Taking offense

There are two things of which to be offended in the world: God and people. In Day 5 of Week 3 of Believing God, Beth Moore talks about how we can become offended with God because He doesn't pull through like we think He should.

She talks about John the Baptist, who was a man who lived eccentrically but fulfilling Scripture by being the "messenger" the Old Testament prophesies will come before Christ. John is sitting in prison, about to be executed, and maybe he wondered why Jesus didn't pull through for him. Why would Jesus, with all his omnipotence even in his earthly body, not perform a miracle and break him free? However, we must trust that He knew what He was doing - He set forth all the events before they even took place.

I think early in our walk with Christ it is easy to be offended. Often when people become Christians, they feel devastation because all their worldly desires have not been just eradicated from their lives. Maybe even farther along in their faith lose a loved one and all of a sudden feel abandoned. However, when a horrible event occurs, our human eyes cannot see past the situation. We cannot recreate the context of the situation. God has the timeline of our lives spread out before Him. It's in times like those we absolutely have to trust and believe Him because He is all-knowing and all-powerful. And thank God because I would not want that responsibility with my imperfect heart and mind!

The second way to be offended is by people. God is perfect and we can be offended by Him; how much more will be we offended by others? Many times people give their reason for leaving a church because of the people. "They spread rumors" or "I just didn't fit in". Thankfully God is not contained in a church. But too often people seem to lose their connection with God because they've lost a connection with the church.

Philippians 2:14-15 states the benefits of not complaining or arguing (which are side effects of being offended by someone):
      "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe..."

[The NASB uses "grumbling or disputing" in verse 14.]



The Greek word for dispute or argue is "goggysmos", "a secret displeasure not openly avowed".

I think that this includes all the poor things we think about people and maybe never even voice. However, Jesus says that we can murder a man just by having hate in our hearts. Satan works his way into the tiniest crevasses, even emotional ones.

In our times of weakness and relational frailty we can rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit in our lives to give us discernment and direct our thoughts, actions and speech. I guess the old adage sticks; "Think before you talk". Actually, I would rephrase it to say, "Pray before your talk".