WHEN TO OFFEND
Some people offend others in several different ways, but I must say all offenses are a sign of your Spiritual standing.
Some believe that if others are offended by them, then it must be, because of the lack of desire to know the Truth of the Word of GOD. I know people that wear offenses, as a badge of honor, believing they did GOD a service, telling the Truth and the other people just didn't want to hear. These types of people need to be very careful, they need to examine themselves for the reason why they said what they did.
1. Did they say it in love, because of having concern for the other person?
2. Was it said for the benefit of the other person?
3. Was it said for the other person to really hear the Truth!
4. Was it said in a way that the other person to be able to receive?
Some people believe no matter what the outcome just say what needs to be said. I also believe in telling others the Truth of The WORD of GOD. What I am saying is, see why you say things the way you do.
Some people believe that they have an urgency for The WORD of GOD, so let them be offended, Jesus offended people. There is a great problem with this way of thinking.
Jesus did offend people, but it was the Pharisees, the ones that knew The Truth and did not want to lay aside their pride of being someone special. The Pharisees liked their place of prominence, and of honor. The Pharisees had The LAW of GOD and were supposed to teach others how to be obedient to The WORD Of GOD. The Pharisees thought they were above The LAW of GOD, they didn't obey The LAW, instead, they added to The LAW of GOD and His Commandments to fit their way of thinking. So YES, JESUS did offend them, He told them they were wrong. The Pharisees were the ones that lied about The LAW of GOD, and Jesus told them so. He called them vipers for the venom they had in their mouths, instead of The Truth. Jesus said those that were offended of Him were those that were lost. The WORD of GOD does offend some others too, those that have no depth in them and so they are offended when they hear The Truth. The WORD also says we can offend others by the freedom we have in Him.
Paul said he would become whatever is needed to bring others to Jesus for Salvation, Jews, and Gentiles.
1Corinthians 9:20&21 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under The LAW, as under The LAW, that I might gain them that are under The LAW. To them that are without LAW, as without LAW
(being of without LAW to GOD, but under the Law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without a LAW.
The WORD of GOD tells us not to offend others, because they might hear Yje WORD and come to know Jesus as Savior, after all, isn't that our goal and purpose for telling others of Jesus.
Some people think that if they are serious then their face should tell it by being stern even go so far as to frown, nearly snarling as they are speaking, to the people, but they are speaking about The Good News of Jesus Christ, to them I say, offending others is not because you are so much more Spiritual than they, but, because you are missing the LOVE of The WORD OF GOD, or you are being mean spirited, or maybe you lost?
Are you being like the Pharisees or are you like Paul?
Matthew 15:12-14 KJV [12] Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended after they heard this saying? [13] But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. [14] Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Yes, Jesus got angry, but it was the people that were making money from the selling of merchandise on His Father's House of Prayer. Don't think for one moment that Jesus wasn't A Son, that knew His Father was being dishonored, by these false brethren. He is very zealous to Honor His Father in all times and in all things. Yes, He very much offended them.
Matthew 21:12-13 KJV [12] And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, [13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mark 11:15-18 KJV [15] And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; [16] And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. [17] And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. [18] And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
John 2:15-17 KJV 15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; [16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. [17] And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Some have known, and some are knowing real sorrow from so-called, Christians, (false brethren) but make no mistake, it will get worse as the Day approaches, don't be disheartened, they hated Jesus then, and still do this very moment, He said they will hate us too.
Matthew 24:8-10 KJV [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows. [9] Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. [10] And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Some people are easily offended, especially this day and time. Some people have not read The WORD of GOD, so they go by what others say about the subjects in question. The religiously "go to church", but, are not The Church, they have no heart transformation, they have just head knowledge about Jesus.
Mark 4:17 KJV [17] And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Some people say you just have to take as I am. They live their freedom in front of babes in Christ. Such people think Jesus set me free so they will just have to get over it. These people are babes in Christ themselves because Paul said not too often in our freedom.
Romans 14:21-22 KJV [21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. [22] Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
1 Corinthians 8:13 KJV [13] Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
1 Corinthians 10:32-33 KJV [32] Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: [33] Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 KJV [1] We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. [2] (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) [3] Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: [4] But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, [5] In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; [6] By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, [7] By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, [8] By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; [9] As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; [10] As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
1 Peter 2:3-10,12 KJV [3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. [4] To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, [5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. [6] Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. [7] Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, [8] And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. [9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: [10] Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. [12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Jesus loves the poor people, the needy people. He said let all men come to Him, to ask, knock, and seek and we can find Him. Jesus sat down and spoke with the people that came to Him. He loved the people and fed them, not only bread for their bodies but their Spiritual needs also. Jesus never offended the people that were seeking Him in Truth.
Let us love as Christ does, let us take care of the babes in Christ, but let us also take care to teach our children to love Him as well. Jesus loves the little children, let us teach them to love Jesus.
Matthew 18:6 KJV [6] 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.
Donna Purifoy
3/10/2021