Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service December 6, 2015:
Scripture: John 1:1-17
P/C: Speaking what is socially acceptable and tolerant
1. Jesus was far from politically correct
The Pharisees:
- A religious and political party in Israel in NT times
- About 5 thousand in number
- Fundamentalists of Judaism
- Their zeal to apply the OT Scriptures directly to life led to a complex system of tradition and works
Examples of Jesus being Politically Incorrect:
- Took time to speak to a Samaritan Woman – John 4
- Ate with sinners – Luke 15:1, 2
- Healed on the Sabbath Day – Luke 6:6-11
- Strongly denounced the Pharisees – Matthew 23
Other Examples – Mark 2:23-28 (pluck corn on the Sabbath)
2. Believers are called to follow Jesus and be conformed to His image Not compromise with the world and culture around us
3. Truth is not politically correct but it does exist
A.Truth is absolute (that which is ultimately true)
B.Truth is discovered not invented
C.Truth is unchanging
D.Truth extends to all people, at all times, and in all places regardless of a person’s perspective or beliefs
E.Truth corresponds to reality
F.Truth claims are narrow and exclusive
- If something is true, then its opposite is false
Tolerance: Be open minded, accept everyone, be careful not to offend anyone, and accept all religions and viewpoints as equally true
This is not an accurate understanding of tolerance
- Instead of “Merry Christmas” it is “Happy Holidays”
- Removal of Nativity scenes from public places (even some private places)
- Don’t use the phrase “Radical Islamic Terrorist”
- Confederate flag
- Washington Redskins
- Guns (Gun free zones)
- Believing that marriage is between one man and one woman
The Christian’s Position
Real Tolerance: Understanding the position of others, knowing why you disagree, living alongside them, loving them, and confronting their false ideas with Biblical truth
4. Understand what you believe and why you believe it
5. Expect to be misunderstood by some and attacked by others
- Racist, bigot, intolerant, judgmental, homophobe, hate speech
- John 15:18-25 – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.