The popular 60’s song said ‘what the world needs now is love, sweet love’. Today over fifty years later someone should write a new song. ‘What people need now is thicker skin, just a little thicker skin; it’s one thing there’s less and less of.’ Skin care products are big business today so maybe someone could develop a cream that will help all the thin-skinned people. Ok there’s a problem with that. The ‘thick or thin skin’ I’m speaking of is only a metaphor referring to a mental attitude. It reflects how people take criticism or handle beliefs contrary to their own. It is amazing what trivial matters offend people today. I wonder if any word exists in the English language that doesn’t rub someone the wrong way. Combine this with the food, beliefs, clothing, names, and now even pronouns that offend others and people can end up walking around as if they are on eggshells in fear they may offend someone.
I’m not sure if there is a solution for the unbelieving world. However, for believers Jesus told us offenses would come. He said to His disciples, “Offenses will certainly come” (Lk 17:1 NET). More than any time in the history of our nation has Christianity and biblical values fallen under such attack because it offends those who refuse to believe. Yet, we must beware that we don’t go silent because of people who take offense at the message of the Gospel. Jesus didn’t stop ministering when He offended the religious leaders. Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement (Mat 15:12)?” Jesus warned that offense toward Christians would increase as we near the time of His return. Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another (Matthew 24:10 HCSB).
For believers, offense flows two ways: first from people who are seeking to offend us through insults, mockery, or false accusations. Succumbing to offense is a choice we make. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, we can thwart their actions and words. The more we do this, the thicker our skin becomes. I learned as a teenager if I ignored people’s ridicule, the less they tried offending me. The opposite is true if we allow people’s attacks to upset us and make us defensive; their efforts will increase. Second, in the other direction are people who are offended over our biblical values and actions. We must never allow their taking offense change, lessen, or alter our beliefs. Christians will always offend haters of Christianity. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes” (Matt 18:7)! The key in both situations is how we react and respond.
We should never worry about those who take offense that we are Christians. However, scripture does warn we must guard against offending certain people. Jesus sternly warned against offending one of [these] little ones that believe in me (Mk 9:42 KJV). This includes both children and new believers. Paul further warned against offending Christians who are weak in their faith and refuse to eat certain food. The word we translate offend and offense is also translated stumble, stumbling block, or fall away. We must not put an obstacle or a stumbling block [offense] before the weak in faith by our strong faith (Rom 14:13).
Numerous issues cause people to be thin-skinned. Jesus told in a parable that some of the sower’s seed fell in a rocky place. Later He explained it to the disciples. “And 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 he falls away [immediately is offended] (Mat 13:20, 21). Falls away is the same words we translate offend in other verses. This man had unresolved issues causing him to be easily offended. Another reason people are easily offended is they lack biblical knowledge, they are spiritually immature, and haven’t developed a thick skin, which they need in this world. Other issues that can leave people thin-skinned are pride, poor self-image, and not understanding who they are in Christ.
We are born naturally and mentally with thin, sensitive skin. Developing thick skin takes time and can be painful. Imagine a concert pianist who never did manual labor decided to become a farmer or a mechanic, or a construction worker, they will feel lots of pain from blisters and cuts. But slowly their hands would callous and their skin thickens. Someone said that any Christian leader must have the hide of a rhinoceros. Most of us didn’t begin that way, but slowly our spiritual wounds healed, scare tissue and callouses develop, and our skin thickens. We learn to handle insults, mockery, or false accusations. I must add a caution here—a thick spiritual skin doesn’t mean our heart becomes thick and calloused. Besides having the hide of a rhino, we must maintain the sensitive heart of a child. If you think, the thick skin of a rhino or elephant makes them hard hearted, get between a mother and her offspring.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Offenses will increase. It is a tool of Satan. Don’t let offense compromise the Gospel or your biblical life style.