Our world has been on a downward spiral and it seems like so many people stay in the mind concept of constant offense. Everywhere you turn there is so much negativity and everyone seems to be offended by something you say or do. This is sad when there was no intent to cause offense or harm. It’s even sadder when that there are those who have every intention to just “stir the pot” and go out of their way to take their so-called offenses to social media, work places and even churches. Matthew 18:7 states “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!”
So why are people so easily offended today? What can we do to not get caught up in all the offenses and take on offenses that shouldn’t even be ours in the first place? What is the best defense in a world of constant offense?
First, we must look at the root cause of why we are so easily offended. One of the most common reasons people take offense is because of their own insecurities. These insecurities are based upon their own self-concepts and ideas. A lot of these insecurities are based upon how people feel. They have emotional issues that are raw and unhealed and relate back to past experiences that they have not dealt with.
Some people seem to just be sensitive and easily offended. Others seem to have a need to control. They want to control not just their lives but the outcome of others.
There seems to be a root to this spirit when it comes to offense, and that is the spirit of pride. Yes, pride. Remember the thing that kicked Lucifer out of heaven? Of yes, that spirit that affects everyone’s life with extreme pettiness. In other words, you take the smallest most insignificant thing and you blow it up into something that it never was. This is called the spirit of offense and it definitely comes from the father of lies himself – ol’ Lucifer.
The spirt of offense has affected everyone today and has infiltrated our government, churches, schools and homes, causing division, strife and hurt. So what does God have to say about these offenses?
Well, the Word of God tells us in Proverbs 6:1619, “These six things does the Lord hate, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”
Do you know someone who has these characteristics today? Do they always seem to be offended?
This is God’s strong warning to us to heed these kinds of attributes and anyone who chooses to have them. These individuals actually have the spirit of offense working in their lives and you might find it better to stir clear of them whenever possible.
When people become offended to such extremes so easily, you will find they don’t have a clear conscience either. Instead they are revengeful and want to hurt others by any means necessary: including lying, spreading rumors, devising schemes and joining forces with their enemies to not only bring an offense against you but to keep that offense going.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a believer or a non-believer, their goal is the same: to steal, kill, and destroy and they love to stay offended. This again, really has nothing to do with you but with their ugly heart that only God can change if they choose to let Him have control.
Yes, He has to have control over our minds and our mouths. Ouch, that one may hurt a bit but it’s true for all of us. Stop letting all the little things offend you and then refuse to keep that offense going.
Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have they which love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them.”
So really the best defense against being offended is growing in God’s grace and loving people despite their differences.
Even though the world may choose to be offended, you can choose differently.
