Love to hear from and know who is listening
Over the years different generations have been named and identified by the attributes they have in common. Some of the more recognizable generations are the “Greatest Generation,” “Baby Boomers,” and “Generation X,” just to name a few. The people that are apart of the current generation are called “Generation Alpa.” However, when this generation has passed and the historians are writing about it I wonder it might also be called the “Age of the Offended!” I used to think that if as a white person if I referred to another person as a “colored person” I was being politically correct. Now I am told that I can't say that because it is offensive. Instead I should say, “people of color.”
It is remarkable how quickly the opinion of the public will change in the twinkling of an eye. A perfect example of that is our former Governor, Eric Grietens. He started his campaign as a respected Navy Seal. He was then elected as Governor. Greitens was charged with felony invasion of privacy and later for campaign-related offenses. He was indicted on felony charges of computer tampering in April 2018; all charges were dropped in May 2018. Greitens resigned from office June, 2018. I am not taking sides or making judgments but in a very short period of time in the eyes of the public he went from Hero to Zero.
This nothing new, public opinion is so fickle! In Acts chapter 28 is the account of when Paul was ship wrecked on the shores of Malta. Paul says once the were safely on shore, The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the storm, justice has not allowed him to live. However moments later the natives of the island changed their opinion of Paul. In a very short period of time they went from calling him a murderer to calling him a God.
Acts 28: 5-6 NIV But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
People waste so much time being offended about things. I heard this short story on Bott Radio told by Chuck Swindoll. I think it shows how dangerous it can be to be offended by someone's action. It is entitled, "Who Changed?" There was once a preacher whom I used to like. I thought he was great! His sermons were wonderful, as long as I liked him. His speech was fair his life was clean, He was a hard worker, as long as I liked him. He was the man for the job, in fact I was strong for him, as long as I liked him. But he offended me one day whether he knew it or not I don't know. Since that day, he has ceased to be a good preacher. His sermons aren't so wonderful, since he offended me. His speech isn't so good, his faults are far more prominent, since he offended me. He is not a hard worker, in fact he's really not the man for the job, since he offended me. It is really a shame he has changed so much, since he offended me.
Has anyone ever said something unkind or offensive to you or about you? I think we all have had that experience. Becoming victims of slander or gossip can be difficult to bear. However, God calls us to exhibit a very specific kind of response when we are offended.
Isaiah 53:7 NIV He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is si
