In every high school annual there is always the "most likely to..." section. There is always the famous "Most likely to succeed" and then all the rest. One "most likely" category that could be included in the day in which we live is this: "The most likely to be offended." Surely we all recognize that we are living in a day where there is an all-out life and death effort to avoid offending nearly every group - with the exception of conservative Christians. In the last decade we have all become familiar with the term "Politically Correct." What it means, in a nutshell, to be "politically correct" is simply this: according to guidelines set up by liberals, one must use certain terminology and avoid other terminology so as not to offend the millions of very touchy people. One must also avoid certain positions, at least publicly, because these topics are very touchy and will offend large groups of people if they are dealt with.

The bottom line is that we have become so touchy and easily offended that we now have come to a place in our culture where we know what is politically correct to say and what is not. Industrially, this may be the information age, but socially and spiritually this is the "touchy" or "easily-offended age."

I have never known a preacher who has not lost some person, family, or even several families because someone was offended. The offence may have been over a misunderstanding, or over some truth that they just could not take. Last week I was driving down the road listening to a radio preacher carefully telling his audience that "We are going to have to tell people that they are sinners and that there is a hell, even though it might be very hard for that to be accepted." As I heard him delicately craft his words to convey this simple truth, I thought to myself, "We are in a dismal hour when church members have a difficult time not being offended over being called a sinner, and being told there is a hell." Let's face it, if what was preached behind most pulpits today was medicine it wouldn't cure anybody and if it was poison it wouldn't kill anybody. So why are we so easily offended? I believe I have the answer.

For years and years I have heard men of God say that our country is a reflection of the church, and that our political leaders are a reflection of our pulpit leaders. I have always agreed wholeheartedly with that conclusion. Bearing that in mind, it has been my personal experience that preachers are probably the most touchy and the most easily offended single group. I cannot count the times I have heard preachers charge a congregation to receive the Word of God no matter how tough it might be. Yet, preachers seem to be more sensitive and more quick to be offended than any other group. In fact, from my personal experience, I would have to vote the preachers to be "the most likely to be offended." Most preachers cannot take preaching. What is the result of this? If the laws of sowing and reaping are in place, perhaps the church's and our country's sensitivity is the harvest from a bunch of babies behind pulpits who cannot take the truth if it is not served on a silver platter with sugar all over it. People in general are sensitive because they are filled with pride. Pride will not let a person admit that he is wrong. It will not let him admit that he still has some areas in which he needs help. Hey, preacher, for the sake of the church and our country, toughen up and receive the truth. Quit getting so easily offended.

Steven E. Mays, Pastor,
Faith Baptist Church, Laurens, SC.

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