In his second letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul warns believers not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” It’s my contention that many Christians have been unequally yoked with various so-called “social justice” trends and philosophies (including wokeness and political correctness) that often have more in common with neo-Marxism than biblical Christianity.
Today is a holiday in the United States. Some states (wrongly, I believe) call it “Presidents’ Day,” and the U.S. federal government recognizes it (properly) as the official observance of George Washington’s birthday (even though Washington’s actual birthday is February 22 — it’s a long story, but blame the Monday Holidays Act).
What does Washington’s birthday or President’s Day have to do with this topic? Well…
A lot.
I love history. And illustrations, quotes, and anecdotes from history often work their way into my sermons. Some have a problem with this (mainly on the grounds, they say, that all illustrations should come from the Bible itself). They’re wrong. (And I’ll deal with them in another article).
Unfortunately, one of the “problems” is when I might reference George Washington or some other early American figure who was (shall we say?) politically incorrect or non-woke. In Washington’s case, the biggest issue is slavery. And while I would like to hope it goes without saying, the fact that I have to say the following points to the problem…
Yes, slavery is evil. I say that in the present tense because slavery is still a part of our world today.
The fact that it’s still a part of our world today points to another problem — which also factors into my thoughts here, and that is…
It’s not easy to eradicate evil in an evil world.
It’s far more likely that evil will infect us.
We are all influenced by the world in which we live – and in which we grew up. We are all influenced by our parents (and their parents and their parents and their parents — and on and on). And we’re influenced by our other family members, our friends, our neighbors, our teachers, our churches, the news channels we watch, the voices to whom we listen, and on and on.
And to pretend otherwise is absurd.
This nuance is considered in some areas and with some people (normally ourselves) but not with others. And given trends in society as well as many conversations I’ve had with people over the years, that kind of nuanced grace is less commonly applied to people like George Washington.
And so…
I get this feeling (from our culture – not the Holy Spirit) that I have to effectively bury any reference to Washington and other Founding Fathers (be it a quote or a story) with multiple disclaimers. “Obviously, I’m not endorsing or defending everything Washington said or did, but…”
Wait a Minute! Isn’t it a healthy thing to be aware of (and sensitive to) the harm that was done by those, like Washington, who held enslaved persons?
My answer is “Yes.” Unequivocally “yes.”
And in some cases, a periodic reevaluation of certain people and events is more than appropriate – which is why I’ve said repeatedly that Christians living in America today should stop honoring the Confederacy!
Some historical reevaluation is appropriate. And sensitivity to suffering and support for justice are always appropriate.
That’s not my point.
My point is… We’ve gotten stupid!
That may be insensitive, but it’s true.
We can take a good thing — and go to the extreme with it.
Doubt me?
Think of the Pharisees. The Law of Moses was (for that time) a good thing. But they took it so far that most of them missed the One who was the fulfillment of the Law.
And if we see people exclusively or primarily as the sum of their sins (including people who, on balance, did more good than bad), I would submit we’ve taken things a wee bit too far.
Think of it this way. When I preach from one of David’s psalms, I don’t feel the need to add multiple disclaimers to my sermon about the numerous moral transgressions David committed over the course of his life — not unless the psalm itself deals with one or more of those transgressions (and, in that case, it’s not a disclaimer, it’s a point in the psalm).
The same is true with Solomon when I preach from the Book of Proverbs.
Or Abraham.
Or Peter.
Or Paul.
And on and on.
Virtually everyone sitting in church understands that when I preach from a particular passage, I’m not endorsing everything the person who wrote that passage ever said or did — unless it’s a direct quote from Jesus.
And yet, when certain historical figures (like America’s Founders) are mentioned in society today (in any setting), it’s like (for some) common sense flies out the window!
For most of America’s history, everyone understood that, when our nation honors heroes, we’re not claiming these people were holy and sinless. Every single one of them had flaws and faults. But earlier generations recognized that the overall contributions made by these particular people were worthy of our attention, gratitude, and (in some cases) esteem.
In Washington’s case, we honor him in spite of his sins — not because of them. For most of American history, Americans recognized that George Washington did much more good than ill.
And the same rationale exists with David. And Moses. And Jacob. And Abraham. And so on.
Why can’t Christians today “get” that (as most of our brothers and sisters in Christ had no trouble “getting” that in years past)?
I believe much of the reason comes down to Christians today being influenced by philosophies of the world — in particular, wokeness and political correctness. The same can be said for Christians being influenced by philosophies and political movements on the left and the right. Though this particular article is focused on what is typically a leftist mindset, do not doubt that Paul’s words apply to the other side too. And those words were…
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (II Corinthians 6:14, KJV)
This verse is most often quoted in connection with choices that believers in Christ make regarding dating or marriage. And I agree that is an appropriate application, but Paul’s point is actually broader. He’s not just talking about marriage (dating wasn’t really practiced in the first-century world as it is today). He’s talking about both relationships (all forms of relationships) and culture.
A Christian can be “unequally yoked” to certain cultural influences that are antithetical to biblical Christianity, and I believe wokeness and political correctness (in their current manifestations) qualify.
Socrates said the beginning of wisdom is the “definition of terms.” Obviously, I concur with Solomon that the beginning of wisdom is the “fear of the Lord,” but let’s acknowledge the definition of terms is probably the next step toward wisdom after that. And so…
In the spirit of defining our terms, here’s how ChatGPT defines wokeness:
The term “wokeness” has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly in the context of social and political discourse. It is a term that is often used to describe an awareness of and sensitivity to issues of social justice, particularly those related to race, gender, and other forms of discrimination or inequality.
The concept of wokeness is closely related to the idea of “woke” or “stay woke,” which is a call to remain aware of and engaged in social and political issues that affect marginalized communities. Wokeness emphasizes the need to recognize and address systemic issues of inequality and discrimination, and to work toward creating a more just and equitable society.
