Comments on: Offendedness is a Double-Edged Sword

By: Critiquing Television: Double Standards Set Aside « Noah Kephart

Critiquing Television: Double Standards Set Aside « Noah Kephart — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:26:12 +0000

[...] many Christians and Catholics, mainly everyone who adores Jesus Christ. Kevin DeYoung, here http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2009/10/30/offendedness-is-a-double-edged-sword/, analyzed why this was offensive, but more importantly, asks the question of why we are offended [...]

By: Atone

Atone — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:16:31 +0000

This is a balanced article, Kevin, well done. As Christians we need to be reminded that the world will always approach Jesus with a double standard and a disproportionate response to the Gospel. Why? Because the Gospel is genuinely and tangibly offensive to the world.

By: Latte Links (10/31) | Caffeinated Thoughts

Latte Links (10/31) | Caffeinated Thoughts — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:45:31 +0000

[...] Kevin DeYoung: Offendedness is a Double-Edged Sword [...]

By: Mary Palshan

Mary Palshan — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:26:03 +0000

Before I became a Christian I hated ignorance, rudeness, belittling of people, any unkind words spoken, or anything that hurt other people.

Now that I am a Christian, I still hate all these things, but for basically, one very good reason, it slanders MY GOD, my father, the righteous and holy one, the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s; the great I AM.

Turn off your T.V. sets and pray to your father in heaven. He gave us His son to make it possible for us to commune with the High and Lofty One, and those conversations that we enjoy so freely, came at a very great price.

There will always be those who slander God’s character, but we do not need to partake in the defamation by being a regular spectator. Turn off the _____tube, before you become one yourself.

Sorry…I got carried away!

Love your article, Kevin!

By: Gary Ware

Gary Ware — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:40:59 +0000

Yeah, I couldn’t help but think about the issue of images of Jesus as well. Presumably David is unaware of his iconoclastic ‘forebears’.
The iconoclasts were motivated by the reverence which they saw being devoted to objects that should be directed toward God alone. They felt no compunction to treat images with reverence, after all, that was the problem.
We do need to be careful to question those who are mockers of God.
At the same time we need to be careful that our zeal is for God alone and not for objects that we choose to represent Him, outside of His express will.

By: Ed Yates

Ed Yates — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:01:42 +0000

Thanks for your post Kevin, it was stimulating and encouraged me to humility.

While I’m in agreement with what you write, I can’t help but wonder, as an RCA pastor, how (if at all) does Heidelberg Catechism Question 100 apply to this kind of situation. Obviously, this particular scenario is complicated by the Reformed aversion to their being paintings of Christ in the first place, but there’s plenty of other blasphemies on telly.

Obviously that might well require a nuanced answer and you’ve probably got better things to be doing (to do with your actual congregation) but if you have a moment and are so inclined I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Thanks again

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:10:58 +0000

If you had not blogged about this I never would have known of it. I’m not sure it’s our obligation to be knowledgeable of everything that we think should offend us. This list would be endless. It seems to me that if someone with whom I have direct contact does something to offend, then I may speak up — or maybe I’ll just speak God’w Word to him.

By: Cristiano

Cristiano — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:52:20 +0000

To be sincere, I agree about the “two edge sword” thing, and in if we need to be offended, it should not be only for this. But I also agree to manifest our disgust on this kind of thing.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:32:05 +0000

Excellent post. I needed to be gently reminded of this. It is indeed a two-edged sword. And while I may secretly harbor thankfulness for the Catholics and Jewish groups which decry things like this (should I feel bad about this?), at the very least it does make me think about what an evangelical Christian should do or say, or not do and say, in situations like this one.
Besides, doesn’t the Word of God say something about Christian faith and a worldly reaction of hostility toward it?

By: thomas

thomas — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:56:38 +0000

Maybe the question to ask is how does the entertainment industry shape the minds of society (especially of the young). If no one objects to rude and offensive behavior, then might the impressionable just think that it is OK to act this way? The standard set out by our culture is one of tolerance and respect. Can we not hold the culture to their own standards?