Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. John 2:23-25
As the world becomes more divided in increasingly dangerous ways we are asking the Lord to reveal the roots of conflict. If there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecc 3:1, then it seems clear that we are entering a time for war. Ecc 3:8 Now more than ever believers must remain 1 Pet 4:8 sober – watchful, calm, dispassionate, and circumspect. We must be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. Mat 10:16 We must have the capacity to pay attention to our internal spiritual state, as people and situations unravel around us without succumbing to offense which leads to fear and fear to hate. Having done all to stand we must stand Eph 6:14 as we watch members of the body of Christ shine more brightly than ever, Mat 25:7-9 or fall away 2 Thess 2:3.
The Leaven of Offense
If you are unfamiliar with the English Reformation then I would refer you to a previous post-Enantiodromia in Jesus’ Name You don’t need to read the whole article, just the section about the English Reformation that resulted in the denominationalism of today. That said, we may look at our own denomination and determine we are different or better than those “dead legalistic churches” on one end of the proverbial pendulum swing or those “unholy, heretical wackos” at the other extreme. In truth, all our denominations are historically rooted in offense. It just so happens that we aren’t killing each other today. Not yet anyway. Like it or not every aspect of our culture is rooted in offense. If you disagree just watch Netflix or Main Stream News for a week. So offended are we that we don’t even know we are offended. We don’t know we are offended because we think our position be it moral, intellectual, political, or theological is the right position.
We are by definition, self-righteous.
We were on our way to Arkansas to minister and teach on the subject of offense as we entered into the Passover season that included the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We searched our hearts for any remaining leaven of offense as we drove the fourteen hours to Bella Vista. Having overcome the more scathing, lascivious sins that once beset us, Heb 12:1 We looked deeper within like a Jewish father in search of the last traces of leaven in his home.
Recently I listened to an Antiochian Orthodox podcast titled Hold Fast to the Faith. In it, Fr. John Bethencourt depicts sin as the right and left side of a boat. The left side represents the more lascivious sins e.g. lust, drunkenness, etc. The right side represents the more subtle and therefore more dangerous Pharisaical sins of self-righteousness. Self-righteousness has a way of producing Mat 7:1 judgment which is krínō – to condemn or damn.
The sin that is the root of all condemnation is offense.
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come: but WOE unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Luke 17:1-4
The reader may note that some translations say SIN instead of OFFENSE. This is incorrect. Paul uses the Greek word skándalon.
SIN is hamartía and means to miss the mark
Offense is skándalon – a trap.
As I search my mind and heart for any remaining leaven of offense, I find I am more frequently tempted to take offense than I am actually offended. Trust me. That’s progress. I can usually measure the intensity of the temptation by the frequency of my sarcasm and snark. For example, just today a child called out to me. “Hey, Mr. Brian! I hope you stub your toe! Hahaha…” “Haha,” I replied. “If I had a heart I’d be hurt. HAhaha” Suffice it to say, that some days are better than others. If I do take the bait and step into full-blown offense, I am usually quick to own it, confess, and repent. The primary reason for this is that Cathy and I made a covenant with God in Honduras regarding offense. An uber-offended Western society aside, we knew we were returning to a divided America and an American bride ridden with offense. We both agreed that while we would be against sin, we would be “FOR” everyone and AGAINST no one. Suffice it to say that we continue to hold each other accountable before God. Please forgive us if at any time one of us failed to do so as we remain God’s works in progress. Rom 8:27-30
“FOR EVERYONE” means we are for God’s will. We are for the murderer, the rapist, the terrorist, the Palestinian, the Jew, etc. as much as we are for their victims. That does not mean that we support their words or actions by default. Rather correction and discipline flow from love – punishment, and retribution from offense. Taking a side and becoming offended at one party versus another is always an invitation to hate. Carried to an extreme hate results in murder as is clearly seen in places like Israel and Gaza today. That is why Jesus equated anger with murder. Mat 5:221-23
Even worse than being offended is the fearful statement by Jesus, WOE to the one through whom offenses come! This is not a call to walk on eggshells and be politically correct as many might think. We are not called to “people please”. Rather being offended is the sin. If that is confusing, consider this. Offended people usually want to collaborate about their offenses. Quite often the desire for collaboration is presented under the guise of prayer. In truth, we feel isolated because we are grieving Holy Spirit any time we choose to remain offended. While an initial willingness to be held accountable and stand corrected might be there, the human need for sympathy, confirmation, and consensus is often all the enemy needs to turn empathy into bias and bias into offense in those with whom we commiserate.
Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. Prov 26:17
In contemporary terms, commiseration is defined as “showing sympathy or compassion”. Yet the prefix Com means with. Miserate – is to rate or estimate incorrectly. Hence, to commiserate is to partner in the incorrect estimation of another. Furthermore, commiseration is the antithesis of compassion – to suffer with. Commiseration is perhaps most clearly defined in the saying,
“misery loves company.”
Even more, commiseration seeks alliances. Alliances result in feuds, divorces, church splits, and wars as people choose sides and square off for self-righteousness’ sake.
Commiseration is a violation of scripture.
If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Mat 18:15-17
“Greasy Grace” is the opposite extreme. Some people are so afraid of offending, so concerned with political correctness and avoiding conflict that they ignore sin entirely under the guise of being loving. Instead of warning a brother or sister that they are risking eternity in hell, they turn a blind eye because, well…
love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Pet 4:8
However, this verse speaks of love that produces forgiveness for sin. It looks like the crucifixion of Jesus that resulted in our justification, not our justifications that demand tolerance for sin. Unfortunately, this verse is often used as a license to sin and then cover it up. True Love in this context means exposing sin Eph 5 then pointing people to the one who gives the gift of repentance which leads to the eternal best for ALL involved parties.
The challenge is to hate what God hates without hating the person or group that is in error.
Prepare to be the object of offense.
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Tim 3:12
Prepare to not be offended.
Genuine foundational doctrinal heresies aside, when relationships including Christian relationships end, people leave churches and communities split it is usually because someone took offense and passed it on to others. Quite often the offense is rooted in the fact that sin was or wasn’t addressed, and or if biblically-based church discipline was or wasn’t applied. Before you know it team “was” is squaring off against team “wasn’t“. They argue and fight or maybe ghost one another over who is right all the while ignoring that God, (who is sovereign) causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. That purpose is to conform us to the image of His son. Rom 8:28-29 That image is first and foremost Jesus on the cross praying Father forgive them for they know not what they do. How soon do we forget that WE are called as individuals to obey
as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, Phil 2:12-15
As Cathy likes to say,
“Let go or be god.”
Jesus did NOT entrust Himself to (believe) them in John 2:23-25 because He knew all people. Neither their flattery nor their most fiery resentment represented anything genuine
The Solution
Like a gossiper being offended by gossip or an adulterous woman offended by her husband’s adultery, we all need to see the absurdity in our being offended. Once seen, the solution begins with our removing the permission we’ve given ourselves to be offended. We must be willing to look deeply within ourselves and behold our own brokenness. When we see our own reflection in another we will have the capacity to speak into the brokenness of others.
This is the essence of loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Sometimes we need to agree to disagree. So often we mistake a person’s perceptions and ideas for their identity. They are not. Our perceptions and understanding change with our stage of life.
Finally, pray for the one that offends you. Understand that emotion is not a synonym for truth. Quite often we need to obey God despite our feelings. Mat 5:43-48 Obey God and your emotions will eventually align with His will. 2 Cor 5:7.
Now that you have read this, rest assured there will be more opportunities to become offended in the coming months and years. Hence we invite you to ask yourself the question we have been asking ourselves. Are more offensive things, people, and situations coming our way? Or is God simply exposing the offense that already exists in us?
Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts. Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Chew on That
Maranatha
Jesus has come. Jesus is coming.