The term “wokeness” is sometimes used in a critical or dismissive way, particularly by those who feel that it represents an overly sensitive or politically correct culture. However, many others see it as an important movement for social change and a way to promote understanding and empathy for those who have been historically marginalized or oppressed.
And here’s how ChatGPT defines political correctness:
Political correctness (often abbreviated as “PC”) is a term used to describe language, policies, or behavior that is intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society, especially those who have been historically marginalized or discriminated against.
The concept of political correctness can apply to a wide range of issues, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and more. For example, the use of terms or expressions that are considered derogatory or insensitive to a particular group may be avoided in order to show respect and prevent discrimination. In some cases, political correctness may involve the use of terms or phrases that are considered more inclusive or neutral, in order to avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes or biases.
The concept of political correctness is often the subject of debate and criticism, with some arguing that it can go too far in limiting free speech or that it creates an overly sensitive culture, while others argue that it is an important tool for promoting respect and reducing discrimination.
I wanted to be fair in my characterizations and definitions, so I chose an online platform that’s been known for its left-of-center bias.
Let me be abundantly clear…
It is GOOD for God’s people to be aware of sin and injustice — and sensitive to those who have been the victims of abuse, oppression, marginalization, and/or discrimination.
There is no “but” to the above statement. It’s all good.
Okay?
The problem is when you start to view all of history and all people through a lens that zeroes in on specific sins, injustices, and inequities to the exclusion or diminishing of all other issues and factors.
When you are guilty of this, you slide towards (at best) a narrow-minded view that will fill your life with serious blind spots and (at worst) will lead you to idolatry and/or perpetual despair or bitterness (even perhaps rage).
Not only that, but people often start judging ideas and suggestions for consideration or discussion as off-limits because of perceived threats to their end goals of diversity, inclusion, and/or equity. And they begin refusing to listen to anyone they perceive as on “the other side” of their goals or agenda.
“At the heart of the problem with political correctness is a confusion about the nature of knowledge, and a blurring of the lines between belief and fact. Ideas are not true or false because of the identity of the person who espouses them, but because of the evidence that supports them. The desire to promote diversity and inclusion is a worthy goal, but it cannot be achieved by suppressing free speech or denying the existence of objective truth.”
– Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, from “The Intellectual Dark Web,” Quillette, March 29, 2018.
The ramifications for free speech are obvious. If speech is to be monitored and policed (via legislation or by powerful cultural entities) according to a particular view of social justice, then the days of free speech are numbered.
“At its worst, political correctness is a kind of totalitarianism that seeks to police language and thought, and to punish those who do not toe the ideological line. It stifles creativity, discourages open inquiry, and creates a climate of fear and suspicion.”
– Bernard Goldberg, journalist and commentator, from “Political Correctness Run Amok,” BernardGoldberg.com, May 8, 2014.
“Political correctness has gone too far when it starts to infringe on the basic human right to free speech. We should be able to have open and honest conversations about controversial topics without fear of being labeled as bigots or racists.”
Salman Rushdie, author and free speech advocate, from “Salman Rushdie: The right to offend is the most fundamental right,” The Guardian, February 6, 2016.
Of course, there are some Christians who balk at the entire debate over free speech and the freedom of religion. I’ll deal with them in another post, but suffice it to say for now that this is a major concern even with the Christian community.
“The problem with wokeness is that it is, in fact, a new orthodoxy that brooks no dissent. If you do not embrace its doctrines, you will be labeled a bigot, a hater, or a danger to society. This poses a significant threat to religious freedom and freedom of conscience.”
Timothy Keller, author and founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, from “Christians and Wokeness: How Should We Respond?,” The Gospel Coalition, August 25, 2021
The Bible calls us to love. We are to love everyone — privileged and underprivileged, rich and poor, male and female, black and white, gay and straight, cisgender and transgender, Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative, and on and on and on.
Keep in mind, though, that love does not mean agreement.
Nevertheless…
As part of love, yes…. we should be sensitive and aware of suffering. That is consistent with not only the Golden Rule but so much of the righteous indignation and protest we see from biblical prophets like Micah and Amos.
But our commitment to justice on this earth should not overwhelm or obscure our commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to biblical truth (however politically incorrect those things may be). As one pastor and theologian puts it:
“We must learn to stand with those who have been harmed by injustice and work toward a better future, while at the same time refusing to compromise the gospel of Jesus Christ or abandon the authority of God’s Word.”
Baucham, Voddie T. Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe. Washington, DC: Salem Books, 2021
We must also not allow our love and sensitivity to become distorted by an ideology that would suppress speech and undermine rational thought.
And when it comes to people getting offended or cringing at quotes, illustrations, references…
Listen, we don’t need to jettison common sense! Most of the time, a quote is just a quote and an illustration is just an illustration. People need to take a chill pill.
If we let the wokeness trend continue unabated as it is (and continue to seep into and infect our churches), it won’t be long before we hear calls to remove passages (even entire books) from the Bible because they were authored by men who committed grievous sins — the most grievous of which being that they fell short (not of God’s standards) but of “woke” social justice orthodoxy.
If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
“Should We Honor a Slave Owner? Wrestling with George Washington and Slavery”
“Don’t Become a Bigot Yourself in Your Opposition to Bigotry”
“You Are Not Unsafe if You Hear or Read an Opinion That Upsets You”
And you may wish to check out these books:
- Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe by Voddie Baucham
- Vindicating the Founders: Race, Sex, Class, and Justice in the Origins of America by Thomas G. West
Disclaimer: As always, the views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect those of the church I’m honored to serve as pastor. The views are mine and all comments, concerns, and questions should be directed to me.
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