It is getting harder and harder not to offend people! If we say, “Jesus is our Lord and Savior,” that will offend somebody, somewhere, somehow. If we refer to murderers as Islamic terrorists, which they are by their own claims, we are charged with offending them. If we identify anyone by their skin color, nationality or by any other identifying characteristics, then we are said to be racists, profilers, prejudiced or in some manner offensive. The truth is, often people offended are simply in the wrong and are trying to shift the blame away from themselves.
What’s really bothersome is that we have developed a view that we should not speak the truth if it offends anyone. Actually, when we speak the truth we are not responsible for those who take offense. That’s their problem. Just as when Jesus offended the Pharisees by speaking the truth (cf. Matthew 15:1-14). When told that they were offended, he replied, “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14). Jesus was unconcerned that they were offended.
So, as a Christian, a follower of Jesus the Son of God, I believe Arab, Muslim terrorists are our enemies and are acting in opposition to God’s Word and everything that is holy and righteous. And I assert that all people were created in the image of God, but that some have abandoned their god-likeness by identifying themselves as victims because of their heritage, ancestry, or skin color, when they are not being victimized at all. Who will be offended by these statements of truth?
What’s really bothersome is that we have developed a view that we should not speak the truth if it offends anyone. Actually, when we speak the truth we are not responsible for those who take offense. That’s their problem. Just as when Jesus offended the Pharisees by speaking the truth (cf. Matthew 15:1-14). When told that they were offended, he replied, “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14). Jesus was unconcerned that they were offended.
So, as a Christian, a follower of Jesus the Son of God, I believe Arab, Muslim terrorists are our enemies and are acting in opposition to God’s Word and everything that is holy and righteous. And I assert that all people were created in the image of God, but that some have abandoned their god-likeness by identifying themselves as victims because of their heritage, ancestry, or skin color, when they are not being victimized at all. Who will be offended by these statements of truth?
Rick Cunningham
RSS Feed