What makes one a "secure person"? Psalm 119:165 says, "Great peace have they that love Thy Law and nothing shall offend them." A secure person is offense-proof. This is where his security (i.e. peace) comes from. Little children do not get offended because they have not yet become as "complicated" as we adults.

Jesus said in Mathew 18:7 ". . . woe to that man through whom the occasion (of stumbling or offense) comes." Yet earlier, in Mathew 15:10, Jesus' disciples had said to Him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard . . . (one of His sayings)?" And even John The Baptist became offended over rumors he'd heard about Jesus' sayings and actions. Jesus had to send back to John (among other words) "Blessed is he who is not offended in Me." The Bible says of the citizens of Nazareth that, because they had known Him from His youth, they were offended in Him. Jesus did not sin even though He was the CAUSE of these offenses because He spoke truth. The hearers sinned by TAKING offense when they couldn't handle the truth. It is the causer of offense who is malevolent in intent who will receive the "woe to . . ." of Mathew 18:7.

Here is a Rule Of Thumb: If you offend someone else, it is often your fault. If you take offense, it is ALWAYS your fault.

There are three categories of offenses: 1) people who offend, usually carelessly but sometimes with intent, 2) people who are offended, because of sensitivity, insecurity, pride, or vanity, and 3) people who CAUSE offense.

The real difference between insecure and secure persons is in their VALUES. What do we each think is ultimately important in this world and in life. The things that are REALLY important cannot be threatened. It is threats to those things that aren't so important that, if taken too seriously, make us insecure.

I am saying all this because I want to start a fairly long series of book reviews about various religions. And, there is no arena of human life that can spark more outrage and offense than religion. I will generally be just quoting the authors, so don't attack me thereby. When I try to fit these ideas into The Great Big Picture (up or down), attack away.

--RPC, Monday, October 26, 2009