A study done in 2016 shows that a majority of Americans (59%) think people are too easily offended (www.pewresearch.org). This being the case, I suppose it’s like that old saying goes, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” I don’t normally hear these people speaking out, I hear about the offended ones.

I can’t really express in words how TIRED I am of people getting “offended.” Good LORD I’m sick of that word! A friend of mine on Facebook posted something directed to “Christian Men,” in an attempt to encourage us, in this weird and sometimes difficult age, and people lost their minds.

“What about the WOMEN?!” one lady responded. “GIVE ME A BREAK!”

“Why do you Christians hate Muslims?!” another replied.

Still another wrote, “Good grief, talk about male privilege!”

HEAVY SIGH…

Man, you can’t even try and encourage people these days without someone being offended. If I feel I have a positive, uplifting message for women, I’m going to share it, with no apologies to the men. It also works the other way, if I’m trying to encourage men.

In the 21st century, many people only want to hear what pleases them. They only want to be given facts which line up with their ideology. Whenever anyone tries to say something they don’t agree with, they clam up like Jim Carrey in “Dumb and Dumber.”

Fact is, this world is filled with billions of people from a plethora of different backgrounds and cultures, each of whom have their own varying upbringing, family, likes and dislikes, personalities and ideas. It’s awesome to find people of a similar outlook, for encouragement and familiarity, but it’s ludicrous to try and bend everyone to our specific set of beliefs.

I find this especially irritating in the Christian community. Say something others don’t agree with and watch the fireworks. We’ve went from having an “agree to disagree” attitude, to honestly believing anyone who doesn’t believe EXACTLY the way we do, must be a moron.

Some of us who have studied the Bible a while refer to this as having “itching ears.” In case you don’t understand the reference…

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3 NLT)”

The Passion Translation reads like this:

“For the time is coming when they will no longer listen and respond to the healing words of truth because they will become selfish and proud. They will seek out teachers with soothing words that line up with their desires, saying just what they want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)”

Fact is, truth is truth, no matter how we feel about it. Some say there’s a Hell, others don’t believe it. Some say there will be a rapture of the church, when Jesus comes back to Earth to carry all His followers back to Heaven, while others think that idea is hogwash.

The problem is we’ve went from agreeing to disagree, to casting aspersions on those who think differently.

I don’t even argue with these people, because it’s about as productive as trying to convince a squirrel to be a pony. It’s ridiculous! I’d encourage these people to take a breath, step back and realize it’s ok to have our own views.

The whole “you’re an idiot because you don’t believe what I believe” thing so many people have these days is kind of a jerk move, if you ask me. I have no time for such absurdities. Truth is truth, sin is sin, and it’s all in the Bible. We need to do our own research, look into God’s word ourselves, and discover HIS truths, instead of making it up as we go along.

Jesus loved people, and that’s what I try to do. Some make it REALLY difficult, like pulling a mustache hair out through your nose, but we have to try.

Just my thoughts for the day. Blessings.