For many years in America there has been a trend of saying nothing while talking a lot. \u00a0It is the age of tolerance, which means everything that we say must be tempered so as not to be construed as offensive by anyone. \u00a0And try as you may, it appears that regardless of what you say or don’t say, someone is going to get offended. \u00a0I think it is worth pointing out that we should temper our words, and we should think before we speak. \u00a0After all in Proverbs 10 we learn, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is<\/i> wise.” \u00a0Where there are may words, sin abounds. \u00a0That is a powerful statement. \u00a0There is also James 1:19, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” \u00a0This verse reminds us that God gave us two ears and one mouth. \u00a0Therefore, we should do twice as much listening as we do talking. \u00a0And so in some regards being careful with what we say is a good thing. \u00a0However, there is a dark side to this as well.<\/p>\n
The dark side of this is that people are afraid to speak the truth. \u00a0The Bible does instruct us in Ephesians 4:15 to “speak the truth in love.” \u00a0But notice it says, speak the truth. \u00a0I have been reading through the book of Mark for the last few days, and came across something interesting. \u00a0This whole idea of political correctness isn’t new to our generation. \u00a0It existed back in Jesus’ day as well (further proof of what Solomon said in the book of Ecclesiastes-there’s nothing new under the sun). \u00a0The Pharisees are demanding a sign from Jesus (something a lot of people today do as well). \u00a0They are asking Him, “on who’s authority do you teach and do these things that you are doing?” \u00a0So Jesus engages them and says, “I will answer you, if you answer me.” \u00a0Jesus then asks them the question, “The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?” \u00a0This through the chief priest and scribes for a loop. \u00a0We see their conversation recorded. \u00a0They didn’t want to say that John’s baptism is from God, because Jesus would ask them why they didn’t believe what John taught about Jesus. \u00a0But they didn’t want to say that John’s baptism was from man, because the people in Israel (minus the religious leaders) loved John. \u00a0And so their great compromise was to say, “we cannot tell.” \u00a0And so it was that they said nothing while talking.<\/p>\n
This age of political correctness and tolerance has done nothing but keep people complacent in their lostness. \u00a0Pastors are afraid to speak the truth for fear of being labeled judgmental or for the fear of running people off from the church. \u00a0Before I go any further, let me say that this is not society’s fault, this is the pastor’s fault. We must stand up and speak the truth, and if we won’t we cannot blame anyone but ourselves. \u00a0As long as this pattern continues people will get scratch and sniff style sermons that make them feel good, all the while never really confronting the truth for every human. \u00a0That truth is that we are sinful, that we do deserve God’s wrath, and without accepting Jesus’ gift of salvation we are eternally lost. \u00a0I am not lobbying for pastors to be obnoxious jerks when preaching. But I am calling all of us, myself included, to stand up and speak the truth. \u00a0Jesus said in John 8:32, “<\/b>And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” \u00a0A great verse to remember is Ephesians 6:6, “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” \u00a0May we all do the will of God from our heart.<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For many years in America there has been a trend of saying nothing while talking a lot. \u00a0It is the age of tolerance, which means everything that we say must be tempered so as not to be construed as offensive … Read More
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