Offence

[Neogaia777]

that which causes a person to stumble into sin.

No. Of course it offends.

We are told to not offend our brothers. (fellow believers) It does not apply to "anyone" or "ever be offensive at all."

Since our Lord said no one can come to Him without the Father drawing him, (John 6:44) we pray for God to draw the people we are sharing the gospel with.

What about Luke 17:3 "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; (which could, and more than likely will, or very well could, might, "offend" him) and if he repent, forgive him."

And Matthew 18:15-17

Dealing with a Sinning Brother

"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. (or rebuke or correct him, which might offend him) If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, (to also tell him of the fault, or rebuke or correct him, which might offend him) that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. (so that they may tell it to him or rebuke him or correct him which might offend him) But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. (after that have nothing more to do with him, and some would even say have him removed from the congregation at that point)...

What about those...?

"Anyone can choose to be or become offended by anything" basically, brothers included, so are we to never do it at all ever...?

And religious people tend to especially "touchy"...

God Bless!

 

[Carl Emerson]

I have on occasion delivered a 'hard' word to a brother who has taken offence as a result.

Six months later he comes back and thanks me for the rebuke.

Godly indignation must not be stifled but fear of causing offence.

 

[Neogaia777]

I have on occasion delivered a 'hard' word to a brother who has taken offence as a result.

Six months later he comes back and thanks me for the rebuke.

Godly indignation must not be stifled but fear of causing offence.

But, you did cause offence though, right...?

 

[Neogaia777]

I have on occasion delivered a 'hard' word to a brother who has taken offence as a result.

Six months later he comes back and thanks me for the rebuke.

Godly indignation must not be stifled but fear of causing offence.

But, you did cause offence though, right...?

I wonder how many Pharisees or how many Jews, were thankful to and for Jesus and even his harsh words to them, who converted to Christianity later on or afterward or after some time...?

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

I wonder how many Pharisees or how many Jews, were thankful to and for Jesus and even his harsh words to them, who converted to Christianity later on or afterward or after some time...?

God Bless!

The rest of some of the others killed him though...

"Crucify Him!"

God Bless!

 

[Kaon]

Jesus offended many. Jesus was sinless.

Sinners were offended.

Our faith is offensive to sinners.

The offended cry foul when offended, they demand immunity from offence.

Thus they demand our faith is silenced. They press for our confession to be hate speech.

****** DISUSS *****

This is a commentary on the fragility of man, and the projection thereof.

Most humans believe what academics and officials tell them, so it isn't hard to manipulate a population into one mindset. Indeed, this is what politics are about.

The Redeemer would be murdered again - by Christians too - if He showed up today, because very few people believe in the magic (influence) that has put them under a spell of ignorance and confusion.

Remember, humans love to kill prophets and then cry about our demise as if we weren't warned. We still do it today.

 

[public hermit]

If our love for others is obvious and unmistakable, then the occasions for offense will be much less. Just because the cross is an offense (Galatians 5:11) that does not mean Christians have been given a free pass to be offensive. On the contrary, we have been called to live at peace with all people as far as we are able (Romans 12:18). I am often surprised at the liberty that some Christians take when offering their opinions towards or about others. But alas, professing Christians can be just as miserable, judgmental, and love-less as anyone else.

 

[Carl Emerson]

That is a good question.
Did the hearer choose to be offended?
Did Jesus deliberately offend when He described the lives of the hearers as white washed tombs?
Was it a mixture of both?

One thing for me is tricky - knowing I am not perfect do I cease to deliver correction in case my delivery might offend? Some object to my style. But I guess it takes all types... Didn't Peter talk of Paul's 'hard sayings' 2P3:16 ? I'm sure many were offended by him.

 

[Hazelelponi]

Jesus offended many. Jesus was sinless.

Sinners were offended.

Our faith is offensive to sinners.

The offended cry foul when offended, they demand immunity from offence.

Thus they demand our faith is silenced. They press for our confession to be hate speech.

****** DISUSS *****

Sinners sat at the feet of Jesus and hung on His every word..

As Jesus said, the harvest is plentiful..

I think when it comes to offense, people have it wrong and think they must be offensive or they aren't preaching Jesus's Truth, but that is incorrect.

We are the Light of Christ - that's a beautiful Light to the lost.

So you may like to rethink who is offended, and why.

 

[Neogaia777]

That is a good question.
Did the hearer choose to be offended?
Did Jesus deliberately offend when He described the lives of the hearers as white washed tombs?
Was it a mixture of both?

One thing for me is tricky - knowing I am not perfect do I cease to deliver correction in case my delivery might offend? Some object to my style. But I guess it takes all types... Didn't Peter talk of Paul's 'hard sayings' 2P3:16 ? I'm sure many were offended by him.

"It is impossible that offenses should come." (Luke 17)

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Sinners sat at the feet of Jesus and hung on His every word..

As Jesus said, the harvest is plentiful..

I think when it comes to offense, people have it wrong and think they must be offensive or they aren't preaching Jesus's Truth, but that is incorrect.

