#CastAnEternalVote before next Tuesday’s election!  You just get one vote for President and it only lasts for 4 years, but you can cast countless eternal votes that last forever by serving and sharing your faith with friends, neighbors or coworkers before November 3^rd!

America’s Presidential and congressional election is less than a week away.  With so much at stake in 2020, Christians face a dilemma.  They’re tempted to speak their minds about pressing social issues that could be impacted by this election, but Biblically Correct (BC) may not be Politically Correct (PC).  BC comes at a high price.  PC conforms to cultural norms.  BC doesn’t.  Instead, it lovingly confronts the prevailing culture and risks one’s standing and security in a society intolerant of perceived insensitivity.

Sensitivity to PC values like equality, justice, human rights, and economic welfare for all citizens is inherently “BC”.  In fact, those principles are rooted in God’s Word.  The disconnect between PC and BC stems from the revisionist origin and meaning ascribed to those values by the vagaries of today’s culture rather than the standard of Scripture.  In fact, media and corporations impose dire consequences on those who don’t adopt their new definitions of equality (in marriage), justice (in victimhood), and human rights (in pregnancy).

Pressure is mounting to conform or be cancelled.  Reference to biblical perspectives that run counter to what is viewed as socially acceptable is considered hate-speak.  Christian entrepreneurs are compelled to comply with laws that defy biblical precepts.  HR departments refuse to hire or retain employees who do not disavow biblical views on hot-button issues.  “Coming out (of the closet)” is now more applicable to high school or college students who need great courage to declare they’re Christians and endure the stigma that label now carries with it.  Even many pastors hesitate to express BC truths about PC topics from the pulpit.

So most Christians choose to talk PC and quietly vote BC.  This seems like a good time to keep our mouths shut and let our voice be heard at the ballot box, or “vote with our feet” by boycotting companies that aren’t BC.  Our excuses for choosing PC over BC range from “sharing my faith isn’t my gifting” to “I never talk politics or religion” to “I can’t put my family’s financial future at risk”.  Church pews are filled with Passive Christians (no words or actions), Private Christians (actions without words) and Pensive Christians (words without action).

Biblically Correct

In contrast, Powerful Christians (i.e. disciples) don’t avoid confrontation for the sake of comfort, speaking out for the sake of security, or persecution for the sake of popularity.  During this election cycle and under the next administration, BC means…

1. Campaigning for Jesus, not necessarily a candidate
2. Trusting in the Lord as Savior, not government
3. Praying for revival and repentance, not reestablishing Christendom
4. Seeing “church” as a personal responsibility, not an institution
5. Actively loving our neighbors to Christ, not blending in with the crowd
6. Serving the poor year-round, not just during the holidays
7. Using non-PC words like sin, heaven and hell, not tiptoeing around the Gospel

In summary, BC wins out over PC when individuals hear the Gospel, confess their sins, repent and turn their lives over to the Lord.  The Great Commission is a mandate Jesus gave to all His followers, not just elected officials.  This election can’t redeem culture, no matter which leaders gain power.  Legislation and court rulings will influence our nation’s morality but not its moral fabric, which has declined precipitously even under a church-friendly President.  The collective will of America’s voters will impact the level of resistance Christians face and the consequences they’ll suffer if they fail to be PC, but it won’t diminish the resolve of BC believers and churches.  Next Tuesday’s outcome can alter laws that non-believers must obey but can’t change their hearts.  Ultimately, human answers don’t solve spiritual problems – God does.   Earthly kingdoms don’t determine who’s part of God’s Kingdom – that His job.  In other words, faith in Christ makes us righteous, not the law.

Politically Correct

PC is not inherently bad.  Often its intention is not to offend out of genuine concern for those who’ve been maligned and mistreated.  However, in America, PC defines a set of unspoken rules restricting free speech imposed on all citizens regardless of their world views.  Compliance is required and enforced by public condemnation and humiliation.  Understanding the risks of voicing a stance considered offensive or a joke deemed distasteful by “decent” society, people carefully consider their words to avoid any inference of impropriety.  Those with the most to lose, in positions of influence and political power, are often PC zealots and quick to point out the failures of other leaders to demonstrate adequate sensitivity to gain the upper hand.

