Offended
Since the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Va. this summer; the efforts to purge our present culture of remnants of the past that do not conform to present sensibilities has taken on renewed vigor.
For instance, there is now a push by Native American Indians to change the name of Mt. Doane in Yellowstone National Park to First People’s Mountain because Army Lt. Gustavus Doane was a participant in the killing of 173 noncombatant native Americans in 1870. Whether talking about mascot names of School teams (Braves, Rebels, etc.) or national landmarks and monuments, it seems the bright lights of national attention have again been turned towards being sure nothing can be offensive to anyone.
So what’s a Christian to make of this? To be sure, the Scripture admonishes us that the believer is to be aware of potential stumblingblock’s and to remove them so that we cause no offense. But where does this responsibility end? If someone might potentially cry “foul” do I have the immediate responsibility to my neighbor to alter my belief or behavior?
Will this preoccupation with others “feelings” ultimately lead to “fear of man” syndrome that Paul also says he avoids (Galatians 1:10) like the plague? Like all areas of the Christian life it seems to me that living in the sweet spot of the balance between the two extremes is where God would have us to be. Always looking to others, removing offenses and serving the conscience of the weak- while never bending when Biblical truth is at stake. And in each and every circumstance showing the love of Christ our Savior. Putting it into practice is the hard part- Let us lean on the Spirit for His guidance and wisdom in these difficult times.
“We give no offense in anything that our ministry may not be blamed.” II Corinthians 6:3
Because of grace,
Tim
