Hey, Don’t Be Offended

“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” Luke 7:23

How could anyone in their right mind be offended in Jesus?  If there is anyone who has never done anything to hurt, disappoint, discourage, embarrass, or insult others, it would be Jesus.  No human can honestly say that they have never done anything to cause someone to be offended in him or her.  We all have our standards as to how folks should speak and act, but not everyone has the same standards.  Christians should have basically the same standards as to what is permissible and what is inappropriate or sinful, but even believers don’t always agree.  Some think it is wrong to drink alcohol while others see no problem with beer, wine, and even liquor.  They say, “Well, Jesus drank wine”.  That’s true, but the wine that was served in those times was naturally fermented, and the wine served today has alcohol added to it.  If a believer drinks alcohol but feels that it is wrong to do so, then he or she has violated his or her own conscience, and thus, for him or her, it can become a stumbling block in his or her Christian growth.  Not only that, but it can confuse a new believer (I Corinthians 8:7-11).

These are some of the things that offend me:  using God’s name as a curse word, lies, vulgar language, making fun of things that folks can’t help, cheaters, folks who break in line, and scam artists.  There are plenty more, but this is enough for now.  Other than the first one, using God’s name inappropriately, all of these are basically annoyances.  In our world today, people are so sensitive that they take offense at almost anything that anyone says if they don’t agree with it.  If a believer is speaking to a unbeliever and tells him that he must repent of his sins and put his faith in Jesus Christ, he is likely to be offended.  Those who are offended are likely those who think that they are a “good” person and surely God will accept them on that basis.  That is offensive to God.  He sent His Son to suffer and die on the cross to make salvation available, and someone dismisses that sacrifice in favor of a few good deeds?

There were plenty of folks in Jesus’ day who were offended at Him.  He wasn’t “politically correct”, but He was and is eternally correct.  He told the truth, but people did not want to hear the truth.  They still don’t.  The want to continue in their sin.  Folks do not like to feel conviction.  That offends them.  To hear the name of Jesus is convicting to those who are lost.  Folks will use the name of God in speaking of “religion” but will not use the name of Jesus because there is power in that name that brings conviction of sin.  To unbelievers, God can be whatever they want Him to be.  Some people have even attempted to say that God is a woman or that He is gay.  When they say those things, it shows that they have no fear of God.  They don’t see Him as someone who will hold them accountable for every word spoken and every sin committed.

If people act offended at the name of Jesus, at the truth of God’s word, and at the witness of true believers, it is a cover to avoid facing their guilt.  One can’t be offended at Jesus and expect Him to bless them.  People are offended at the shed blood of Jesus.  Most of these same folks will watch a television show or movie filled with violence and bloodshed and think nothing about it.  We have become so callous to violence but exclaim that the death of Jesus on the cross was unnecessary because folks can be acceptable to God by their own efforts.  I heard an actress on television say in response to a question about Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”, that all that blood was disgusting.  It was difficult to watch, but without His suffering and sacrifice, none of us would ever see heaven nor live the abundant life found only in Christ.  Only those who have been covered by His shed blood through repentance and trust in Him understand why He had to die.  Our sin was so egregious, that it took a monumental sacrifice to pay for them.

If anyone wants to complain about being offended, he or she should look at his or her own life and how his or her sin has offended God.  I don’t want to offend anyone, but if my witness and my conversation about Jesus offends anyone, then I am sorry that he or she was offended, but I had rather offend a sinner than offend my Lord.  Sometimes it takes a good, old-fashioned dose of Holy Ghost conviction in the form of offense to wake a sinner up to his or her need for Christ.  So don’t be offended at Christ or His gospel; rather, embrace Him and find out what it means to be forgiven of sin and born again.