Weekly Pastoral Message prepared by Rev. Murray Adamthwaite
for Sunday 13th September 1998

From the Pastor: Three plus Four is not Seven III

"For three things the earth is perturbed, for four it cannot bear up." Proverbs 30:21 "Political correctness" (PC) has been an entrenched moral, or pseudo-moral, phenomenon for a number of years now. Indeed, it can fairly be asserted that the new agenda, or shibboleths, of PC, enshrining the philosophies of feminism, environmentalism, anti-racism, and anti-discrimination have replaced the older Ten Commandments. Does then the Christian take a non-committal stance on PC, or even, as we see in some circles, accommodate it into his own ethical framework? If there is a passage which speaks to the PC obsession it is this third set of "three plus four" observations in Proverbs 30:21-23. They have in common the theme of inappropriateness: it is quite inappropriate, indeed contrary to the natural order which God has established for a slave to assume the reins of political power. Similarly, when a fool has too much of the good life he becomes arrogant, when a lovelorn, starchy old maid is married she makes life a misery for her husband (and the other way around!), and a servant-girl who steps into the shoes of her mistress and rules the household is a usurper. In other words, we should not try to invert the good harmony of society as God has arranged it. Not very politically correct, is it? Instead of objecting to the teaching here, and dismissing it as out of harmony with the modern outlook we would do well to consider very carefully the consequences of disrupting this order which God has ordained. Upheaval has its terrible price! God has ordained that men and women each have their respective places and roles; PC would seek both to invert and subvert all that. God has laid down that authority belongs only to those best qualified; PC insists on radical democracy. God informs us of our duties, PC preaches up our supposed "rights". Can a society founded on PC long endure? Be assured that God will allow time to repent, but then judgment will come on "all nations that forget God" (Psalm 9:17). Meanwhile, the Christian looks forward to a "kingdom that cannot be shaken" (Hebrews 12:28).