Offense, or mercy?

When might we see the cry of love rather than hate? When might we delve deeper into our hearts, rather than spreading wider the opinions of our minds, to the greatest extremities, to distanced poles? How long must both sides, though distanced, though in two separate hemispheres, attack one another with words that carry just as far? The Cold War ended in 1989, but the cold war of words is felt in both the North and the South pole, where both lands are dark and cold.

It's as if we can't meet in the center, because we think the equator is just too hot. But is it the temperature that matters, or the distance apart?

And I suppose this a question we will ask for years to come, as liberals and conservatives fight each other politically, in both the government, and among the people. 2020 has certainly been a year where sides are becoming most polarized, and its hard to feel the sun. More importantly, its hard to feel united.

The redefinition crisis

The church is at a crossroads between faith and freedom that Christ provides, and the unforgiving leftist and rightist policies. More so, the left, where redefinition is happening at a pace too quick for even experienced sprinters. The "old and wise" in our age may find it hard to keep up with a privileged generation who think rights and freedoms are all theirs.

Truth be told, even we can't keep up.

If you want a great example of this, see Albert Mohler's The Briefing podcast, and particularly look at today's podcast (December 10, 2020). Terms are being constantly redefined by the left and in particular by LGBTQI+ individuals who find that the terms we have created are not enough or are becoming obsolete. In a generation where new is necessary, where the next iPhone comes faster than a speeding bullet, where boredom is not an option, we have found that terms such as transgenderism, transformation, or gender dysphoria are now being disposed of in modern culture (as Mohler says) and now we have a new line of words that can describe gender.

If you find it hard to keep up with this, consider development the pronoun usage, or the now-offensive ascribing of gender to certain biological or sexual reproductive parts. That which defines male and female is slowly evaporating in the heat of chaos. But new terms are not the only product of this melting post, there is also confusion.

In this midst of chaos (the necessity of keeping up with culture and its radical polarization) we have created confusion. Traditional Radical feminism (and yes, you heard me right) is now having to be thrown out, as liberals find the term "female" too exclusive. And so the list begins to grow as objective truth makes way for the now-common subjectivism that seems to be infiltrating our culture.

Offense: its own double-edged sword

However there is another fine product of this great mixing pot: offense. I would argue that the production of these new terms has created an atmosphere for the privileged Gen Z and Millennial generations to find offense at anything they choose. Yes, even down to what has been inherently true since the beginning of time. They will find offense at the the distinction between male and female, the "facts of life" that have stood the test of time, whether you believe in a creator God or not.

It is not hard to see that people are getting offended because they wish to adhere to nonsense and fantastical views, rather than real, scientific facts. If you are a Christian, they are not adhering to the Biblical stance as dictated right from Genesis: "male and female he created them". But now, if you use the wrong pronouns (of which, from the beginning there was only "he" and "she"), if you forget a persons gender (of which there are likely hundreds now), and if you question their sexuality in the slightest, you offend them. Which, of course, is the worst offense in the world!

But the offense has a sort of magical presence and a double duty. For it is not only the subsequent product, but the fuel to heat the flame for our so called "stew". The redefinition of terms has been fueled by the very offense which they feel within themselves. "You mislabeled me as 'male'", "You called me 'transgender'", "You said I am a certain gender because of my biology". But with this offense, comes more reason to develop very specific definitions for what gender you are. You are able to confine sexuality and gender to fit your personal reality which you have defined yourself.

Indeed, offense has become a product and a fuel. But you know what it hasn't become? A uniting force.

Obviously in modern society, I must not argue with what you believe, but shrink back into my shell with my conservative beliefs in one hand (or my perceived pitchfork) and my right to freedom of speech in the other (an apparent flaming torch). I must humble myself from speaking, to be considered tolerant. Even tolerance has been redefined to mean a "shut-up" conservative and a "free-to-speak" liberal.

So in the warmth of "true" tolerance, I wish to say that whatever beliefs you hold on these issues, there is a lack we find at the heart of this constant argument: mercy.

The first step: mercy

You see, the first step in bringing both sides together, despite the distance of their hemispheres is mercy, a mercy informed by Biblical truth. And whether or not I believe in what you believe, we can never respect each other as human beings (for that is a truth we should never deny) until we believe in forgiving one side for their misdeeds. Their misdeeds are not opinions, but actions that wrong another.

There has been much pain brought by conservatives who have wronged our liberal fellow man. We have not respected your opinions, nor provided the freedom for you to hold them. For that, I believe there should be an apology. God has granted you that freedom, but I simply believe it is to your harm and own condemnation (Romans 1). When our conscience is informed by something we believe to be without error or fault, when there is a standard for morality based on something eternal (the Bible), we must hold to our convictions and must stand our ground.

From my point of view, there has been very little mercy from the other side. I should hope I am not a radical, I should pray I am not offending at the expense of real, Biblical truth. I should pray for forgiveness from God if that were the case. But the mercy in the LGBTQI+ community, in general, has rarely fallen on those on the outskirts (eg. the conservatives), and instead mostly within the community. And conservatives have rarely reached out, but almost always judged. I am sure, my words have felt judgmental in this article.

But even judgmental is different from offensive. The Bible talks about God's truths being a "double-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12), Galatians talks about the "offense of the cross", 1 Peter talks about the gospel being a "rock of offense". Judgment would include me forgetting I'm at fault, that I am inherently sinful, that the conservative side of this issue has not been harmful or hurtful in some way. You may be offended by my views, I may be offended by yours, but perhaps our feelings are just hurt. There is a difference between being offended, and being abused. Someone holding a different position and explaining their position is not abuse. So, I cannot apologize for the views I express.

Conclusion

Too many people have been hurt in our society for holding to views. Too many people have been accused of wrongdoing, when they were simply debating another side. There is too much antagonism against those who never wronged another. I don't mind offense being brewed when we simply feel it, but I hate when it fuels all of what culture does, says and thinks.

What if we became a merciful society? It seems almost too good to be true. Where people love one another as the Bible commanded. The reason this seems almost too heavenly, is because the Biblical standard of morality (that when followed creates a kind of heaven) is thrown out the window, spit at and mocked.

I want reconciliation, but the distance between the views that dictate our actions has polarized us so much, I realize this will never be fashioned until my Savior and Lord returns again, and when he stops all redefinition, all chaos, and all confusion. When the gospel that caused so much offense might not longer offend for its "folly" but rather show what is true.

You see, we could be more merciful, our first step could be to love one another, but until you hold the Biblical basis for such love you find yourself unable. You fall short. Without the word of God, that distance can never be bridged, the hemispheres grow increasingly distant, and the poles seem ever cold.

I can perceive that until this chaos is brought to a close and held to a much Greater Light, I will feel the Cold War of Words grow increasingly raw.