joy of nine9

As a child and young adult, my parents taught me that polite people avoid all discussions that involve politics or religion.

Most people are passionate about both subjects and discussions often become heated. A well brought up person avoids any topic that is not nice. Only an ill-mannered dolt raises the ire of his friends, relatives, and acquaintances by discussing religion or politics with conviction.

However, if a discussion becomes passionate with someone I barely know, at least we are being real with each other. At least we care enough to prove our point.

Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.”

Although I always try to be respectful of others, I refuse to play games and hide behind a mask.

Many well-known writers have eloquently expressed this very sentiment:

“Politeness, n. The most acceptable hypocrisy.”
― Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary

“Preserve me from such cordiality! It is like handling briar-roses and may-blossoms – bright enough to the eye, and outwardly soft to the touch, but you know there are thorns beneath,
― Anne Brontë, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

“Be not intimidated…nor suffer yourselves to be wheedled out of your liberties by any pretence of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery, and cowardice.”
― John Adam

Oh Lord, save us from nice, polite friends and please don’t let me settle for being nice. It is so bland, without passion or even kindness. People crave connections, real heart, to heart interactions no matter how well they know each other. An honest encounter can affect a stranger, perhaps even change the course of his life

Proverbs 12:17 “Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.”

An honest encounter can affect a stranger, perhaps even change the course of his life

A dear friend commented recently on the dangers of being politically correct:

Three loud cheers to your bravery! AWESOME post, Melanie. Truly! I am presently writing a post that many would say I “shouldn’t go there.” It seems that everything these days is “politically incorrect.” So how do I let the world know just what I believe in if I am afraid to speak to the world, afraid to be heard, afraid to be honest, afraid to be me?!

Proverbs 19:1 “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”

connecting with theology is a verb