Establishing Foundations: Handling Offenses

We all become offended from time to time by others' actions, words, or situations. We need to recognize where offense comes from, defeat it, and have victory. The word offended actually means: to spread vicious slander against another. When someone says they are offended, they're actually saying they are gossiping, murmuring, and complaining about someone. This is taking the role of the accuser of the brethren.

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Offenses leads to bitterness (Heb. 12:14). How does offense come? The inward signs come by misunderstanding what is spoken properly, spiritual pride, insecurity, selfishness, rejection of ideas, and/or having an unteachable spirit. Most of the time the person offended was already offended prior to whatever is exposed or talked about. Offenses are generally built over time and do not occur all at once. The person is looking for the opportunity to be offended. The outward signs are accusations, condemning statements, and passing judgments. These start by fault finding, murmuring and complaining. These are all attacks from the enemy. In a church setting, it is all right to disagree with teaching, actions, etc. It is not all right to campaign for an opposing view within the body.

How do we defeat offenses? Since we recognize them, and where they comes from, we need to realize that, like most things, it is a choice. You have already decided today if you will be offended three weeks from now. Many times we need to see that what we are harboring in our heart does not have much bearing on the kingdom. We have been given a ministry of reconciliation (1 Cor. 5:18). This means we give solutions, not point out faults, that is the Holy Spirit's job, not ours. Take authority over your thoughts and bring them to Christ's obedience. Cast down vain imaginations. 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; Pray the opposite of what you are thinking. If you are on the receiving end of a person offended, do not argue as this feeds the offense. Try to restore them in humility. Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.