Political Correctness of the Theological Variety

I'm not advocating false teaching.

I'm not advocating lack of discernment.

I'm not advocating doing away with the Berean spirit. (Test all things to see if they are so)

I'm not advocating being tossed by every wind of doctrine, as some are.

I think doctrinal statements are valuable in many cases.

I’m not advocating an ecumenical big tent that includes everyone who spouts any ol’ doctrine of demons they feel like at the time.

But there is a Political Correctness of the Theological variety that is hurting the body of Christ.
A dividing up of the body of Christ into camps who see their mission not as loving God and enjoying Him forever, and fellowshiping with others who do the same. They see their mission as sitting around in their theological hot tub with the five other people who think just like they do, and spitting mineral water at anybody that differs.

If you are one of these people, two things are happening right now in your mind: First, you know the shoe fits, and you’re wearing it. You know that "thou art the man". You know I’m referring to you.

And how do you know I’m referring to you? Because secondly, you’re getting up your defenses to justify what you have been doing. After all, you’re right, aren’t you? And all those other people just don’t get it, do they? And you are charged by God to defend the faith, and to stand for truth. And if the whole rest of Christendom goes down the toilet, not you. Right?

Even when you do see something good in that other camp, or when you learn something from them, you can’t say it out loud, can you? Why? Because of Political Correctness of the Theological Variety (PCTV).

Your group wouldn’t like it if you said you enjoyed a book written by one of "those" people. They would look upon you suspiciously, and you couldn’t have that. You couldn’t discuss some things in your blog circles, because you would be guilty-by-association. Associating with "those" people.

Now I know some of you have the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. And I haven’t even mentioned any particular theological or doctrinal persuasion, have I?

That's because it’s not a doctrinal problem, it’s a heart problem. It’s a flesh problem. It’s that fleshly tendency to bite and devour one another. It’s that flesh tendency to bring down the hammer on those who don’t toe the line of your little theological hot tub group.

And it’s destructive. It wounds the body of Christ, and then shoots the wounded.

And we forget that, "the body is not one, but many." (1 Corinthians 12:14)

And we forget that, "...God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18)

"And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you.'; or again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary." (1 Corinthians 12:21,22)

Why did God compose the body in this way? "...that there should be no division [schism] in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another." (1 Corinthians 12:25)

And so PCTV becomes similar to heresy, even if it has a correct doctrine.

Why is it similar to heresy? Because the core idea of heresy is false teaching that divides. Heresy leads to division of the body.

You may be right, but are you giving honor to the "weaker" member of the body? You may be right, but are you giving honor to the parts of the body that think you’re wrong?

By all means, be a Berean. Seek the truth. But first seek the one who is the Truth, and the Way, and the Life.

If you’re not in communion with Him, if you’re not filled with His Spirit, just lay back for a while and don’t bother splashing your truth acid on people to burn them. We’re not qualified to handle truth if we’re walking in the flesh. We can handle facts, but we can’t handle truth, unless we are walking by the Spirit.

This Political Correctness of the Theological Variety is bondage. "It was for freedom that Christ set us free." (Galatians 5:1)

Listen to "Grace For Life" Radio Program.