“I’m offended!” “What are you offended about?” “Everything offends me. Doesn’t it offend you?” “No.” “Then I’m offended that you aren’t offended.” I’m offended could soon become our nations unofficial motto. An AP news story reported a man in Tennessee is offended with the word ‘hello’ because it contains the word ‘hell’ and wants it removed. I assume we would greet one another ‘O’. However, I’m sure this greeting will offend someone somewhere. ‘O’ has several less than flattering meanings in slang language. We’ve seen a lot about this subject in the news recently—much of it ridiculous. Yet, as Christians, we should note that the Bible addresses the subject of offending and being offended and we should understand the correct attitude towards it.
The word in the New Testament is skandalizo from which we get the word scandal and scandalize. Various English Bibles translate it to offend, to stumble, or to fall away. It originally described a piece of wood placed on the floor as a doorstop or a stick used for the trigger release of an animal trap. By the first century, it referred to any obstacle that caused a person to stumble, lose their footing, and fall down. The noun form of the word is often translated, stumble or stumbling block. Quoting Isaiah 28:16, both Paul and Peter, (1 Pet 2:8) said Christ is an offense or a stumbling block. Just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in him will not be disappointed (Rom 9:33).”
The danger for believers today comes from pressure by the world to the point we fear offending someone and water down the Gospel. On one occasion when returning from a preaching engagement, a friend who had traveled with me said, “You know you offended some of the congregation with that message.” My response surprised him, “Good, I didn’t come to entertain them but challenge them to repent.” Jesus offended people. Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement (Mat 15:12)?” When He preached in His hometown, they took offense at Him (Mat 13:57).
Scripture also tells us there are certain people we must take care not to offend. Children—But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea (Mat 18:6 KJV). Weak believers—Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble [be offended], I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble [to be offended] (1 Corin 8:13).
In the Upper Room Discourse before His crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples they would face persecution, people would hate them, would ban them from the synagogues, and even kill them. He also gave the reason for His teaching, These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling [should not be offended KJV] (Joh 16:1). Jesus warned in the last days, And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. (Mat 24:10 NKJV). Other versions translate this, many will turn away (NIV), many will fall away (NASV), and will be turned from the right way (BBE).
The first practical lesson I learned after entering into fulltime ministry is you must have a thick skin. People say and do things that can offend us and cause us to stumble, if we allow it. Being offended is a choice we make. We can ignore these attempts of the devil to offend us, cause us to stumble, or to fall away. In the parable of the sower, Jesus explained, The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately falls away [is offended] (Matt 13:20, 21). We should ask the Lord to grow our roots deep, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love (Eph 3:17). So walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith (Col 2:6, 7).
When we live as His lights in world proclaiming Christ in our daily actions, we are going to offend those who do not believe—darkness hates light. The majority of people claiming that we offend them are actually trying to manipulate us so that we will retract our beliefs, apologize, and keep silent about Christ. Many Christians stand paralyzed on the edge of victory because the enemy is standing on the other side shouting out offenses. Refuse to listen and instead hear the Word of God, victory is yours.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Resisting offense begins with knowing who we are in Christ and knowing His Word. Let your light shine in this dark world.