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I’ve been encouraging you not to be a part of the “I am offended” culture, but also not to be intimidated by it. It’s easy to allow this invasive culture to cause us to keep our mouths shut when we should speak out, causing us to be fearful that we won’t be accepted by others. Don’t you know that the enemy of our soul delights in using this “offendedness” syndrome to cause us to retreat into our holy huddles and keep our mouths shut?
Consider a time when Jesus offended some people. In confronting the Pharisees and teachers of the law about their hypocrisy in Matthew 15:12, the disciples came to Jesus and said: “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” The disciples were shocked that Jesus would openly speak against their religious rulers, knowing they were powerful and could do Jesus harm. I can imagine them taking Jesus aside and advising him that his criticism of the Pharisees was really dangerous. They figured he somehow didn’t get it—didn’t realize that he was offending the Pharisees, for surely he wouldn’t do that intentionally.
Listen to how Jesus responded: “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:13). Here’s what Jesus is saying: If the Pharisees and their teachings are not from God, not according to the truth, then they won’t last and their teachings won’t last. Just let them alone. Don’t waste time trying to change them or please them. They are blind leading blind and eventually they will be exposed and they will fail.
Truth always trumps error, so there will be times when speaking the truth—yes, even speaking the truth in love—will be offensive to someone. Those are the times we must be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us, as Peter puts it, and to do that reverently and gently. So, when we need to speak truth that may be offensive to others, we do it in a humble spirit with as gentle words as possible, but we don’t shrink from doing it, even if we are criticized for offending others.
So, while we are never to be part of the “I am offended” culture, we are likewise never to be hesitant to speak truth and always in a loving spirit.