We have people calling for tolerance and crying that we need to accept people as fellow humans on the road to the future. I think we need to learn the phrase “so-called” when we hear claims like this. As a Christian I find my thinking started by a verse I keep coming across.
(1Co 5:11 NAS77) But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one.Paul is talking to the church here. If you look it up and read the context he is not calling on the church to judge the world or reject non-believers. He is focusing on the real church. He is telling them that just because someone shows up on Sunday and may even bring their Bible, that does not make them part of the brethren. He is saying that we need to draw a line between people who talk one way and live another and the ones who are interested in walking with Jesus.
It is simple bit of advice that should be applied to other areas of life.
In politics we already have a term RINO. In case you have been out to a long lunch, that stands for Republican in Name Only. It refers to the liberals and moderates who have run as genuine conservatives and then turn around and reject everything the party stands for. They are, in Biblical language, so-called Republicans. They need to be identified and voted out of office. If we don’t do that then we will see the nation go the way the churches have been going: Down the drain.
I guess you could apply that same thing to things we eat. Do you use so-called butter? How about turkey bacon? Unsalted potato chips, anyone?
We also have so-called love that our Hollywood culture has redefined from lust.
The applications are everywhere. Open your eyes and start called spades as spades.
homo unius libri
Amen.
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