In the last few years, a word has entered our vocabulary with increasing regularity. That word is triggered. These are words that trigger an emotional response in someone. If you have noticed, people are being triggered by a whole host of subjects that a generation ago were simply considered to be common sense.

Some believers without spiritual sensitivity live to create drama or pick a fight over an issue using offensive patterns of speech. They are not expressing God’s love. How they conduct their lives reveals a heart in need of healing. Others who have learned the wisdom of measured speech know how to express truths that are hard to digest at first by those who are easily triggered. These believers are the ones who will have the greatest Kingdom impact in our very confused and easily offended world. These believers are not silent. They are wisely engaged and vocal as directed by the Spirit.

Those who speak the truth in love are currently being painted into a corner where only certain subjects are considered acceptable. What is acceptable is not based on truth but on an agreement with human emotion. While on the surface this may sound good and right to a mind untethered to God’s word, it has now become a way of silencing an opposing opinion, especially if a truth offends and triggers a response.

Some of those triggered by certain subjects now call a vocal expression of truth hate speech no matter how kind and loving the delivery of a truth might be. I used to think this only took place in a wayward culture, but now, I see this happening with increasing regularity within the Church. Some believers have been persuaded to naively comply with the demands of what is considered approved speech by an unredeemed culture considering that compliance to be an act of love.