Kevin DeYoung and the Offended

Kevin DeYoung is one of those authors who sprang up over night.  Two years ago most of us would have said "Kevin who?"  But he is quickly becoming more and more popular and with good reason.  Not only does he have a keen insight but he knows how to put it into words that connect.  I refer you to a recent post called "Why Are We So Offended All the Time?"   Here's a sample:

Offendedness is just about the last shared moral currency in our country. And, I’m sorry, but it’s really annoying. We don’t discuss ideas or debate arguments, we try to figure out who is most offended. Buddhists are offended by Brit Hume. Christians are offended that critics disparage Brit Hume. Republicans are offended by Harry Reid’s comments about President Obama. If the shoe were on the other partisan foot, you can bet Democrats would be offended for President Obama (who can legitimately be offended by Reid’s remarks). Whenever someone makes a public gaffe, whether real or perceived, critics storm the microphones to let the world know how offended they are. Why is everyone in such a hurry to be hurt?

For starters, being hurt is easier than being right. To prove you’re offended you just have to rustle up moral indignation and tell the world about it. To prove you’re right you actually have to make arguments and use logic and marshal evidence. Why debate theology or politics or economics if you can win your audience by making the other guys look like meanies?

There’s nothing like being offended to nail your opponent. No one wants to look like a jerk (ok, maybe Donald Trump does). No one wants to come off as a free-wheeling dealer of pain. As a result, we end up held hostage by the possible taking of offense. It’s rarely asked whether such offense is warranted or whether it even matters. No, if there is offense, there must be an offender. And offenders are always wrong.

So we demand apologies. Sometimes, no doubt, because a genuine sin has been committed. But often we demand apologies just because we can. It’s a way to shame those with whom we disagree. It forces them to admit failure or keep looking like a weasel. The weakest offense-taker can now bully multitudes of intelligent men and women through the emotional manipulation that goes with chronic offendedness.

How will some respond to this?  Yeah, you guessed it--they will be offended.  Time for DeYoung to apologize and recant want he wrote.  There will be no discussion of the merits of his case just the assertion that it is offensive.  My solution: a thicker skin, a theology of suffering and a good course in logic.  Short of that just keep reading Kevin DeYoung.