically incompatible with the prevailing social, political culture that is pervasive nearly world wide

 

[intricatic]

The idea that there is only "one" way to present the truth of God has always struck me as wrong. The truth gives offense, that doen't mean we have to be offensive. For instance Jesus had a very different approach from John the Baptist He Himself said:

So why does everyone in the Church have to share in the same way? Some respond to "hell fire and brimstone!" others don't. Just because it isn't to your taste doesn't mean the meat is bad, right?
tulc(got saved in pretty "turn or burn" kind of Church, but Mrs.tulc got saved in the exact opposite type!)

All people worship God differently, and all people accept Him differently. They still accept the same absolute, though. However, we're discussing altering that absolute to be less 'offensive' - which would alter the very thing people worship and accept.

 

[holo]

Look at history, from Jesus' days up until now - who are those who are the most offended by the gospel, if not the religious? A message that says we are saved by grace and hence, that nobody can boast, will ALWAYS offend those who try to make themselves worthy, and who live according to law and therefore judge those who for some reason don't.

Jesus and the first christian movement upset the religious elite because it took away their power, it swept away their entire basis for judging and condemning and feeling superior. The gospel has never offended the humble.

 

[DaveS]

I think that every movement has a time where it does good, it is positive and it really changes people's lives. Then, when it has fulfilled it's goal it proceeds to go OTT.

e.g

Feminism - Great, equality for everyone - Now, to be a feminist you have to hate men.
Political correctness - Great, wouldn't want to cause offense to people - Now, we don't want to cause offense to people who are shorter than average so lets create a term that is actually more offensive (vertically challenged).

 

[Athene]

Why bother being PC, why not just tell the truth, instead of going to a homosexual person and saying "You're an evil sinner and you're going to burn in hell" try "Hey dude, God loves you"

I don't know if christians need to be more PC, but I do know they need less of the "repent ye sinner or burn in hell" and more of the "God loves you, he sent his son to die for you"

I think that too much effort is wasted pointing out sins and abominations and God's wrath and much less time is spent talking about God's grace. Which saved us? God's wrath or God's grace?

 

[armyman_83]

Political correctness is for sell outs..."Truth is not determined by a majority vote."

 

[intricatic]

Why bother being PC, why not just tell the truth, instead of going to a homosexual person and saying "You're an evil sinner and you're going to burn in hell" try "Hey dude, God loves you"

I don't know if christians need to be more PC, but I do know they need less of the "repent ye sinner or burn in hell" and more of the "God loves you, he sent his son to die for you"

I think that too much effort is wasted pointing out sins and abominations and God's wrath and much less time is spent talking about God's grace. Which saved us? God's wrath or God's grace?

It's an abomination unto God to speak like this!

I'm kidding, I agree.

 

[fanatiquefou]

Feminism - Great, equality for everyone - Now, to be a feminist you have to hate men.

Bull. I'm a feminist. I love men, I think they're wonderful. So does every self-declared feminist I know, including the lesbians.

 

[ebia]

The O.P. is, of course a leading question since "Politically Correct" means or has come to mean "that which I am expected to do to avoid giving offense, that I disagree with.

Political correctness is for sell outs..."Truth is not determined by a majority vote."

Political Correctness doesn't have anything to do with determining truth.

tulc(got saved in pretty "turn or burn" kind of Church,

Interesting. You agree that it's not the only approach. Do you still feel that it is still an effective and appropriate approach?