12/29/08

Dead End

Signs, they say all sorts of things; some good and others not. Somehow our society has softened a lot of things in life. We don't have graveyards, we have cemeteries. We don't have to use the toilet, instead we need to go to the little boys room. There are no more stupid kids, we have intellectually challenged youth. Why, what is so wrong with calling something exactly what it is, without all the soft soap? Our society doesn't want to offend anyone because it might hurt their feelings. Well, there are times when the unvarnished truth must be told, for example who would want to go to a physician who was afraid to tell his patient about an incurable disease like cancer? The truth may hurt, but it is still the truth. One of the things I like about Jesus is that when the truth was necessary, he just said it. Consider this passage:

Mat 15:1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
Mat 15:2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.
Mat 15:3 But He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, "Honor your father and mother"; and, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die by death."
Mat 15:5 But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever you would gain from me, It is a gift to God;
Mat 15:6 and in no way he honors his father or his mother. And you voided the commandment of God by your tradition.
Mat 15:7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 "This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Mat 15:10 And He called the crowd and said to them, Hear and understand.
Mat 15:11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
Mat 15:12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?
Mat 15:13 But He answered and said, Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Modern King James Version
Politically correct is a path that leads straight to hell. When someone commits a grievous error, they need to be corrected, not coddled. When someone sins, they should be made aware of it. However, at the same time there is no need to be vindictive, just correct. So, the next time someone asks you where the cemetery is, just tell them the direction to the graveyard. Maybe they will think a little more about death and the afterlife and who knows, you just might be doing them a favor?