Human Respect

A good friend of mine and I have recently been having a discussion about the vice of human respect. Human Respect basically means not saying the truth out of fear of offending someone. It is crazy to think that it is ever justified to withhold the truth of God because of someones feelings. Just today someone I don't even know sent me a very angry e-mail because of a comment I made on Facebook. A girl I know posted that she is having a bad day and looking for a reason to not get drunk. The reason I gave her is that God would rather she didn't. Accord to the girl who e-mailed me, that was very insensitive and I should apologize. Why would I ever apologize for encouraging someone in the truth? I have seen instances though where someone does state the truth in a way that appears unloving. We have to balance never be afraid to preach the gospel but at the same time not be offensive in a way that will turn someone off to the Lord. Mother Theresa was the master of this. Even if people did not like what she had to say, they respected her. I guess if one day I am as holy as her I will be capable of this too. Maybe in the meantime it is better to risk offense then hide God. Souls are thirsting for God. We can get upset and fight it but ultimately it is what we long for in the depths of our souls.