No Offense

Matthew 11:6 – “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”

In this age of political correctness, people tip-toe around the truth for fear of being offensive to someone with “different beliefs.”  At Christmastime, stores are refusing to recognize the Christian holiday for fear of offending some customers.  The spokesperson for one major retailer stated that they consider the use of “Merry Christmas” to be disrespectful.  Another major retailer said they “don’t want to offend Jews, those who celebrate Kwanzaa, and those who have no religious preference.”  And at another, customer service informed a customer that “It is politically incorrect to mention Christmas, because we don’t want to offend our customers who are not Christians.” 

These are but three instances of major stores who have abandoned any reference to Christmas in their advertising, their greetings, their “holiday” displays.  There are many others throughout this great land of ours.  One employee stated, “These retailers are profiting from the traditions of giving that have developed out of Christianity but refuse to acknowledge the faith that feeds them.” 

Yet in a recent survey, over 95% of Americans are not offended by the use of the Christmas holiday.  So our country is allowing 5% of the population to dictate the societal traditions to the majority.  Our country whose very foundations are grounded in Judeo-Christian values – whose founding was undertaken by godly men who believed in the Bible – whose very core beliefs acknowledge the Almighty and the Christian faith that is taught in the Scriptures – is abandoning the very God who guided her founding fathers in the formation of this great land.  We have begun to be offended in Him. 

We’ve kicked Him out of our schools – we’ve expelled Him from the public square – we’ve taken Him out of the courthouse – we’ve removed Him from our daily lives.  Oh America, America, “how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.  Behold your house is left unto you desolate (Mat 23:37-38).”  Christ said this to Jerusalem, but it fits as a dirge against America, because we have become offended in Him.

Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”  Where will it all end?  When will America stop worrying about offending the minority and just do what’s right?  Have we ever thought that we may have sacrificed peace on the altar of political correctness?  We use to love the law of God – we were strong – spiritually, morally, psychologically.  Then we abandoned Him – we have abandoned our morals – we have abandoned our goodness – we have abandoned our soul. 

Quote - "I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbours and her ample rivers, and it was not there: in her fertile land and boundless prairies, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."  - Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French historian who came to America in 1826 to find out what made her “tick”

"Lord, Help us to do right, regardless of what's 'politically incorrect.' Help us to take a stand for you in spite of societal pressure to do otherwise. Help us to love you more. Amen."