Does the term Ornithorhynchus anatinus mean anything to you? That is the scientific name for a strange looking animal known to most of us as the platypus (often called the duck-billed platypus).
The platypus looks like an animal that was put together by some sort of sadistic committee. It has fur, four legs and other features of a mammal (and is classified as such), but it has a bill that looks like a duck’s bill and it lays eggs like a duck and other birds.
In their rush to combat secular humanism, militant Islamists, political correctness, and other principles and ideas, many religious leaders, politicians, and others have put together an intellectual platypus. In solemn tones, they tell us that our nation was founded upon Judeo-Christian principles and that these principles are worth preserving. In more excited tones, they will tell us that our Judeo-Christian heritage is at stake and is worth fighting for.
It seems ironic to me that, in an attempt to combat such things as political correctness, these people are, themselves, practitioners of a certain kind of political correctness. The thinking seems to be that, since Jews and Christians all claim to worship the same God, they (we) have been lumped together in the public arena of ideas and discussion.
However, before we adopt the language of the politicians, theologians and others, it would seem logical to ask a very basic question, “What, exactly, is a Judeo-Christian?” There are some good corollary questions to this one. Here are a few that come to mind.
- Does a Judeo-Christian worship on Saturday (the Sabbath) or Sunday (the Lord’s Day)?
- Does a Judeo-Christian live by the dictates of the Law of Moses or by the teaching found in the “…perfect law of liberty…” (James 1:25)?
- Does a Judeo-Christian celebrate the feasts and fasts found in the Old Testament or does he/she live as directed by the teachings of the New Testament (where, other than the Lord’s day, there are no special observances to be found)?
- Of course, one question is conspicuous because of its omission from this short list. It is the most fundamental of all questions. “Does a Judeo-Christian accept or reject the Deity of Jesus Christ?”
Have we forgotten that the first converts to Christ were Jews? Many of those who remained in the Jewish religion may have looked upon followers of Christ as members of a “sect” of Judaism (cf. Acts 28:23). It is more than just a point of interest that, as Paul had opportunity to preach to these people, he “…explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, from both the law of Moses and the Prophets…” (Acts 28:23, emphasis added).
Many religions teach admirable principles concerning morality, ethics, treatment of others, etc. All of us, regardless of nationality, race, economic status, educational attainment, etc. have a problem that can only be taken care of in one way and in one name. Peter was speaking only of “…the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…” (Acts 4:10) when he made the following declaration: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Since the followers of Mohammed claim that their Allah is the same as the God whom we worship, I wonder how long will it be until some start referring to our nation, traditions, etc. as Judeo-Christian-Islamic? Never mind. It is already happening!
Most of us have heard of people who are so open-minded that their brains fall out. I am afraid that many in our day are so open-minded that their souls are lost.
It must be remembered and taught that it is the kingdom that is to be delivered to God at Christ’s coming (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24). May we never get so caught up in the political correctness and unity in diversity thinking of our day to the extent that we lose sight of that.