We are the Light of Christ - that's a beautiful Light to the lost.

So you may like to rethink who is offended, and why.

Right there's a difference between knowing that some would be or become "offended", but not intending to offend all, but only "save" some...

And then doing it anyway, etc...

Controversial, yes, but in the end, the right thing to do...

A great deal of it depends on "who you know you would be offending" and "what you knew of why they would become offended"...

Because that my friends, is what would make it either right or wrong...

Then, you could even do it on purpose, if you knew it was "right" and was the right thing to do...

God Bless!

 

[bèlla]

Using the 'O' word triggers a political response and no more bible in schools...

Was it a Christian, private, or public school?

 

[Shrewd Manager]

The offended cry foul when offended, they demand immunity from offence.

Well Big Carl, there's at least 2 types of offence imho: the one taken to the true gospel message, and another taken to a false and corrupted version.

So an example of the former might be the proud intellect offended at the idea that an insignificant carpenter from an obscure imperial backwater over 2,000 years ago could shed any light on the great matters of being and knowledge.

An example of the latter might be the senses of fairness, honesty, justice and reason offended by the message that Jesus loves them and died to save them from sin and death only to threaten them with eternal hellfire if they don't love him back.

If it was a consumer product, the regulator would sanction the vendor for unfair marketing tactics of the type 'buy our product or die' expressed in extremis. Fortunately many non-Christians still have a God-given moral compass and reject this kind of toxic terror merchandise. Praise the Lord for imbuing his creatures ratio as well as fides!

It's just a shame to see God's holy name maligned in this manner, and to consider the untold woe wrought throughout history as a result.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Sinners sat at the feet of Jesus and hung on His every word..

As Jesus said, the harvest is plentiful..

I think when it comes to offense, people have it wrong and think they must be offensive or they aren't preaching Jesus's Truth, but that is incorrect.

We are the Light of Christ - that's a beautiful Light to the lost.

So you may like to rethink who is offended, and why.

The religious didn't sit at His feet and were seriously offended at what He said about them.

He said I came not to bring peace but a sword. Matt 10:34

I don't promote being offensive 'in the flesh' but it seems to me to be inevitable that hearers will be offended by the gospel.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Was it a Christian, private, or public school?

Public school.

 

[Neogaia777]

If our love for others is obvious and unmistakable, then the occasions for offense will be much less. Just because the cross is an offense (Galatians 5:11) that does not mean Christians have been given a free pass to be offensive. On the contrary, we have been called to live at peace with all people as far as we are able (Romans 12:18). I am often surprised at the liberty that some Christians take when offering their opinions towards or about others. But alas, professing Christians can be just as miserable, judgmental, and love-less as anyone else.

Depends on "who you know you would be offending" and "what you knew of why they would become offended"... (post #31)...

God Bless!

 

[Carl Emerson]

Well Big Carl, there's at least 2 types of offence imho: the one taken to the true gospel message, and another taken to a false and corrupted version.

So an example of the former might be the proud intellect offended at the idea that an insignificant carpenter from an obscure imperial backwater over 2,000 years ago could shed any light on the great matters of being and knowledge.

An example of the latter might be the senses of fairness, honesty, justice and reason offended by the message that Jesus loves them and died to save them from sin and death only to threaten them with eternal hellfire if they don't love him back.

If it was a consumer product, the regulator would sanction the vendor for unfair marketing tactics of the type 'buy our product or die' expressed in extremis. Fortunately many non-Christians still have a God-given moral compass and reject this kind of toxic terror merchandise. Praise the Lord for imbuing his creatures ratio as well as fides!

It's just a shame to see God's holy name maligned in this manner, and to consider the untold woe wrought throughout history as a result.

Yes and no... didn't Jonah carry that message - repent or be destroyed?

By the way I am only 5'7"

 

[Dave-W]

What about those...?

Sinning against you and offending you are 2 different things, although they may overlap.

 

[bèlla]

Just because the cross is an offense (Galatians 5:11) that does not mean Christians have been given a free pass to be offensive.

Absolutely! I recall a phone conversation with an unbeliever. We’ve known each other for years. At one point a stream of words came tumbling out. There was frustration in his voice. We weren’t discussing God at all.

He said he didn’t believe in my God. I wasn’t bothered by the admission. I already knew that. But his upset was a concern. I spoke softly and assured him I would never force my beliefs upon him. And I reminded him how I came to faith and the necessity of choosing God himself.

The change was instantaneous. His voice softened. It was almost childlike. That was a turning point. He hasn’t come to faith but I see references in his writings to God, love, and quotes from the bible.

I am often surprised at the liberty that some Christians take when offering their opinions towards or about others. But alas, professing Christians can be just as miserable, judgmental, and love-less as anyone else.

I grew up with a sense of place and some behaviors are inappropriate. I prefer to pray before addressing difficult subjects. It must be done in His timing.

 

[bèlla]

Public school.

Was this an extra curricular activity or mandatory class?