Do you know who you are? Do you know what you are? Can you describe yourself? Do you know the correct words?

Have you noticed, our modern culture is shaped by words.

I was with some friends, a few days ago, and one person talked to us about “inclusive” language. He was concerned that we re-define things with new names, and some of the things that we do, in modern politics, are glossed over with “woke” language. His concern was that we don’t always know what is good and what is wrong, in the new language. 

Who knows, maybe you or I could become wrong and unpopular, because of the new language rules.

Here is one example. I think this is a training video for staff and students at a university:

So, who cares?

We all should care about our status and position, in this world. Things have changed, and there is a spiritual side to this. Language can make you a good person, or not acceptable, in our modern culture.

Are you ready to say the wrong words and become a failure? Do you fit with woke or DEI vocabulary?

Here is an example of a woke language mistake:

This is a sensitive issue, and I will try to be careful with offensive language.

Here is another way: You are a valuable person, and words can’t change that. 

And here is a question: What if someone could be defined as a racist or some other unacceptable bigot? Should we pour on the criticism and cut them off from our circle of friends?

Maybe, but there is another way. One problem is, when we use “inclusive” language, we are also excluding some people. We are saying who is the new ‘good enough’ and who isn’t now.

So, let’s include God in this conversation, and not just us humans. I am writing as a Christian.

First: Who is wrong? Who deserves the criticism, in our modern thinking? We are told, in the Bible: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3: 23) 

According to those words, we are all failures, and no inclusive or correct words can change that. We are not correct if we fit the new language. 

Second: The worst human beings can find a new way. Two thousand years ago, a man named Jesus spoke some words that we need to remember: “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3: 3) 

Unless we are changed, we have no connection with God. Correct language does not make correct people. At least, words and descriptions do not make us right with God. Only a God can make that change.

Correct words don’t change who we are, in our spiritual lives.

When I was a boy, I had a best friend. At some time in my high school years, I decided to abandon my friend, and find a new social circle, so I told my old friend that we were finished as buddies. If you want a spiritual lesson in that story: I was wrong. 

Now I look back at myself, and I am sure that I needed to become a new person. I was selfish and cruel to my old friend, and we never had any contact after that. Probably we all have a story about that time when we really knew that a change was needed in our life. 

My rude behavior, that one time, still bothers me, and no correct language can fix that. “All have sinned” and I know that I am one of the “all” and I need more than inclusive language. God needed to make a new me.

I am sure about that.