How to Be Politically Incorrect

July 12, 2009

Amos 7:7-15

 

 

Do you know anyone who is politically incorrect? To be politically incorrect means that you say and do things that don’t go over well politically. The media would scold you; people would say that you are unkind, stupid, or narrow-minded. To be politically incorrect means that you don’t agree with or publicly adhere to thepopular opinions of the day. Do you anyone like that?

You do know someone like that; he is very close to you. He was and still is the most politically incorrect person who ever walked. His words were shocking and different from what people were used to. Some said he was demon-possessed. Some said he was out of his mind. Some said he was a law breaker. Some said he was a drunkard and a partier. Of course I’m talking about Jesus. He was indeed the substance of everything that could possibly be considered politically incorrect. People actually cheered in the streets when he was crucified.

If you are a follower of this Jesus, you also, down to your very core, are politically incorrect. What he has given you through the hearing of his word and by the giving of his Spirit, has made you so. You now differ from the world over what is moral or immoral. You differ from the world over eternal life and how it is obtained. You differ also in your goals and aspirations. So whether you like it or not, since you have been chosen by God before the creation of the world, predestined to be a follower of his son, you will never truly be cool and acceptable in the eyes of the world. You will be politically incorrect. Jesus told us not to be surprised by that. It’s always been that way for his followers. From Noah, to Abraham, To David, to Jesus and his disciples, and now to you.

Today, we are going to consider the Prophet Amos. During the time of Amos, the Northern Kingdom of Israel, seemed to be doing very very well. They were wealthy, they had peace within their borders, they were strong militarily. On the outside everything looked just peachy. But this “peach” was rotting from the inside. Greed had taken over the hearts of the people. The Justice system was corrupt. And worst of all, people were blending worship of the true God with the worship of other false Gods.

It was into this setting that God sent Amos to speak the truth. Right when they were all feeling fat, happy, and successful Amos appears and tells them that the whole country is going to be taken into exile. And furthermore, that their places of worship will be destroyed. And furthermore that the house of King Jeroboam would be brought down. People didn’t want to hear that! This was sooo politically incorrect.

Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, who oversaw the worship at that place and was allowing the mixture the religion of the Lord with all the indigenous religions of the canaanites, saw it as his duty to shout down this prophet of the Lord who was so politically incorrect “Get out of here you seer!” He says, which was an insult...calling him a seer...was like calling him a witch doctor or fortune teller at the county fair instead of a prophet from God. “Get out of here you seer” “Go back to where you came from down in Judah” “Do you prophesying there.”

Amos was politically incorrect, and was asked to go away. The same thing can happen to you when you speak the truth that has been laid upon your heart as you heard it from God’s word. You will be ostracized if you are true to what you believe because what you believe is politically incorrect.

Let me give you an example. In this day and age it is considered acceptable to sleep around with whomever and “play the field” before you get married. Yet the bible makes it clear: sex outside the institution of marriage which is defined as a life long union of a man and a woman is adultery, a sin against the 6th commandment. If you dare take a stand on this (parents, kids) , folks will look at you in a very funny way. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 70% of all people who are now getting married have lived together and slept together beforehand. If so many are doing it, it must be right, right? “Wrong” says the christian in a most politically incorrect fashion.

Let me give you another example. It is politicly correct to believe that there are many different ways to get to heaven, that all religions on the earth are the same. Just be good, and you will go to heaven. But the Bible teaches that there is only one way to heaven and that is by faith in Jesus who died to take away your sins. A personal faith relationship with Jesus is the only way to heaven. Other religions don’t work. Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, or the be the good guy fishing boat or golf course simply doesn’t work. These beliefs are false. How politically incorrect of me to say this!

Or how about this one: It is politically correct to believe that the place called hell is a fairy tale and that eternal life is given to all people. The argument goes something like this. “God is a God of Love, and therefore he can’t possibly condemn anyone to hell.” And yet, we have the great flood that bears testimony that God will mete out justice against those who hate him. We have the destruction of Sodom and Gommorah that bears testimony of the same thing. Yet, at the same time, God was loving. He loved Noah, told him to build an ark. He loved Lot and his family told them to flee and not look back. Today he loves the the world so much that he gave his only son....and urges it to believe on him. His love is demonstrated by the time he has given us all. Each person’s life on earth is his opportunity to repent. God love is being shown to right now if they would care to notice.

As I say this I realize that people will label me as a small-minded bigot who is a religious extremist who is trapped in my own little parochial world. And what is the temptation here? The temptation is to change my beliefs so that they mesh better with the current moods of society. “Maybe believing on Jesus isn’t the only way to heaven.” “Maybe all the stuff that is taught in the main stream media is the truth and I should follow it” We want people to like us. We want to fit in. And so we are tempted to change our beliefs in order to better match the sinful beliefs of the world so we won’t stick out so much and be subject to abuse.

If you have ever fallen into this sin, I encourage you to repent of it right now. Give itto Jesus and he will forgive you. Jesus paid for that sin and all others when he went to the cross. You see, when he went to the cross, he wasn’t being punished for being politically incorrect. It may have looked that way on the outside. What was really happening is that he was being punished for the sins of the world. Today God forgives you for every sin you have ever committed because of Jesus. He forgives you even for those times you have changed or hidden your beliefs in order to fit in.

And with the forgiveness comes confidence. Amos had confidence. When he was called a money grabbing prophete by Amaziah, he responded by saying: “I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and also took care of sycamore fig trees.” I’m just an ordinary guy, Amos said. An average joe. Where’d he get such confidence? Listen up “But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go prophecy to my people Israel” What gave Amos confidence was that the lord had chose him and sent him to proclaim his word. He knew he was in the right when he spoke because he was chosen..

You too have been chosen. It says that in our second reading for today. God chose you to believe in his Son and be saved. Regardless of what anybody says you can take your stand on that fact. You may have not been chosen to be a prophet or preacher. But you have been chosen to believe what you now believe and stick to it for the rest of your life. You have been chosen to teach your children rightly. You have been chosen to “always be ready to give an account of the hope that you have.” When an opportunity arises to speak the truth at work or among the neighbors or in school or with your friends, don’t be afraid, just do it. And you too can be politically incorrect.

But you’d be in good company: You would Join Jesus and all his apostles. You’d be united with Amos, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Elijah, Moses, Abraham, and Noah; all the company of heaven for that matter. The whole lot of God’s followers are politically incorrect...they swim against the strong current of human society because they know where the current lead: to death. And so they turn against the trends and the fads and the movements that would otherwise compel them go along to get along. Instead they align themselves with God’s Word and with his Son Jesus and that’s what you must do. That’s what you’ve been called to do. AMEN