The Booming Business of Offended Christians

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It is a fact that Christians are one of the most persecuted groups in the world. A 2018 study showed that Christians were the most persecuted surpassing even Muslims in the number of countries where we face harassment.

This does not, however, correlate with the attention or media coverage that persecuted Christians, especially across the African continent and in South Asia, receive. Moreover, today’s intense political and social polarization has rightly created a need for Christians to be boldly vocal about our beliefs.

Unfortunately, this environment has also fostered a culture of easily offended Christians. Many have even built careers centered on constantly taking offense at what unbelievers say at work, across the political aisle, and elsewhere. TV stations and media outlets, including those that host your typical content creators, have entire segments dedicated to these passionate debates and arguments simply because viewers are eager to consume the content.

We mustn’t confuse our emotional volatility with the righteous passion Jesus demonstrated.

We mustn’t confuse our emotional volatility with the righteous passion Jesus demonstrated when He overturned the tables and benches of the money changers and retailers in the temple of the Lord. Like Jesus, however, we are rather called to win over those who oppose us by correcting them gently and respectfully.

TO be clear, being offended is not a sin. To be constantly offended, however, the Lord instructs us in James 1:19-20 to be slow to take offense, quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Our anger does not produce the righteous results that God desires from our work.

Disagreements and persecution are to be expected. While we do not seek persecution, we are called to expect it and be willing to suffer for our faith. In times of persecution, which comes in various forms, we are asked to rejoice and be glad, to turn the other cheek, and to find strength in the promise of our reward in heaven.

Our behavior in these end times testify that we are children of the Heavenly Father, who causes the sun to shine and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. A clear example from scripture is when the emotionally led disciple Peter cuts off Malchus’ ear during the arrest of Jesus. Jesus responded by asking him to put his sword away and warned him that those who live by the sword will also perish by it. I believe that Jesus, in saying this, is warning us that moving with ungodly anger and dwelling in constant offense will ultimately backfire and only harm us instead of declaring the gospel in this already dark world.