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One thing I have really learned in growing up is how not to take offense at people’s opinions, how to be quick to forgive, and to understand that not everyone is going to think like me. I’m okay with that. I either try to understand you, ignore you, or completely erase you from my line of vision.
Sometimes things get a little heated, sometimes I have an emotional response to outright ugliness, but for the most part I’m actually really good at extending grace to other people. If someone is just plain wrongheaded, God will deal with them. They really aren’t a threat to me. Wrongness does not scare me. Sometimes I can even cough up some genuine charity and ask the Lord to show them the same mercy and grace He has shown me.
Sometime I really appreciate their words because they trigger something within me and God wants me to deal with it.
I’ve been really taking that for granted, assuming that is a “normal” way of walking in the world, and completely forgetting that it is actually a fruit that has grown from emotional and spiritual maturity. I feel as if some of us have really done a disservice in the world by not teaching people this, by pampering our kids and thinking we can protect them from their own feelings.
But then I realize that some of these blasted “kids” are my age, if not older, and I grow a bit frustrated. Own your own feelings, people. If someone’s words or beliefs cause you to have some feelings, that’s entirely on you. Our own feelings are our own responsibility, they cannot be blamed on someone else. Nobody else can “make you” feel anything.
So, feeling a bit frustrated about so much of our current culture’s emotional immaturity, what did I stumble upon? This hilarious letter by Everett Piper that begins,
“This is Not a Day Care. It’s a University!” This past week, I actually had a student come forward after a university chapel service and complain because he felt “victimized” by a sermon on the topic of 1 Corinthians 13. It appears this young scholar felt offended because a homily on love made him feel bad for not showing love…..”
Cracked me up! Amen. Click to read the whole thing, but I was quite delighted by it and somewhat comforted by the fact that someone else recognizes this silliness for what it is. Also, at church on Sunday our Pastor just happened to also be speaking on love and 1 Corinthians 13. I’m not sure if anyone felt convicted, but I’m pretty sure no one actually felt deeply offended.
See, there's this thing called biology... 
Great post IB. That article came across my Facebook Newsfeed as well. Totally agree with him. It’s one thing when you are being personally talked at and being offended on purpose. I mean personally. But when you were listening to somebody else’s opinion in general or a sermon that is not directed at you in particular to be offended by it hurt by it and to complain about it says a lot more about you than you might be willing to admit. Totally agree. Awesome post.
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Thanks, I’m glad you saw this article too. Somewhat funny, right when I was reading it, “Love Stinks” started playing on the radio, which made me laugh. It does, it does indeed, love stinks sometimes, but our willingness to experience it and feel it is everything.
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Rofl! You totally made me laugh!
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Good letter. “The primary objective of the Church and the Christian faith is your confession, not your self-actualization.”
Yes, indeed: Speaking the truth (in love) → confession → cleansing → clear conscience → confidence. May colleges across the country foster confidence.
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Amen! May colleges across the country foster confidence, indeed.
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A very good post IB
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Amen!! It’s hilarious and deeply disturbing at the same time!
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I agree! Sometimes one doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
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Where I teach (college students), the administration requires each student in each class to sign and return a statement acknowledging that the students may have to confront some uncomfortable and potentially offensive material. I have yet to meet a student who does not think that the school’s policy is silly–and I am teaching history, which can be uncomfortable and offensive. When I collected the last batch of forms, one student said, “I guess this is for real. In the last class, I thought it was a joke.” “What was your last class?” I asked. “Algebra,” she said. J.
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LOL! Well, I would certainly need to sign a trigger waver for algebra! No, not really, but how sad it is that we even thing of such things today. We have put one too many warning labels on our mattresses and five gallon buckets. Yes, plastic buckets must now have a written warning on them, least anyone immerse their head in one and and drown.
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Great post I see this me entitlement so much now a days. I worked with local High Schools and wow kids today have this huge sense of me me me. Thank you for sharing that letter.
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Dr. Everett Piper is an excellent speaker. You can find audio of him speaking if you want a real treat.
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One reason I’m glad that Clinton lost was the fear that she might actually start a war. When we see how these Millenials are behaving, the thought of them going up against the Russian or Chinese Army is scary. Here we argue about having homosexual boy-scout masters—I’ve seen the Russian version of the Boy Scouts. Their scoutmasters are part-time Army sergeants and the boys train with rifles, learn hand-to-hand combat and survival skills. I watched a video of them on Youtube where they simulated a terrorist attack on a school bus and the scouts overpowered the terrorists and freed the other kids. Put our pajama-boys against that and the outcome’s not going to be good for our side.
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From time to time I tell others that it is safe to disagree with me. I mean, it’s OK if they want to be wrong.” Feel free to use this line. Of course I’m joking, always find what I need in your blogs…thanks
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Ha! Thank you for that line, that’s great. Thanks too for your kind words and for reading:-)
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This needs to be said! Wow, if someone can’t stand 1 Corinthians 13 about love, what other things can’t they stand from the rest of the Good Book? LOL!
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I love this post! I think a version of that letter should be given out to students starting in middle school, or even late elementary school, with an attached statement to sign that says they understand and agree/accept that they are responsible for their actions and reactions to subjects they are studying, as well as the opinions of other students. Personal responsibility needs to be taught to future generations.
Even if the school is not a religious school an adapted version of this letter could be very useful. We should be teaching about personal responsibility since it seems in the majority of homes this concept is no longer taught by parents who are living in the “victim/I can be offended if you don’t agree with me” mentality that is sadly prevalent in society today. I only wish we could teach more young adults and adults what personal responability is really about because the earlier a child learns this there is a better chance of the child actually learning this lesson. Listening to our conscience is not a religious idea and therefore can be taught in non religious schools.
There are so many examples of where the lack of understanding this concept that have been occuring in the USA lately and I hope somehow we can teach the future generations this to prevent such ridiculous behavior happening from adults over recent events. Sorry for the long response, I just feel very passionate about this.
Thank you again for such a wonderful post!! I always enjoy reading your posts.
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