Lighten Up, Ye Who Are Easily Ticked Off (May 8, 2005)

A radio program host was lauding Laura Bush for her generally well-received comedic skewering of her President husband. When a caller complained that the First Lady's comments were disgusting and inappropriate, the host said, "I have a question for you. Are you the kind of person who is easily offended?"

Great question! Too many people are too easily offended. They spend their days looking for something to tick them off. They wait like a starving Venus Fly Trap to snag offenses out of the air. God help you if you are married to one of these - like the saintly friend of mine who gets screamed at all the time by his offense-seeking missile of a wife. Some time ago he was awakened in the morning by one of her verbal tirades and he thought, "Man. I haven't even done anything yet."

Some years ago I was driving in a car with a (thankfully non-blood) relative and for whatever reason I was in a pretty good mood, but she shot that down pretty quick by looking out the window and dutifully recording everything she didn't like. Oh please. Lady. Lighten up.

Of course, I should talk. I'm a minister, and part of my duty before God is to get riled up by sin and channel that righteous anger into rebuke and warning and a call to repentance. Some things should offend us. Abraham's nephew Lot was "distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men" and "tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard" (2 Peter 2:7-8). Not to be offended by such sin is itself an offense.

So where do you draw the line between holy righteous anger and unholy over-sensitivity? I don't know - that is a tough one. I guess one general rule is to try to be as pleasant and agreeable and gracious as you can under the circumstances. Also, keep a mental tally of how many times you say "I can't stand" as opposed to "I just love." Say fewer of the former and more of the latter. And as for perceived insults to your person and character, just forget those. Smile and pretend not to notice.