No one has a right not to be offended

Jay Watts at the Life Training Institute blog has a great post reporting how he responded to someone who basically said she was offended that he would present a reasonable argument against abortion. Two quotes follow, which will hopefully encourage you to read the entire post.

Anytime someone disagrees with us and offers arguments for their position there are only a few options open to us in response. (1) We can quietly listen, consider their views, weigh the counter arguments, and decide they were wrong. (2) We can listen, consider, weigh, then decide we are wrong and adjust our beliefs appropriately. (3) We can listen, consider, weigh, and then decide that we simply lack sufficient information to come down on one side or the other. (4) We can offer counter arguments on the spot addressing the specific lines of evidence offered.

[…]

[W]hen some people say they are offended what they are really saying is that I’m upsetting them so I ought to stop talking…. I reject that all together. No one has a right not to be offended. Sometimes there are questions of such importance that we are compelled to engage in public discussion knowing that it will be upsetting to do so. Imagine how you would feel if someone suggested that you shouldn’t be allowed to argue for positions with which they disagree simply because they are incapable of controlling their emotions.

The entire post is well worth reading. It serves as a reminder that we are all too often “held hostage” by people’s feelings, emotions, and perceptions when discussing important issues. Obviously when a deeply-held belief is challenged, our first impulse is often to react emotionally rather than sensibly.

While Watts’ reply might not have been diplomatic, it was certainly appropriate to the situation.

HT: Tim Challies

Advent: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

—John 1:11–18, ESV

A Pentecostal in (General) Support of the Strange Fire Conference

A refreshingly candid post from Josiah Batten, a Pentecostal associate pastor at an IFCA church in Fairmont, WV in which he points out the value of the Strange Fire Conference. Here’s a sample— but the entire post is worth reading.

I recognize the value of unity, but a unity not grounded in and centered on the truth is merely a superficial unity. If we Pentecostals want John MacArthur to make distinctions when he calls out the Charismatic movement for its abuses, then maybe we should be the first ones making distinctions and calling out heresy and excess where we find it.

Reading this reminded me to not paint all continuationists (or indeed anyone) with the same brush. This author is humble and generous, and we probably agree on most things (theologically speaking).

I continue to be in awe at the many ways God brings glory to Himself.

Advent: for they loved the glory that comes from man

So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

“He has blinded their eyes
   and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
   and understand with their heart, and turn,
   and I would heal them.”

Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

(John 12:34-43, ESV)

Advent: From Jesse's root hath sprung

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
   and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
   the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
   the Spirit of counsel and might,
   the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
   or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
   and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
   and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
   and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
— Isaiah 11:1–5, ESV

Offsping of a virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail, the Incarnate Deity,
Pleased as Man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
  — Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Far as the curse is found

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.

—Isaac Watts