Political Correctness
I was talking to a good friend recently, and realized how much I hate political correctness, and how much it has crept into the way we think and talk in the church.
Political correctness means we cannot describe persons of other races as being from different races, or even persons of different genders as being of different genders. It means we cannot say something is good without also having to say the alternatives are also good, and nothing is allowed to be the best. It means we cannot say something is wrong, just that "it is not best for me". Political correctness has meant that Christians in this country have bowed down in "multi faith" services because we are so tolerant of other religions we are scared to say Jesus IS the way and IS different and Christianity is NOT "the same as all the others really".
How it gets into the church is when we find we are not able to celebrate each others different ness.
Here's one example:
God created a man and a woman and intended them to be different.
He did not try to make another man, go it a bit wrong, and decide
to call this new being a woman. Adam was made in the image
of God, he reflected the fullness of God, part of Adam was
taken to make Eve, so each then contained a part of the image
of God. Each reflected God, but each had something the other
did not. Neither was inferior. They were equal and different.
Men and Women in the church are equal but different. We don't
need to be defensive. We don't need to get into women's rights.
We need not be insecure about male leadership. The world has
tried to make "equality" and the result (allowing
for a bit of exaggeration here) is butch women and weak men.
We are not perfect in the church because obviously we are
not in Eden any more, but we should be able to allow the genders
to be who they really are in God. To let men be strong and
lead and express God the Father to a fatherless generation.
To let women express their femininity and the more sensitive
side of God's nature.
This is another example:
We make quite an effort in our church to include and motivate
young people. But then we end up stereotyping them and assume
that all young people want noise and drama and excitement.
Maybe they do, but be prepared that maybe they don't
And the older generation. Don't presume that after a certain
age people are only fit for the armchair. Some folk are fit
and active well into retirement, but also be prepared to accept
that old age does bring limitations, and don't be too scared
to go a bit slower to care for those who need it.
The thing is, don't be so politically correct that you cannot
celebrate the energy of youth without feeling the older folk
will feel left out. And don't be so scared of calling some
folk "old" that you cannot help people enjoy the
blessing of their senior years and share their wisdom from
long lives spent with God.
I know some amazing married people, and some people who really struggle with married life. I know some amazing celibates, and some people who have given up on celibacy. I see celibates who are scared to share the wealth of their gifting because someone will feel inferior and shout them down saying "marriage is just as good you know" I have also seen married people who felt guilty and spent all their time wondering if their marriage is just a compromise and they should really have been celibate.
God is big.
When we say something is "best" we mean it is "better
than...".
When God calls someone to "do their best for Him", He
does not mean that they are "better than" anybody else.
We can all be the best we can for God!
