In the last few years a word has moved from the realms of medicine and psychology to common parlance. It has even moved away from what was meant to be a considerate warning to people who may have suffered deep sorrow, grief and trauma when a topic was going to be discussed which might upset them (for instance, infant loss, physical assault, and other similar things). It has changed again in meaning to more common issues, to such an extent that people use it in irony and mocking. The word is "triggered."
"Triggered" used to mean something very serious, something that would set off sheer panic and deep distress in people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now it often means something that causes someone to become upset, angry, or offended at the mere sight of a word or idea or conversation. You can read on the internet examples of people saying they are "triggered" by this or that word. They mean they get angry or upset when they see the word or the discussion that includes that word (or concept). It's not about vulgarities. The phenomenon deals with just normal words used when discussing political or philosophical topics, among others.
Let me boil that down. People are getting upset, offended, even angry when someone uses a certain word or phrase in a discussion, or a post, or an article.
It makes it rather difficult to have adult conversations about all sorts of serious issues.
Of course, we should strive to be charitable and kind in all our interactions with others. But much burden should be laid on the shoulders of those who claim to be triggered. Those who, in other words, are confessing to becoming angry and offended upon the mere sight of certain words.
Being triggered seems to be the very definition of being easily angered. Of reacting too suddenly.
I would like to make the case to my Christian readers that being "triggered" is something we should strive to never be. We are not called to become "triggered" - even when we think we are on the right side of an issue.
The Christian is called to be:
Patient and Gentle (Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit - what we should be exhibiting and striving for). Is a gentle and patient person easily set off by certain words?
Sober-minded (Titus 2, 1 Peter 5, 1 Timothy 3 all talk about being sober-minded - NB the qualifications of elders are not suggestions that elders are to be men with super powers. It's simply that elders are to be men who exemplify the qualities that
all believers should desire to have.)
Does someone who becomes upset when a word is used in a conversation really show they are sober-minded?
Self-controlled (Titus - this short epistle contains the phrase "self-controlled" 5 times! It's found again in the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5) Getting easily offended and upset shows a lack of self-control. Why would we want that in our lives?
Dignified (The Proverbs 31 woman - she who is nowadays much maligned it seems, in modern Christianity - has dignity. 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 2 call all manner of Christians to be dignified.)
Is it dignified to be easily angered? I don't think so.
Not easily angered (one of the hallmarks of love, in 1 Corinthians 13). Not being easily angered contrasts a lot with the idea of being "triggered," doesn't it?
Here is a word from the apostle James:
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19, 20, ESV
Even if we think we are on the right side of a debate or discussion, note what James says. Our anger does not produce the righteousness of God. There is sometimes a righteous anger to be had and shown (anger at abuse, or other grievous sin) but getting angry or upset upon seeing a word or phrase (again, not talking about vulgarities, insults, etc) is not righteous anger. It's fleshly. It's worldly. Let the world do what it wants. My Christian sisters, we are called to better things. Patience. Gentleness. Sober-mindedness. Self-control. Dignity. We are to not be easily angered.
Before the apostle Paul introduces his list of fruits of the flesh and those of the spirit he says in Galatians 5:16 :
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
May the Lord help us obey His commands and walk by His Spirit.