BC adherents are frequent violators and targets of PC authorities.  BC is less concerned with social standing than pleasing an Audience of One.  BC is rarely PC because…

1. the mere mention of the name of Jesus in public settings has become taboo
2. the Gospel appears as foolishness to the world because the word sin has been removed from culture’s vernacular and words like love and sacrifice have been redefined
3. Christianity is the only religion considered acceptable to ridicule
4. introduction of any moral code that competes with society’s is viewed as immoral
5. faith threatens the right to do whatever makes someone happy without conscience or retribution
6. claiming Jesus is the only path flies in the face of the perception that each person has the power to define “truth”
7. pastors aren’t given credit for the role the Church played throughout history in securing rights for marginalized groups championed today by America’s anti-BC “woke”

PC therefore inhibits communication and suppresses reception of biblical truths.  If BC succumbs to PC then Christians and churches may face social ostracization here in the near future.  Lest that appear hyperbolic, consider Western Europe where cultural and political tides shifted rapidly, relegating evangelicals to a corner.

Living BC in a PC World

When Christians pass up opportunities and hesitate to talk about Jesus to preserve their status or reputation, they’ve chosen PC over BC.  When churches won’t address immorality running rampant in our nation and congregations in order to grow membership, they’ve chosen PC over BC.  Politically correct is incorrect for Christians and churches when it involves self-centered compromise.  BC living is active, compassionate, courageous and even sometimes offensive, as the world defines that term…

1. Love in the Face of Hate – PC is not love.  It may be caring and considerate, but it is superficial in its carefulness and calculation.  Agape, unconditional love doesn’t count the cost whereas PC considers the price of non-conformance.  PC “love” seeks to make no one uncomfortable whereas BC love involves stepping on toes to do what is truly most loving – sacrificing our own comfort to lead someone toward Christ.
2. Right Rather than Self-righteous – No matter what PC says, absolute truth exists.  The facts of God’s sacrifice and forgiveness can be conveyed in humility or pride.  Likewise, the reality of sin can be conveyed in humility or pride.  Speaking truth with grace isn’t about righteousness indignation or making political statements, but the Gospel.
3. Confession Instead of Judgment – PC calls Christians hateful for speaking BC.  We must be careful not to deserve that label but admit our shortcomings so they can see our need for Christ as well.  We live in a glass house and need the panes to be transparent so non-believers can see Jesus through us.
4. Relational Despite Resistance – Christians often defy PC, yelling at society to condemn its immorality, but the road to Jesus starts with relationships.  Eventually conversations must take place about repentance, but we must first earn the relational equity to broach hard topics.
5. Intrusive When Desiring Distance – Jesus asked the next question everyone was thinking but was afraid to articulate.  Jesus was nosy because He wasn’t PC.  Excuses we make for not asking hard questions aren’t really about “minding our own business” but not loving enough to dig deeper.
6. Vocal when Asked for Silence – There’s no way to talk about the good news without the bad news, forgiveness without sin, redemption without guilt, heaven without hell.   With so much hanging in the balance, Christians can’t afford to be PC right now.
7. Kindness in Spite of Injustice – Jesus’ model was to lead with compassion before bringing a truth bomb – that He alone was the only way.  Feeding or healing was His means to open ears to hear what He had to say next – which was far from PC.

The pressure on Christians and churches to abide by society’s rules is intentional.  Politicians, activists and the media may be the ones revising history and redefining words, but don’t doubt for a second the reality that spiritual forces are battling for supremacy here.  Darkness always resists light, which is why the high beams of Christ need to shine brightly in this election.

It’s Your Turn…

#CastAnEternalVote before Election Day, November 3^rd!  This “ice bucket challenge” doesn’t involve pouring cold water on your head!  Simply perform a simple act of service for someone you know or just met, tell us your story on our Facebook page with the hashtag #CastAnEternalVote, and then challenge 3 Christ-followers you know to “pay it forward”.  You only get one vote for President but can cast countless eternal votes that will last far longer than 4 years.  You have more ability to impact who is in God’s House than who’s in the White House!