By Ben Wright
Ours is an age of political-correctness. If a person, such as John Rocker, of the Atlanta Braves, says something that is offensive about one or more ethnic groups, then he is publicly castigated and vilified. This is not all bad. We must watch what we say and not be offensive or hateful towards others because of race. Jesus taught this in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10).
Political-correctness becomes bad when preachers are influenced by it concerning sin. There is no reason for a preacher to be deliberately hateful or offensive in his sermon. However, we need to define the term “offensive.” If it means a preacher cannot point out sin, then there is a problem. Pointing out sin should not be offensive to Christians because sin is offensive to God.
I am afraid Jesus would have a hard time finding a place to preach today. Could you imagine the shock if Jesus preached a sermon in which he said, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). I believe many would get up and walk out, or one of the elders would pull Jesus aside and tell him he cannot preach like that for it will make people mad.
In our time, the apostle Paul would have to continue his tent making to earn a living. The first gospel sermon (Acts 2) could not be preached in some pulpits. The twelve apostles pointed out the sins of the Jews that day. The amazing thing is they baptized about three thousand of them (Acts 2:41).
One of my instructors often imitated the attitude of some in the church. He would stick out his shoulder and say in a whining voice: You see this chip on my shoulder? Knock it off and I’ll quit the church!” I would think to myself, “That surely cannot be how it is with Christians.” I was wrong and he was right.
Being politically-correct has caused many to become Biblically-incorrect. When the church was the fastest growing religious body in America following the Second World War, preachers preached the truth with boldness. They pointed out sin and showed how God felt about it. Many have gotten away from that. If we want the church to grow and save souls, then we must preach it as the apostles did. We must preach it like Jesus did.
Elders must not be scared of how a member might react to a sermon on marriage and divorce. Preachers must not refrain from teaching and preaching against dancing even though an affluent member allows his children to go to the prom. We must preach the truth in love. We do not love people when we allow them to go to hell without saying anything to them about their sin.
Let us get away from Biblical-incorrectness. Let us preach the truth to a lost and dying world. “Preach the word…” (2 Timothy 4:2).