Being Offended by Offensive Things Is Good, Actually

Because we love our neighbors, we speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Because we love Jesus, mocking his loving communion with us should be repulsive to us. 

Symbols are a crucial part of how human beings communicate meaning to one another. Some symbols, like a stop sign or a the word “tree,” communicate a very flat and common sort of meaning. Others, like the cross or a halo of divinity placed over the head of a holy person in a painting, convey deep and transcendent beliefs.

These sorts of symbols become sincerely sacred to those who find meaning in them, because of what they represent—like a photograph of a loved one you haven’t seen for many years. To make a mockery of these sacred symbols is akin to crumpling up that photograph of a person’s loved one and then deriding their reaction.

At a basic human level, it is normal to be offended by the misuse of sacred symbols.

Also at a basic human level, it is good to want to avoid misusing the sacred symbols of others. In fact, it’s fundamental to tolerance in a pluralistic society.

Conclusion

Lutheran Pastor Jordan Cooper said on X, “The fact that there are Christians on this site who are rebuking other Christians for being offended by a mockery of their Savior is absolutely unbelievable.” Such responses may or may not be unbelievable, but they shouldn’t be acceptable.

Instead of rebuking other Christians, Christians should unite together and say, “We reject the mockery of our faith, even as we love you those who make the mockery.” The same Jesus who drove out the money-changers in the temple, also prayed for his executioners, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).  

We can love our neighbors without loving the world. We can reject offensive things, and speak out against them, without betraying our mission. We can reject outrage while still be rightly offended.

Being offended by offensive things is actually a good and right thing to do.