"Politically Correct" (Mis)handling of the Scriptures

"The Bride of Christ"" Not Leftist Theology," is an article posted on Townhall by Jack Kerwick. As of August 23rd, 2017 he was disillusioned with the Catholic Church of which he is a member. In fact, in the midst of the message being presented, he stood up and left the building. He was accustomed to hearing leftist remarks, but this one pushed him over the edge.

The text being used that day was an excellent one""Matthew 15:21-28. It involved the inspirational account of the Syro-Phoenician woman who begged Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter. He did not answer her, which seems like an uncharacteristic and rude response for the Lord. She pestered His disciples, and they asked Jesus to send her away. Finally, he spoke to her and in effect told her He could not help her: "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

She was not discouraged, although most people probably would have been. She came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" He replied that it was not good to "take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." This response amounted to the fourth rejection""three of them by Jesus Himself. She did not argue or accuse Him of saying unflattering things about her (and then run off to find "a safe space"); instead she agreed, "True, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table." How delighted she must have been to hear Jesus praise her for her faith and for her daughter to receive healing that very hour!

This woman still inspires all of us to remain faithful no matter how things seem to be against us. She is an encouragement to be persistent""even when it looks like we are not being granted what we desire. This account is recorded by Matthew to accomplish that precise purpose. So, how should it be applied? Most people would expect it to be used as an example of faith and perseverance.

But everyone does not see it that way. In the aforementioned Catholic Church, "Father Anonymous," as Kerwick describes him, took an entirely different approach. In the "priest's" presentation, the woman became a leftist, street agitator. He compared her to one of the mobs of protestors seen on television, a counter-demonstrator. According to this spiritual "leader," she refused to be silent in the face of hatred. She sympathized with the poor, those who felt marginalized, and citizens who were forgotten or ignored. But he was not done yet; the Canaanites, whom this woman represented, are today's members of Antifa and Black Lives Matter people. The "priest" could not find it within him to criticize the "poor" who attacked police officers and civilians with various kinds of weapons""not to mention the destruction of property. How could anyone see anything remotely like this in Matthew 15:21-28?

Street Agitator?

There are times when what is going on in society may relate to something in the Scriptures. For example, racial hatred existed between the Jews and the Samaritans, and one might appropriately apply the existence of that animosity to what sometimes has occurred between races in modern times. No one can deny that at various times prejudice has existed towards Blacks, Asians, Arabs, Indians, and various nationalities as well. Conditions have improved, but hatred and incivility have not died out. However, in Christ it is still possible for all to be one""just as it was in the first century for the Jew and the Gentile (Eph. 2:11-18).

In the above instance, a Scriptural principle is properly applied, but the entire message offered to Catholics lacked a foundation in the Biblical text. The "priest" may as well have applied it to roasting marshmallows. First of all the Syro-Phoenician woman was not a leftist, street agitator. She was not out trying to change society into her vision of what she thought it should be. She was simply a mother who grieved at the way her daughter was suffering. She was not protesting in any shape, form, or manner. No one has the right to turn her into someone she was not.

Does that mean people today should not try to fix what is wrong with society? No. In this country we have the freedom to express our opinions. One can write a letter to the newspaper, hold a sign up on a sidewalk, be interviewed on a radio or television program, or form a group or club. Fine. But no one should try to go to the Bible to find an example of it when it does not exist. Making this woman into any kind of an agitator can only properly be described as perverting the Scriptures""trying to make them say what they do not.

Counter-Demonstrator?

The Canaanite woman of Mathew 15:21-28 was not demonstrating anything except compassion and love for her daughter. She used words to make her case, not bricks. She was not paid by anyone to be there, nor did she damage anyone's property. She would be a poor example indeed of a modern counter-demonstrator. Her humility kept her from talking about things whereof she knew little or nothing. She possessed the faith to know that Jesus could heal her daughter.

