Political correctness and authentic Christianity do not mix. I'm Dr. Fred, you're listening to another episode of Study, Grow, Know. Welcome to Study, Grow, Know, where we discuss theology, prophecy, and current political issues from a conservative biblical perspective. Here's your host, Dr. Fred DeRuvo. The more I learn about the problem of political correctness, the more I realize it has absolutely no place in the life of an authentic Christian. None. Zero. Zilch. I'm Dr. Fred, you're listening to another episode of Study Grown Now, and I thank you so much for joining me. You know, the very nature of political correctness forces a person to compromise what they know or should know to be the truth. Is this what Paul is referring to when he speaks of the darkening of a person's mind in Romans 1 verses 21 through 23? When society comes to a point of acting, speaking, and even thinking based on a set of unwritten rules that are often completely opposed to God and his word, then that society has truly lost its way. When people who claim to be Christians also get carried away by it, they bring dishonor to the name of Christ, their alleged Lord. Now, we live in a world culture. that is growing in its resentment toward Orthodox Christianity. Those of us who believe that salvation is specifically found in and due to Jesus's life, death, and resurrection and is only available directly through him are becoming anathema to those in this world. Look at what's happening in Egypt with the Coptic Christians who are being slaughtered by Muslim Brotherhood, whose churches are being burnt to the ground. Those people don't want to hear the truth. They become inordinately angry when they hear about the need for a person to be saved through repentance and gratefully receive salvation in Christ. I just read the other day that a cab driver in Egypt was killed by a group of Muslims because they saw the symbol of the cross in his cab. He was beaten to death. He was killed. Too many alleged Christian leaders, ministers, and authors talk about ways to salvation, which to some degree circumvent Jesus Christ. Now, of course, they deny that charge, but if we can know them by what they write and what they say, I mean, after all, they're the ones who are speaking. They're the ones who are putting their thoughts down on the written page. And so if we can know them by what they write and say, then we can know whether or not what they teach is truth or simply another version of the new age mentality wrapped up in religious garb. You know, Jesus made some extremely startling and even demanding statements to the people of his day, which are recorded for us, thank goodness, in scripture. People were literally shocked. And in a few cases, were shocked enough to stop following him altogether. More than anything, he told people that if they were unwilling to take up their crosses and follow him, they were not worthy of him. At least the people of Jesus' day had the integrity to walk away from him when they came to a point where they could not agree with him. In today's world, though, people don't really stop following him. They simply redefine Christianity to their liking so that it's much more comfortable and easier to wear so that they aren't chafed. They change what Jesus said so that his words become more palatable. They use all manner of faulty reasoning, such as it is, to allow themselves to make Christianity more appetizing to the masses. Yet it has no ability to save or change anyone. And in the end, it becomes seriously watered down pablum in their hands. And then they have the nerve to claim that that's what Jesus really meant. You know, in the end, Jesus placed very high demands on his followers. And not long after his own ascension, that commitment to him was tried by many, literally by fire because of Nero. I can't help but wonder how many Christians would go willingly to their deaths today because of their commitment to Christ. Jesus tells us that the world hated him. and this same world will also hate us. Yet there are so many Christians living in ease and comfort, aren't they? They only speak of things that are politically correct because doing so keeps them out of trouble with the world. While they're trying to please the world, they have unfortunately rejected the Lord who saved them. And when the world begins to circle the wagons, as I believe it's doing menacingly around these individuals, political correctness will come to their rescue. They'll say things like, well, look, we don't want to offend people, so let's just keep it to ourselves. I'll let my life speak for itself so that people will see Christ in me. That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what's going to change them. Sure, why not? Jesus just lived a life, didn't he? He never really said anything to people, did he? He never really took the time to explain things, did he? He never got into arguments with the religious leaders, and he certainly never deigned to tell the common person when they were doing something wrong. He never called sin, sin, did he? Oh, that would be too offensive. No, he just did things that show people how much he loved them. Obviously, I'm being sarcastic. Jesus did things for people. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He fed thousands. Of course, the most important thing he did, though, was to offer himself as a propitiation for the sins of humanity. He died a horribly brutal death, shedding his blood on our behalf. Then he rose from the dead. His actions obviously spoke and continue to speak of the love that is his character, didn't they? But he also was a man of words, and too often his words put him at odds with the politically correct parasites of his day, the religious leaders, and sometimes even the average person. Yet he didn't pull himself back, did he? He did not couch his words so that those people would not be offended, did he? He said what he said because, and only because, it was the truth. It needed to be heard. Absolute truth by its very nature has the ability to offend. I'm speaking of God's truth here, not some man-made pabulum that allegedly has the crux of truth, the kernel of truth, but is nothing more than relativism that changes like the wind. Today we have a plethora of religious leaders who tell us lies about the Bible. They fill their own plate with contemptible tidbits of what they try to pass off as truth. Everything they say is couched in politically correct verbiage. Oh no, we mustn't say something that might offend another person. That would push them away from Jesus, would it? then how is it that so many were saved because they did not find the gospel offensive, yet they were told just how sinful they were in reality. In Acts chapter 2, Peter gives his very first sermon after the Holy Spirit rained himself down on the 120 believers in the upper room. What was the response? Some muttered, some made fun and ridiculed, but you know what? 3,000 came to know the Lord that day. 3,000. Peter held nothing back. He let go with both barrels, telling people how sinful they had been, just like their forefathers, and how through unbelief they were kept from knowing God. That was their decision, not God's. Yet while the truth that Peter spoke brought 3,000 into God's kingdom that day, many others balked, the exact same truth. Why? Because they refused to acknowledge that their politically correct ways were killing them slowly yet steadily. They were on a path to destruction and they were unwilling to see it or admit it. When Rick Warren gave the invocation at Mr. Obama's first inaugural event in 2008, Warren specifically used the word ISSA in reference to Jesus during his prayer. Why? Because he wanted to be politically correct by quote-unquote reaching out to Muslims in the process. He also wanted to be seen as a man whom others could look up to and honor. Oh look at Rick Warren. He spoke of Jesus in our terms like a Muslim. What a good man Rick Warren is. Never mind. Never mind that by using the word Isa to refer to Jesus, Warren lowered the nature and the position of Jesus to a point below Muhammad. This is the way Muslims think of Jesus. He is an important historical figure, but Jesus is most decidedly below Muhammad. in authority and character. Now, while Muslims certainly respect Jesus, so they say, they do not see him nor accept him as God the Son. But here's the thing, Jesus is not asking for our respect. Jesus asks for our all, our very life, because He gave us His. He asks and demands that we become His indentured slaves, willingly, because we love Him, not out of some sense of duty. But too many people who call themselves Christians care more about what the world thinks about them. Jesus is not physically here walking beside them or instructing them as he did a few thousand years ago. The world is and so the temptations to cater to the world and cave into the world's demands are too much for too many. This is tragic beyond words. These types of Christians do quote unquote, a lot of things in Jesus's name. But could these individuals be the very ones that Jesus claims to have never known in Matthew 7? People who cater to the world cannot also cater to God. When Jesus said you can't serve God in mammon, money, he meant exactly that. He also meant that when two things pull at your heart, you're gonna give in to one and only one of them. A person cannot have a divided loyalty. Now, if you find yourself going along with the people in the world because you've somehow convinced yourself that, you know, God's gonna understand that I'm only trying to love these people, well, then you are unfortunately seriously deluded. Where in scripture did Jesus ever compromise with the world system? When did he ever attempt to placate the world, though doing so meant not honoring his father? How can we, how can I treat Jesus in such a despicable manner? How? I'm not saying we go through life with a death wish or a persecution complex of our own making. I'm saying that Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He knew what it was to be deserted by friends and family. He knew what it meant to be threatened with death while innocent of any and all wrongdoing. Jesus knew the sorrow of betrayal. Peter denied him. He knew what it meant. He knew what it felt like. Yet in all these things, he never once gave in to the temptation to please the world in order that the world might think of him as one swell guy. He never gave the world the opportunity for that. And this is exactly what he expects of those of us who claim to be his followers, nothing less. We cannot compromise with the world through political correctness. It will shut us down and destroy our testimony and our relationship with the Father. If we give in to political correctness, what we're really saying is no to God. No, we won't follow you here. No, we will not speak the truth there. No. You are not our Lord in that situation. We either take our calling seriously and ever endeavoring in all things to live for Christ regardless of the reproach the world heaps on us because of it or we stop telling people that we are Christian. It's that simple. Either we are for God or we stand opposed to him. Folks, that's our show for today. Thank you so much for joining me. I appreciate it. I hope you're enjoying the series that we're doing. And until we meet again, may God open your eyes to show you how blessed you are. You've been listening to Study, Grow, Know with Dr. Fred DeRuvo. Please join us each week for new broadcasts that deal with theology, prophecy, and political issues from a biblical, conservative perspective.