This is something that I've been thinking about for years but especially recently. It seems to me that in many diverse circumstances we are given a choice: to risk offending someone or to risk taking an offense. I use the phrase 'take an offense' in a very broad way. An offense is any annoyance or resentment due to another person's action.
In Tanzania I sometimes would be offended (mildly annoyed) when I was called 'Mzungu' by every other stranger.
This past year I often found myself offended (deeply annoyed and resentful) by US politics.
In the first circumstance: do I tell every person who calls me 'Mzungu' to stop using that word for me, possibly causing offense to them because I've just embarrassed them by reprimanding them? Or, do I decide to allow people to call me 'Mzungu' and take the risk of being offended myself? In this circumstance, I generally chose the latter.
Regarding the second circumstance: do I speak out against what offended me in US politics, risking offending people on both sides of the line? Or, do I just sit back and feel disturbed by the whole thing but never voice my opinion lest I offend someone? Honestly, I did both of these, it depended on the environment.
Most of the time I think it is better to risk taking offense rather than risk offending another. Other times, it seems necessary to offend in order to bring truth and light to a situation. I feel faced with this choice on a very daily basis right now. I am living in a more secular, worldly, and PC environment than I ever have before. It is so easy to offend and it is so easy to be offended.
Being led by God and through his wisdom is the only way to really know when to offend and when to take offense.
***When I use the phrase 'take offense' I hope you know that I intend that offense to be followed up with forgiving the offending party.
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