"You are the salt of the earth...You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden...In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
~Matthew 5:13-16
I find it inexplicable why it is socially unacceptable to speak to others about faith, in the workplace for example, even when you and the other person both know that you share the same faith. There could be a room full of people of the same faith, and if one member of the group says anything about God, a feeling of taboo permeates the air.
I am not referring to Christians trying to evangelize to nonbelievers in public. I am writing specifically about the idea that the "political correctness" of today has gone so far, that you and I cannot have a discussion about a biblical theme that intrigues us because it might offend someone who isn't even part of our conversation. It seems to me no different than banning baseball conversations between two Red Sox fans because they may offend a Yankees fan!
Then again, this is actually not a new phenomenon. The same has been true for 2000 years. Jesus cautions us not to fall away when trouble or persecution comes because of the word (Matthew 13:21). Paul challenges us to have courage (Romans 8:31-39). The fear brought upon by "political correctness" should not separate us from our faith. It is God who justifies, not society. The writer of Hebrews (10:32-35) encourages us to not throw away our confidence even when we are publicly exposed to insult. These are just a few of the passages I encountered when I sought relief and encouragement on this issue. There are certainly hundreds of other examples throughout the Scriptures, where individuals were persecuted. We should take comfort in letting our light shine before others and not letting secular societal norms hide our faith, our words, or our good deeds.
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