Offense Cuts Like Glass

Jesus said, “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” (Matthew 24:10) History is laced with happiness interspersed with offense and hatred. When the enemies of Christianity accuse the church of begetting wars and commotions, they are right and wrong. They are wrong to suggest the true expressions of the church are guilty, but they are right when they accuse many within the church world of promoting offense and hatred. Nothing is so ugly and impossible to hide as offense within the very family of God. We know the Bible is the honest Word of God because it never hides the culprits that have lurked within. The devil would not be much of a devil if he did not attack where light is the brightest and hope is the purest.

Offense is sharper than a razor. It whittles the heart into shreds. Homes have been destroyed with only a few ounces of offense. An ounce of offense is worth a ton of destruction. Church families shining in a community like a thousand lights have been reduced to a fading ember by one dark, offended soul that spreads venom like wildfire. Offense can rise like a mountain until it covers the valley of prosperity and beauty. Offense is bitter, angry, rebellious, and destructive. Offense will not give up until something or someone is visible on the ash heap of despair. Offense takes no prisoners and has no pity. Offense is all out war.

Our political world is full of offense in all directions. The educational world has adopted and promoted “politically correct speech” as a helpless antidote to offense. The church world has even junked the name of Jesus in prayer as an offering to quiet the liberals offended by the cross. The present theme of the evangelical world is “sinner sensitive” because anything that names sin or even looks holy is offensive. Offense has marched down the aisles of our great houses of God and stripped the people of the “saving Gospel.” The “saving Gospel” is too offensive to the unsaved. Offense has taken the day right before the King comes exactly like He said it would.

Reaching offended people is practically impossible. Offense reaches to the deepest level of human sin and human emotions. Solomon rightly described the power of offense to hold its prisoner steadfast to the end. He said, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” (Proverbs 18:19) Offense takes the victim completely captive and holds them with the powers of hell. The only satisfaction in offense is the blood of the source. Offense can never be satisfied as long as it is in control. Jesus Christ recognized the power of offense and declared radical action to remove the scourge. “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-20)

The Son of God warned us of the destruction of offense and also declared strong judgment to anyone that offends innocent souls. “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. Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!” (Matthew 18:6-7)

The Son of God, the very wisdom of His Father, saw the soul guilty of spreading offense as hopeless and deserving of quick judgment and death. Offended people are almost totally beyond reach. They are often beyond reach because the nature of offense is always to accuse others. Offended people will not accept blame. Everybody is wrong but them.

There is one cure for offense and it is the cleansing Blood of the Son. Any person full of offense must confess the sin and personal responsibility for their guilt. No one said it better than Apostle John. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) Even if the person has hurt no one but himself and if the offensive action was from someone else, a person that is offended must take responsibility for the captivity they are under. When anyone confesses what is in the heart and forsakes all that his or her heart has suffered, the Son of God will purify that heart and light will spring forth as the morning sun. Do not wait to confess and forsake this offense because it only gets stronger by the hour.