Articles
In Defense of Plain Speaking (1)
There was a time in this country, before the plague of political correctness polluted the landscape, when men discussed Scripture with bluntness. My, how sensitivities have changed. We now live in a volatile world where a slip of the tongue can end a career, or an unintended slight can get you branded as a racist, sexist, homophobe, or worse – an unloving, judgmental, mean-spirited Christian (spoken with unveiled contempt and condescension).
It may be argued that the rough-and-tumble debate of the past sometimes crossed the line of gentleness and grace, but I would argue for the opposite today. That is, I believe that many Christians have become so intimidated by PC threats that we are afraid to speak plainly. The result: the truth is muffled beneath multiple layers of ambiguity and bush-beating.
Let me be clear: rude, haughty or demeaning speech toward another person has no place in our discourse. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col 4:6). “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet 3:15). Truth is obscured when conveyed with anger and impatience.
But if we stop here we have a lopsided view, for the Scriptures relate many accounts where godly men spoke with boldness that did not leave the hearer in doubt. Jesus often spoke with a clarity and certainty of the situation that can only come from divine insight. While we cannot always read a situation like He could, how do we react when the facts are clear? Paul faults the Corinthians for folding like a cheap suit regarding the incestuous scandal in their midst. There were no legitimate mitigating factors: they were simply unwilling to deal forthrightly with the situation.
Jesus reserved His harshest language for the religious leaders who were not just honestly mistaken but were carnal, conniving wolves feeding on the innocent and unsuspecting. On the other hand, He was patient and gentle with those who were discouraged by their own foibles. There is a time to speak bluntly, with love and a desire to enlighten: “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Gal 4:16). There is also a time to temper the truth with compassion, to “restore … in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal 6:1).
On at least one occasion the disciples were embarrassed by Jesus’ bluntness and upbraided Him: “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” (Mt 15:12). Let’s not be so PC sensitive that we rebuke others for speaking the truth we were afraid to speak. It is possible to be so subtle that we don’t actually stand for anything, then congratulate ourselves on not being “negative.” Jesus had a word for this – “lukewarm” (Rev 3:15-16) – and it was not a compliment.
