Giving (and taking) Offense

In a recent Church meeting we were encouraged to be ‘quick to observe.’  That is good advice.

Sometimes, though, people are ‘quick or easy to offend.’ That would not be good advice--neither as the giver of ‘offense’ nor especially as the one who is quick or easy to offend.  “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle” (Proverbs 18:19).  The problem is twofold: “The scorner is consumed. . . that make[s] a man an offender for a word, and lay[s] a snare for him. . . and turn[s] aside the just for a thing of nought” (Isaiah 29: 20-21).  Hence, both are hurt.  Jesus said: “Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” Or, I might add, takes it.  (Matthew 18:7).  To paraphrase the apostle Paul, “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God; [rather] I seek [not] mine own profit, but the profit [or benefit] of many, that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10: 32-33). 

 

Put into today’s terms, we should weigh our words carefully because many people are ‘thin-skinned’ and easily offended.  By offending them, they discount you ( they “turn aside the just for a thing of nought”) and they become more “consumed” or bitter and are not “profited” or receive the good you wanted to do them.  This occurs often because they reject your influence out of pride or defensiveness.   Alas.

The temptation, then, is to be so ‘politically correct’ that you offend no one—because you have essentially said nothing to them.  The problem, then, is that you may have given tacit approval to an action or behavior that you feel strongly very much against.  In not offending men, you have offended God, and have not been true to yourself. 

Know that though we are sometimes called upon to be a ‘voice of testimony or of warning,’ we will pay a price.  In the process we will always offend someone. Consider the price each of the men quoted today had to pay for their testimony. 

A person of integrity, however, will pay that price—the price of discipleship or of conviction.