On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 1:17 PM, David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com>wrote:
> "Lynn" said: *Who, other than a PC legalist, would possibly believe that
> he has _a right not to be offended_?
> *
> I respond: It seems to me that every member of a civil democracy should
> expect that his / her neighbors will treat him / her with ordinary courtesy
> and respect, and should expect the same conduct to be required of him /
> herself. This seems even more to be so within the family of the Christian
> Church.
>
Of course manners and civility should be taught to children, but I have a
different take on what fallen human beings should "expect" from each other.
I think we can *hope* for the best ---- but *expect (and plan for) *the
worst ---- from each other and from the social institutions fallen humans
devise.
"For we all stumble in many ways. *If anyone does not stumble in what he
says, he is a perfect man,* able to bridle the whole body as well.
If we expect the worst, while hoping for the best, it is much easier to
choose to overlook offenses, and we'll save outrselves from being
disappointed so often. :)
Lynn
On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 12:23 PM, Lynn Walker <lynn.wlkr@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 11:11 AM, <gmurphy10@neo.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>>> *"I should have thought of this before but, all other questions aside,
>>> it is far from clear that Mt.23 is relevant to concerns about discussion
>>> criteria for this list - for the following reason. In that chapter the
>>> charges against the scribes and Pharisees have to do not with their
>>> _teaching_ but with their _pracice_. Verse 3 makes that quite explicit at
>>> the start: "Therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do
>>> not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach."
>>>
>>> Now most of the excessive language that people have complained about on
>>> the list has to do with ideas that some consider wrongheaded - e.g., YEC.
>>> Wrong ideas shouldn't be spared criticism & there are biblical texts that
>>> can be cited in support of such criticism. But Mt.23 isn't among them."
>>> *
>>
>>
>>
>> Of course "their practices" were the myriad _legalistic requirements_ of
>> the Old Covenant. (The New Covenant was not yet in effect).
>>
>> The "politically correct" are the "legalists" of today. They don't
>> practice what they preach, either. (Let me count the ways).
>>
>> *James 3:2-12* "For we all stumble in many ways. *If anyone does not
>> stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man,* able to bridle the whole
>> body as well.
>> So whose responsibility is it if someone chooses to be offended at the
>> comments of another "imperfect" man?
>>
>> One makes a choice to take offense.
>>
>> Who, other than a PC legalist, would possibly believe that he has _a right
>> *not* to be offended_?
>>
>> Lynn
>>
>>
>
>
To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
Received on Tue Feb 17 13:58:36 2009
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Tue Feb 17 2009 - 13:58:36 EST