“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. ”
I may have read Matthew chapter 24 hundreds of times but verse 10 seems to really reflect what’s going on these days.
Speaking of the signs of the last days, Jesus says:
“And then shall MANY BE OFFENDED, and shall betray one another, and SHALL HATE ONE ANOTHER.”
Things seems to be getting worse and worse. . . Our culture has become so polarized with intense contempt towards one group perceiving another as their enemy. It seems that it doesn’t take much these days for people to become offended. All it takes is a meme or a post on a social media or a viral video containing some disagreeable content and the tidal wave of vitriol will ensue. And all the media outlets have casted their “click baits” to add even more fuel to the flame and to invoke further outrage, in order to sell their narrative.
The censor culture, the cancel culture, the politically-correct culture, are all an outgrowth of this relentless pursuit of trying to make right what the society deems offensive or politically incorrect. As a byproduct It appears that being outraged or being offended is now a sign of “virtue.” Your emotionally distressed outcries against some social injustice, serves as a conspicuous “signal” to let others know that you are in fact participating in this rigorous exercise of seeking justice. . . at what ever the cost; and this is how a caring justice seeking citizen should behave.
A “virtuous” person, in this sense, is also outraged and offended by others for not being equally outraged and offended as they are, for non-offended individual is a telltale sign of someone who is malignly indifferent to a cause that a “virtuous” person is extremely sympathetic towards. A virtuous person, therefore is also outraged and offended when someone challenges their ideas or their cause and therefore resorts to censoring or cancelling the opponent and do whatever he can to dismiss and discredit the opponent.
God’s people are confronted… How shall we respond?
“Now is the time for God’s people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason. The nation will be on the side of the great rebel leader” Ellen White, 5T 136.2
