CENSORSHIP

From My Perspective - - - 

Living in a Politically Correct world has interesting moments. However, attempting to do what is politically correct is not new. It has been around for several generations. Currently, the news of yesterday had to do with the name of a National Football Team logo. There has been much racket of late about the name of the Washington Redskins and the offense that name can cause native Americans. There have been speeches in the Halls of Congress about the way that name denigrates the Native American. Fox Sports reported: “A federal trademark board ruled Wednesday that the Washington Redskins nickname is disparaging of Native Americans and that the team's trademark protections should be canceled, a decision that applies new financial and political pressure on the team to change its name. The 2-1 ruling from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board came in a case that has been working its way through legal channels for more than two decades.” According to Team Lawyers, they have been down this road previously and they expect another reversal of this ruling. 

Years ago, there was a young lady in the church where we were who went by her middle name “Gay.” She was a joyful, happy little girl and the name was appropriate for her. But then, those with alternative lifestyles were given a group name of Gays. The alternative lifestyle group did not pause to think about those whom their adopted name would offend. They embraced it and used it as a title for events and parades, namely, Gay Pride. The happy little girl had to change her name in the school she attended and the community where she resided to another of her birth names. Her civil rights were ignored and no politically correct advocates cared about her or others who would be impacted by the Gay Pride Movement name.

The Politically Correct and Religiously Correct became intertwined in the first century. It became apparent in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and has continued since that time. The religious leaders objected to the message of Jesus Christ and would resort to an appeal to Caesar to make their point. We see the result of these efforts when the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ was a religious demand that was legitimized by the political representatives, even though Pilate would declare: “I find no fault in Him.” Additionally, John 19:19-22 records a further act of Pilate: “Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ Pilate answered: What I have written I have written." 

Another act of censorship was attempted in Acts 4:1-21. In verses 1-3, Peter and John have been preaching and a miracle has occurred. The cause of the act of censorship is simply, “And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day.” The decision reached regarding Peter and John is stated in Verses 17-21, “But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them,” Persecution would continue in the first century and exists in the twenty-first century. Censorship of Christian Values exists in our own nation today. An old Hymn states: “What will you do with Jesus, neutral you cannot be…” Will you be bold and courageous and name His name regardless of personal cost? Consider these things with me.