Political correctness doesn't go far enough

Puffin Books has edited Roald Dahl’s children’s stories, which are to be offered as an alternative to the original versions. References to greedy Augustus Gloop as being ‘fat’ and Mrs Twit as ‘ugly’ have gone; the BFG’s coat is no longer ‘black’, while Mary now goes ‘still as a statue’ instead of ‘white as a sheet’.

Some may consider it laudable to revise books of earlier decades by editing what may be considered offensive literary material. Whatever view we take on such moves, which seek to sanitise society, I will be bold and suggest it is superficial, failing to get to the root of our problem.

Jesus was scathing of those in his society (mainly religious leaders) who were keen to be seen as being squeaky clean and living in a sanitised bubble. This is what he said:

‘Woe to you…, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.’ Lest his listeners didn’t get it, he followed up with ‘...you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.’

What is Jesus saying? We may try to clean up society by tinkering around at the edges (Jesus calls ‘it straining out gnats’), but things like unkindness, racism, spitefulness, bullying and cruelty actually reside in the human heart. These ugly traits will not be removed from us by publishers, pressure groups, public bodies or politicians.

Easter is about God inaugurating a promise (covenant) in which he will clean up our inner-heart so that we may get to shine on the outside. This is that promise: ‘I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ And what of our own hard-heartedness? God’s promise continues, ‘…for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’

These promises of God are for anyone who wants them. Wholehearted trust in Jesus Christ is the way to be a recipient.