January 31, 2007
Taboo
Without exception, every book I’ve ever read on communication and public speaking stipulates that a speaker is to avoid the subjects of politics and religion. I suppose the originator of this rule was just trying to keep the peace. However, the reality is, this rule has duck-taped the mouths of Christians. Scripture tells us to spread the gospel, but the world says, ‘By all means spread the gospel, just don’t talk about religion while you’re doing it.’ According to Paul, “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom...” (Col 2:20-23a NIV) Can you picture anyone telling Paul that he had to avoid the topics of politics and religion?
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Gail;
The taboo against religious and political topics rests upon the open desire to avoid rancor and offense in situations intended to be neutral. Of course, most of these situations are generally owned by someone, for instance, speaking events by the sponsoring club, classrooms by a school, even office suites by a company. There are few situations that are not to some degree owned by a particular party. Naturally, as a right of ownership, that party gets to set the ground rules. Even in mutually owned situations, say, a conversation with a friend on a street corner, I have had to respect the co-ownership of the other party when I have noticed a wince at the introduction of a certain topic. That is just proper etiquette.
But etiquette can err in paying improper respect to reality. You certainly would want to break the etiquette of silence in a theatre and yell fire if it really was on fire! And there are times when the wince of a friend at the introduction of a topic into a conversation must be respectfully circumvented. So also, with all due respect, the rules of a situation’s owners may be bent or broken out of greater respect to the reality of the broader situation.
In this reality, we live amidst a myriad brush fires. The attention of godly men and women to combating them has been an ever-present obligation since Eve sampled from that idiotic tree of knowledge. The degree of wisdom involved in recognizing the subtlety of the leaping flames is incredible. The owner of the flames knows that he can interconnect brushfires much more effectively without the combative presence of diligent , godly, outspoken people.
So among the naïve, the sleepers, the investors in world security the alarming discomfort of those who would breach the peace with religious or political inference is shut off by the carefully maintained perception that such topics are improper. And to assure the slumbering bliss of the restful sleepers, the topic of a fuzzy reality just beyond the bounds of the dreamy state is adequately served. Then the power of the muted mass can be funneled directly into the brush fires.
I thank god that He calls many people to respectfully break the rules. I pray that He calls up more. These brush fires are getting numerous.
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