Several years ago, when my daughter was around five years of age, we rented the Disney classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  I vividly remember the scene where the dwarfs came in and found Snow White asleep in their loft.  Some of them had apparently never seen a woman and didn't know "what" she was.  Grumpy recognized her and said, "Stay away from her.  She's a woman and they've got wicked wiles."  One of the other dwarfs asked him what wicked wiles were, and he paused then said, "I don't know, but I'm a'gin  'em." 

I had never realized before that Grumpy was an old hard headed Baptist.  Of course then my mind began to wander and before long, the preacher in me took over and I had a sermon with a parallel between the seven dwarfs and seven different kinds of church members that can be found in just about every Baptist congregation today.  Some are good, others bad, and a few just downright worrisome.

Doc was the first dwarf and obviously the leader of the group.  He pulls them all together and keeps things going.  He could be called "Doc" because he might effect healing when it is needed.  Docs are a healing balm in each church and provide direction, calm the storms and bring peace through their spiritual maturity and leadership.

Sleepy was the dwarf who was always sleepy, night or day.  He can be seen yawning and snoozing throughout the film.  I've known several church members who are sleepy.  Some actually do sleep during the church service, but the average "sleepy" member is asleep at the wheel, snoring while Rome burns, the devil destroys their home and church and souls go to hell.  The Bible says to "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  Eph. 5:14.

Grumpy's name speaks for itself.  Though very perceptive, he was never happy.  He chose to be a grump, always emphasizing the negative, walking on the dark side.  The only time he ever smiled was when Snow White kissed him on top of his bald head, then when he realized he was actually happy, he immediately wiped off the smile with a "Harumph!"  It seems there is always a Grumpy in every church whose motto is, "Every silver lining has a cloud" when their motto should be, "This is the day the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it, even if it is a rotten day."  Grumpys have few friends,  but need loving, because their grumpiness is often an attention ploy.

Happy was the exact opposite of Grumpy.  He saw the positive in every situation and spread cheer and hope.  The Happys in every church are a needed blessing as they lift the fallen and bind the wounded.  Their "cheerful heart doeth good"  to all as the goodness of the light of God shines in the darkest of valleys that every church must sometimes pass through.  

Sneezy was apparently allergic to something.  He was often seen with his finger under his nose, trying to stifle a sneeze.  Now let me use a little sanctified imagination here (which is the birthright of every preacher) and describe the Sneezy in every church.  They are allergic to work and commitment.  Ask them to help in Vacation Bible School and you get an allergic reactive sneeze.  Challenge them to be faithful to church and another "ACHOO" spews out.  Preach on tithing and a fit of violent sneezes come forth.  Sneezy just can't handle it.

Bashful was just as his name stated: extremely shy.  He could talk, but hardly did.  He wasn't a bad guy, didn't cause any trouble and was not disliked.  He was just bashful.  Churches are full of his brothers and sisters today.  They are good people and they will talk about golf, deer hunting, fishing, shopping and the latest styles, but are tight lipped when it comes to talking about Jesus.  They spend hours a day with family, school mates and co-workers, and never even mention Jesus, much less tell of His saving grace.  These incognito Christians would probably cause their friends to drop dead of shock if they began telling the wonderful words of life in their daily conversation.

Dopey is last but not least, though he appeared to be the youngest.  One thing was for certain about Dopey.  You never heard him say a negative or derogatory word about the other dwarfs, Snow White, or even the wicked queen.  Of course he never said a word about anyone or anything......period.  Dopey never talked.  Often times, people talk too much and when they do, the conversation can turn negative, ungodly or destructive.   In the Disney film, Bambi, Thumper said that his father told him that "If you can't say somethin' good about somebody, don't say nuthin' at all."   Oh,  for more Dopey Christians in churches today.  "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.  I Thessalonians 4:11.

Now which one are you?

Political correctness is a scourge in the media today. Reporters and pundits are usually too afraid to speak the truth on any issue that might be connected to race, unless it is to label someone a racist. Consider the recent shameless debacle of the character assassination of nominee Charles Pickering. He is a good, decent man, and is not a racist. I know this to be a fact from personal acquaintance with the man. His real crime is being a conservative who is nominated by President Bush.

Concerning racist language, I do not believe anyone should intentionally slander or use hurtful words against another race, culture, gender or person. But hurtful words exist and are a part of history with numerous examples in many American literary works. The writings of Mark Twain and the poet Carl Sandburg come to mind. People today refer to the slang word "nigger" as the "N" word, afraid to actually say it within the literary context in which it may be found, thereby equating it with vulgarities and obscenities that are censored and bleeped out. I do not personally think this word should be used in a derogatory manner, BUT, to place it on the same level as vulgar and obscene four letter words that are unmentionable is ridiculous. I do not believe the word should be used in an offensive manner to denigrate and hurt people, but most of the ones who are crying "foul" have made a career of being offended. Vote pandering liberals and race baiting Black leaders such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have almost succeeded in having the word removed from history, literature, and classic films, labeling anyone who might use or read the word in a quote, as a white supremist, card carrying Klan member who would lynch all Blacks if only given the opportunity. Ridiculous! Disney has never re-released the classic Song of the South film. The movie is set in the time of American slavery, a very real part of American history, but there would certainly be an outcry if it was ever released again.

Among these thin skinned individuals are Blacks who do not even like to use the word "Black" but refer to themselves as African Americans, though few, if any of them were born in Africa or have even visited there. The correct terminology would be, Americans of African descent, as in Americans of Italian descent, Americans of Arab descent, etc. In other words, any American of foreign descent is American FIRST. But multi-culturalism has robbed many of pride in their American heritage.

The mere mention of an individual's race is not racist. In other words, all racial references are not racist(remember the Rush Limbaugh flap). Facts are facts and cannot be changed. According to the media, in their quest to not offend, when a murder occurs and the suspect is a Black person, then excuses are made for his behavior. But if a Black person is killed by a white person, the White murderer is immediately considered a racist. If a certain crime statistic reveals a higher percentage of Blacks or Hispanics are incarcerated as opposed to Whites, the cry "racism" is heard, yet, if the data is accurate, facts are facts. That is not racism, just factism. Truth is color blind.

I once read a news story about a Black mother who left her small kids alone at home during the day for weeks on end, while she went to work. The first response I heard was how this incident was proof of the lack of child care available and how the government must provide more child care workers or funds for her to pay for child care. To decry the crime of the woman was equated with racism. And the problem, according to the media, was not that she was irresponsible in her actions, but that the government was failing to help her raise her children. Child care is not the responsibility of government.

A common cry from some Blacks of today is that of victimization. They are "victims" in a White man's world. The truth is, they really have been victimized.....by White and Black liberals. Those who claim to be for the little guy, the poor and the minorities, have actually created a slave system of government dependency, thereby robbing these groups of the liberty to be all they can be, discovering their untapped potential. They have been successful in hypnotizing many blacks, including many Black preachers, into believing they cannot make it on their own and their economic salvation lies in the Democratic party and the promises of self appointed Black saviors. But the tide is turning and there is a growth in conservatism among Blacks today, as they throw off the man made shackles, reject government socialism, accept responsibility and begin to think for themselves. Until more Blacks take this step, they will remain in the racist world of Jesse Jackson, who is the king of racists.