Christians Aren't Part of the Perpetually Offended

How many times have you seen or heard Christians being ridiculed or lied about or something like that and then seen or heard Christians say something along the lines of "if they said the same things about _____________________ (Muslims, women, etc.) there would be outrage."  In other words, we ask why it is that people can get away with defaming Christians, but not others.

Aaron Earls at WorldMagBlog has about the best response for that I have ever read.  In reply to the now (in)famous acceptance speech of Kathy Griffin where she chose not only to not thank Jesus, but to mock him, Aaron says this:

Catholic League president Bill Donohue is calling for action and saying that like other celebrities who offend, Griffin should "pay a similar price." (Isn't being Kathy Griffin enough of a punishment?) Donohue said if the comment had referenced Muhammad "there would have been a very different reaction from the crowd and from the media who covered this event. To say nothing of the Muslim reaction.” But isn't that the point - that we aren't part of the perpetually offended (emphasis mine).

That's it - he expresses what I have intuitively known for years but have not been able to articulate.  We say that Christians are different, and we are, and one of the main ways we are different from the world is that we don't take offense at offensive behavior or treatment.  We are the people who love our enemies, who bless when cursed, who pray for our persecutors.  We follow the one who only wanted forgiveness to be shown to those who crucified Him.

Blogged with Flock

Tags: Religion, theology, Christianity, Christian, forgiveness, Kathy Griffin