Food for Thought: Are You Easily Offended?

For 116 years, Barnum's Animals crackers have come in little boxes that multiple generations easily recognize and fondly remember.  However, you'll be hard pressed to find that old familiar look.  Playing off its namesake, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, the colorful boxes debuted in 1902 showing animals in boxcars reminiscent of the circus coming to town.  The three rings no longer exist (that ended in 2017).  In 2016, Nabisco was asked by the animal rights group, PETA to change the iconic box so that the animals wouldn't appear to be behind bars.  Now, all of the new boxes will depict animals roaming 'cage-free' in the wild.  The new boxes show a lion flanked by four animals it would gladly eat (zebra, elephant, giraffe, and gorilla.)   Being an easily offended culture, or person, is neither healthy nor wise... and quite frankly, very offensive.  Adapted from an article in The Houston Chronicle, 8/22/18

We all want everyone to be aware of and respectful of other people’s feelings and to conduct themselves accordingly.  But we also want to be able to comment on a situation without fear of offending people who might have a different position.  When we have to be so careful not to offend, it can become an untenable way to communicate. This is why so many families and friends have had to promise not to talk about certain topics such as religion or politics.

The problem seems to be that we all like to think we are right.  Some people would rather be right than well informed.  Some would rather voice their offence than hear arguments from all sides.  When we are too easily offended, we miss hearing something that could be of help to us or to say something that could be of help to someone else.

If the disciples had been too easily offended, or afraid of offending others with the good news of the gospels, we would not have had the Christian revolution that has been handed down to us.  We might not have ever heard the good news of salvation. 

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15