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Vol. 46, No. 18
SOUTHSIDE ORACLE
July 11, 2003
Offensive Language
A few years ago a lady in our area was convicted
of violating the law when she advertised an apartment for rent and indicated
her preference for a “Christian handyman.” Though her accusers admitted
that her intentions were good, she had to come up with several thousand
dollars to pay the fine and legal fees. Her ad was insensitive and
politically incorrect.
The city council of Longmont, Colorado, mandated
that street signs saying “Dead End” had to be changed to “No Outlet” because
“Dead End” is insensitive to some people who don’t like the word dead.
If we abolish “dead” from our speech, how can the newspapers describe all of
the people being shot to death (pardon the insensitivity)?
I can see the problem spilling over into the
sports world. Every year the Big Ten selects the football “offensive back
of the year.” Isn’t it insensitive to call someone “offensive”?
Enough is enough is enough! We are being held
hostage by the liberal establishment which is insensitive to the feelings of
the rest of us. Having said this, though, it is vital for Christians to
develop a true sensitivity toward others. It is impossible to go through
life walking on eggs lest we offend some overly sensitive person. Yet, we
must learn to avoid words and actions that cause needless offense. We all
have touchy points. The question to ask is not, “Would what I say offend
me?” but “Will what I say offend him?” This requires that I determine where
the other person is coming from. Our points of sensitivity are usually
based on past experiences. As we get to know others better, we can more
easily appreciate how they think and act.
The real problem with insensitivity is not that
it may cause hurt feelings, but that it can cause another to spiritually
stumble. Jesus warned us about offending others. “It would be better for
him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than
for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves”
(Luke 17:2, 3). Paul was so aware of the welfare of conscientious
vegetarians that he wrote, “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to
fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to
fall” (1 Corinthians 8:13). Let us develop such sensitivity that we frame
our speech and actions in such a way as to avoid unnecessary offense.
__Monroe
Hawley
The Bulletin Board
Baptized – We rejoice that Andrea
Eufinger was baptized by Tim Shilts at the middle session of the youth
camp. May God bless her in her walk with the Lord.
Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp – Our middle
campers are coming home from Fallhall Glen this weekend and our
intermediates will be leaving for camp. The intermediates are Jennifer
Giemza, Evan Stanger, Alex VanHandel, and Adam Nichols. Serving on the
staff are Bobby Valentine, Leonard Ditsworth, and Linda Hall.
The Sick – Martha Sepulveda was
hospitalized with pneumonia for several days, but is now home….Recent tests
have showed that Nathalie Campbell has melonoma and she is undergoing
chemotherapy treatment.
Praise and Palate will be at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday. Bring salads.
ATTENDANCE RECORD
Two years ago Last
year Last week Goal
Bible
classes 122 118
110 170
Morning worship
207 193 no count 250
Evening worship
55 54 69 80
Contribution
$3963.54 $3731.66 $4201.95 $4200.00
Calendar of Events
July 13 – 26 – Intermediate camp, Wisconsin Christian
Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen
July 13 – Elders-deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.
July 13 – Praise and palate, 6:00 p.m.
July 13 – 16 – Gospel revival, Brentwood Church, 7:00
p.m.
July 27 – August 9 – Senior camp, Wisconsin Christian
Youth Camp
July 30 – Joint meeting of all midweek study groups at
church building, 7:00 p.m.
August 4 – 8 – Lake Geneva Encampment, Williams Bay
August 9 – Inter-congregational picnic, Kletzsch Park,
6560 N. Milwaukee River, Parkway
August 10 –16 – Family week, Wisconsin Christian Youth
Camp
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