If we are asked an offensive question, are we able to answer it, in the least offensive way?
A scenario has been running through my head recently. It goes…
You are at church, and after the service, an individual, who is wearing pro LGBT attire, approaches you, and then asks, “Would your church, allow a same sex marriage to take place here?”
Did you take a sharp intake of breath, at reading the scenario?
If you did, I hope that it wasn’t an offensive sharp intake of breath ….??? 🙂
I do hope that I haven’t caused any offence by just writing the scenario (or the comment that followed). But in our modern day society, such a question, could possibly be asked, at some point, by somebody.
How would you answer such a question, if you were ever to be asked something like it?
Would you fall into the trap of, “Well, I/we believe that, …..” and then go into a preaching session of just what you believe?
Possibly/probably causing an amount of offence, of a higher magnitude than you mean to, without realising or understanding the offence that you are causing? (I’ll leave it up to our Heavenly Father, to show what offence (if any) could be taken from such an answer. 🙂 )
When we look at the question that was posed, the answer should really be, one of three possible responses. “Yes”, “No”, or “I don’t know”. (The question was, effectively, a yes or no type of question.)
The response might sound slightly different or be a combination of two answers, such as. “I think not, but you could check with the leadership of the church.”
Unfortunately for those of us who believe what the bible says, we can hear the question that hasn’t, yet been asked, of “and why is that so?”
We can be all to quick to offer our opinions, even before they are asked for. Sometimes the “why do you believe that?” question, may quickly follow, but other times, it might not!
If we are going to offer our opinions and beliefs, then could we at least wait until they have been asked for?
I have probably made this mistake in the past myself. 😦
If we are asked the “Why”, then could we possibly try to temper our answers, by first asking something like, “Am I able to speak freely, as I feel that you might not like my answer?”
Sometimes this could be the right approach, but then other times, even doing that, could possibly cause an awkward moment???
Hearing what Our Lord God is speaking to us will be the best guide, for what to do.
If you feel that the question is loaded with all kinds of trouble, that you don’t know how to navigate, then you could try to use a further version of the “I don’t know answer”. Which could sound something like, “I’m not to sure of the answer to your question, but we could go and ask someone in the leadership team?”
Yes, I know, this response is a bit (or a lot) of passing the buck. But it is a valid response that could be used, if you feel that you are out of your depth with any question that you may be asked, at any time. The leadership team might not be too happy with you for passing the buck onto them. But they could be even more upset, if an answer is given, that then leads to a bigger confrontation, that follows any answer that is given by you?
Could part of the problem be, that we think we should be able to answer all or some questions, even if they are a little bit more tricky?
Can it be, that we know what we believe, but we can then struggle to share this, in a way that doesn’t cause offence?
I think that part of the problem for us who believe the Bible, is that we can know what the truth is, from the Bible, and as such, can want to share that truth, but in a way, that is a little bit to quick, and energetic.
If we are not careful, then can we end up sharing the truth that we know, in a way that causes pain and anguish, to others, with very little positive outcomes? 😦
A previous post of A Hot Cup of Tea, looks into this line of thinking further.
In our current day and age, we could be tempted to think, “Would I be better off to say nothing at all then?”
I do believe that this could also, very much so, be a mistake.
If we have a truth, but then fail to share that truth, then is the truth, effectively being hidden, by us, by not sharing that truth?
Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
From Jesus’s words, we can see that we are meant to bring a light to the world. Do we bring that light?
What kind of light do we bring?
A gentle light that brings illumination to the right path to take?
Or, do we bring a harsh and intense light, that people want to run and flee from?
Could that harsh and intense light be, us making judgments, and making those judgements known, even if we are doing it, without ever quite knowing that we are doing so?
If we are facing a difficult question or situation, then can we hear and follow what Our Lord God would want us to to say, or do, and as such bring a gentle light, that illuminates a better way to go?
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Wannabe Christian Doorman 