Although she refused to be silent, that is only a minor point of comparison. Nothing indicates that she sympathized with the poor. It may be very likely that she did, but she had an entirely different purpose in mind. One might as well claim that she asked Jesus for free health care, which, although accurate, is totally beside the point here. Rome had no such social programs. Her views of the poor do not enter into the text.

Marginalized?

Neither do we find any of her opinions toward the marginalized, the forgotten, or the ignored. She did not read lecture notes to Jesus on the way Syrians were treated as second-class citizens and that they deserved as many miracles as the Jews did. She conceded the point that they were not worthy but asked for the crumbs anyway. Jesus had been testing her faith, and she was relentless with respect to it. She returned no insults but bore them meekly. Does that sound like street agitators today?

Of course, she may have "correctly" thought racial strife should not exist. She may have thought a great number of citizens had no representation in Rome. She may have felt compassion on beggars like Lazarus, who could not fend for themselves. But, again, she did not on this occasion protest these cultural shortcomings. The most pressing situation on her mind involved the healing of her distressed daughter.

Antifa?

What does this new word in the English language mean? According to Wikipedia, Antifa refers to

a militant, anarchist political movement of autonomous, self-styled anti-fascist groups. They focus more on fighting far-right and white supremacist ideology directly than on encouraging pro-left policy. On the political spectrum they are described as far left and radical left.

The "priest" who delivered this message owes an apology to the Syro-Phoenician woman in the text. He also owes an apology to Jesus if he thinks our Lord ever taught anything comparable. Sure, He tore down the middle wall of division between Jew and Gentile""but not with billy clubs, knives, or Molotov cocktails. The first two words in the definition provide a clue. When did Jesus encourage His followers to be militant (except with ideology)? Certainly, the ideas of white supremacy should be challenged; they should be shown to be nothing more than the prejudice that they are. They should be defeated in the court of public opinion, as well as in the courts. These methods have proved tremendously effective in the last fifty years, and we should continue to use them.

Anarchist? Would the same Jesus who encouraged His people to pay taxes approve of anarchism? Would the same apostles who commanded us to be obedient to civil authorities also march to overthrow the government? Paul clearly wrote: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God" (Rom. 13:1). "Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake"" (1 Peter 2:13); "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, and evildoer"" (1 Peter 4:15). God wants His people to be obedient to and respect civil authority. Anarchy opposes that philosophy.

"The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI internally classify militant actions of Antifa as 'domestic terrorist violence,' according to Politico," which Wikipedia recorded. No Christian defense can be offered for such actions, and certainly the passage under consideration lends no support.

Black Lives Matter?

According to Wikipedia,

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is an international activist movement, originating in the African-American community, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people. BLM regularly holds protests against unjust police killings of black people and broader issues of racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality in the United States criminal justice system.

As stated above, no one would probably offer an objection to the goals of this group. However, some associated with Black Lives Matter have been recorded chanting such things as, "Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon" which is a statement that clearly targets police officers. Another chant was, "What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want it? Now!" Attempts have been made to minimize both of these. So, we will not affirm that this is the overwhelming sentiment of the crowd; it may reflect only a few supporters and not be mainstream, but also present at some rallies were elements of thuggery, such as looting and destruction of property. These actions do not reflect the ways of Jesus, Who changed history for the better by teaching truth and setting the right example.

Correct Interpretation

Such a wonderful text contains so many noteworthy principles. To use it the way the "priest" attempted to do so involves eisegesis rather than honest study. He had a social message that he wanted to present; so he contorted a text to make it say what he wanted it to say. Bible study should never be done in such a manipulative manner. No matter how deeply anyone may feel about the need to change society, it will not help by twisting Scriptures to make them say what was never intended. Some good applications of the text would have been:

1. When you face adversity, don't give up.
2. Be humble, even if you are being mistreated.
3. Be persistent.
4. Don't let negativism stand in the way.
5. If your goal is worthy, pursue it.
6. Patience (not anger, even if justified) will not accomplish your purpose.
7. Overcome discouragement.

Those who do not know what they are saying shouldn't be: