What happens if we let ourselves get offended? Being offended at people would do us no good; letting ourselves get bitter would make us start to hate people. If someone offends us we must remember Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." In our lifetimes we are probably going to get offended, but that does not mean we stay offended. Some people may try to justify being offended by saying, "this person is deceiving people so they will not hear the truth!" Just because we want to help the people being deceived does not mean we should be offended at the person deceiving, but rather try to help them as well. If they do not accept the help we still do not need to be offended at them, but we should just move on (John 12:47-48). Not being offended at them does not mean that we agree with what they are doing or that we would not care about the listeners (Galatians 5:12), it just means we are not angry at them. We must remember to hate the problem (sin) and not the victim (the person). We must remember never to be offended at God for any reason. (Luke 7:23, "Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.") We also do not need to be offended for His sake. Hebrews 10:30, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." So we know now not to be offended at anyone, because we have no reason to be.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Offense
What happens if we let ourselves get offended? Being offended at people would do us no good; letting ourselves get bitter would make us start to hate people. If someone offends us we must remember Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." In our lifetimes we are probably going to get offended, but that does not mean we stay offended. Some people may try to justify being offended by saying, "this person is deceiving people so they will not hear the truth!" Just because we want to help the people being deceived does not mean we should be offended at the person deceiving, but rather try to help them as well. If they do not accept the help we still do not need to be offended at them, but we should just move on (John 12:47-48). Not being offended at them does not mean that we agree with what they are doing or that we would not care about the listeners (Galatians 5:12), it just means we are not angry at them. We must remember to hate the problem (sin) and not the victim (the person). We must remember never to be offended at God for any reason. (Luke 7:23, "Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.") We also do not need to be offended for His sake. Hebrews 10:30, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." So we know now not to be offended at anyone, because we have no reason to be.
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Interesting, your point that we aren't to be offended at God. From Luke 7, He was describing the fact that He was that stumbling stone- rock of offense- to the Jews, because they wanted salvation by their works. So I suppose being offended at God would be along the lines of... thinking that we could fulfill part of our salvation on our own. "How dare He say I am helpless! I have some good don't I?" Not unlike the offense that someone might take when someone helps a determined person with their job- they would rather do it all themselves so 'they' get the glory. Any help, no matter how well-meaning, is despised.
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