The Danger of Political Correctness

Proverbs 25:26 (NLT) If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

Who do you fear? Who will you "back down" to? Who will you "soft peddle" a position with? Who do you treat "tenderly" for fear of alienation? Who will you not "debate" when God's glory is not recognized?

The fear of other men has crippled many a leader, and we have seen it in politics today when some are guided by focus groups and polls instead of the integrity of their heart and commitment to a vision and purpose that might be unpopular. Happens in the corporate world where one sometimes must manage "the thoroughbred" Sales VP and Marketing VP who are disagreeing.

"Muddy a spring" caught my eye because the King James translated "muddy" as "corrupt." Turns out that that Hebrew word is rich in meaning and is used over 150 times in the Old Testament. It’s first use is interesting: it is the word used to describe the corruption of the earth that brought about the Noah's flood. Muddy misses the point. You can muddy a spring, and after a season the mud, the silt, the particulates will settle; but when you corrupt something, time only makes it worse. Compromising with the wicked is not only an event; it is a process that impacts us.

Scripture has much to say about this subject about who being in awe (fear) of people, positions or places: it's a trap (Pr 29:25); it's reflects a faulty perspective about life (Isaiah 51:12); and, it gets in the way of belief (John 12:42). We are consistently warned to fear God - to "work out" (like a farmer who must constantly work the land) our salvation with “fear and trembling.” In today's culture, this boldness, this ability to mix grace and truth is ever more important for it is not politically correct to talk about exclusion, about narrow way, about one way. We are a pluralistic culture and we "must be" inclusive.

Who do we fear? The Apostle Peter put it out there in a straightforward manner in a culture that could kill him for proclaiming the truth - look what they did to Jesus. Acts 4:12 is worth remembering:  Peter proclaims to those that caused the killing of Jesus, "Salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Talk about not being politically correct! And in that culture, what you said could get you beaten, jailed and even killed.

I'm reminded of an observation by George Orwell, "The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns, as it were, instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting out ink." Sometimes, I have found myself moving to long words and exhausted idioms to not be clear about what I believe so I "don't offend." I had not considered my real aim in the conversation. When I consider the motives, my sincerity is at stake. Was it to win the debate? Or was it to present the gospel to one who needs to hear it? That person's eternal destiny is at stake and I won't use clear language? Got my "fear compass" all twisted.

As leaders of organizations we can and must be clear about our faith when asked. We must take a stand for truth. We must not equivocate. The question I have to ask myself, is where am I willing to compromise so as not to offend? And then, repent. You don't want to muddy or pollute or corrupt the gospel of the living water. You want to stand firm in a clear, unambiguous way that is not mean-spirited, demeaning, degrading or cold.

Speaking the truth in love takes confidence, patience, and submission to the Holy Spirit. Submit and the discussion can be about Him and what He provides to those who would believe.  No compromise. No fear.

Copyright (c) 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell