Ah, dear reader, we have amongst us offenders that are greatly offended. Insults exchanged can nick, cut, and even slash the soul; receive enough of them, and a person becomes the perpetually walking wounded. If healing isn't considered with a plan of action put in place, the wounds fester; with this festering, spiritual pus infects, and can take over, a person's whole being.
There are three places the ugliness of offence can go:
Mea culpa
1. A person that is regularly insulted, may believe that they deserve the verbal assaults, and that there is something wrong with them. A mea culpa insecurity may develop and emerge, and the victimized can turn against themselves in agreement with attackers. This is a terrible situation for the insulted, and more often than not, sickness will set in and show up with mental, spiritual, emotional illness that can transmute into physical disease that can kill. This type of response to insults causes internal festering, and the pus of infection is contained within the it-is-all-my-fault person, and can contaminate the mea culpa wounded. This person is dangerous to self.
It's not me, it's them
2. A person that is regularly insulted, returns the favour. When feeling slighted, a wounded one, will up the anti and attack others mercilessly, finding fault, and expressing it in such a way as to attempt to cause serious emotional or psychological injury, as a form of balancing the scales of injustice that they experience in their hurt souls. The it's not me its them approach, empowers this type to feel confident that retaliation is apropos and deserved, even if the people they verbally, and sometimes physically assault, did not purposefully offend them in the first place. This person does not know what to do with their built up over the years angst, and in their irritation, and unsettled feelings, they express frustration externally, by directing it at others. There is a potential enemy around every corner, and putting up fists in defence is natural for this type of offended person: their festering wounds explode, and the pus of insecurity coupled with the seeking of revenge, has them coating everyone they meet, with their own unresolved dirty discharge. The person I describe, is dangerous not only to self, but also to others.
Objectivity
3. A person that is regularly insulted, and dear reader, most people have been insulted numerous times, starting in childhood, is objective about what has taken place, assessing the situation and the people they encounter, with eyes of discernment. This reaction to insult is a measured and learned response. The urge to blame self, and conversely, the urge to fight back, are so natural and normal, that they make rational sense. In the first instance, mea culpa, or my fault, may very well be the case, and so a reasonable person will look at themselves to see if they have spoken or done wrongly. In the second case, of it's not me, it's them, a person must look at their blame game attitude, to see if perhaps, they are unhealthy in their reactionary responses. Self-awareness goes a long way in our understanding of how we ought to respond to insults thrown in our direction. The objective person will look at circumstances and decide, not emote: they will choose to character correct if there is work to do, or they may very well see through the insults to the other side, and look into the person trying desperately to cause suffering because they are suffering. Imposing pain on another is a grotesque way to alleviate our own: sharing pain in compassion is the ultimate goal in relationships The objective person, when insulted, will self-regulate, and dare I say, the most healthy people, pray for healing for their own wounds and of course, that of others. There is no pus with this person, there is a desire to resolve when possible, and to leave in peace if resolution is beyond immediate reach. This type is not a hazard or danger to self or others.
Dear reader, you and I are the worst of offenders before a Holy God that cannot abide sin. It is ridiculous for us to be constantly offended and not take a close look at how offensive we can be! The mercy of God is upon us each time we go astray and are not punished for our waywardness, not smitten and cursed immediately for our wicked self-indulgences. Offended you say? Wounded you suggest? How about looking at Jesus, the sinless One, dying on a cross for the sins of the world, the insults and wounds of all the murderous, adulterous, lying, cheating, stealing whorish people that make up society.
When I think of how forgiven I am for all my transgressions, and how kind and generous God has continued to be, despite my nasty self-serving ways, I am astounded. I have been forgiven much, and it behooves me to forgive, and not condemn the wounded, that throw out insults as though they were salted candy canes at a Santa Claus parade, that have yet to feel the balm of blessing that can only come from faith, in a Redeemer that rescues us from our own self-destruction.
It is Jesus Christ that has been most insulted and yet, it is Jesus Christ that sees through each person to the soul that resides within, and it is to him we owe a debt of gratitude, for enabling transformation from being offended, from being offensive, and moving toward godliness with him as our perfect model. God forgives when we repent, and it is the heart cry of every Christian, that the lost are saved, after they recognize they have much to be sorry for, and forgiven for too.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed
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