Offense Within the Body

Note: This blog was written in the summer of 2020. I decided to hold off on publishing this one, over the fear of being misunderstood. I have had situations within the Body of Christ where I was the offender and other times have been unable to forgive others. I did not write this over my own personal experiences, but rather as a Christian trying to grow in Christ. 

Today in our society we tend to get offended very easily, and often. As Christians, should we be offended at fellow believers or someone in a leadership position at church? The answer is absolutely no even when the person is clearly in the wrong. Now I am not talking about an individual who commits a crime or is caught up in immoral behavior, for which he or she won't seek repentance. The word offense is defined by biblical standards as a stumbling block; to cause one to stumble. Sometimes righteous teaching will offend us because it contradicts our behavior. Someone unwilling to correct his own heart will see the teaching as offensive and move away from a learning moment. Offenses such as these absolutely occur within the body of Christ. Today, I am focusing on a type of particular offenses where the world would probably say you have every reason to be offended. Maybe a leader has let us down, broken promises, overlooked you in favor of another. Perhaps a fellow member has gossiped about you behind your back to all of your dearest friends within the congregation. You may not even have an idea why they would hurt or wound you in that particular way It is human nature for our hearts to be hardened when offended, resulting in bitterness, contempt, or even anger towards that individual. We should earnestly pray specifically about that person, and the situation we find ourselves in. We should also try our hardest to treat that individual with sincere love, even if they are still causing us anguish. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, 1 Corinthians 13: 4-5." A sincere attempt to seek peace must be sought between you and the individual. "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. If you anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold, Ephesians 4: 25-27." You might get so offended that you leave that church, and go to another one down the street. Don't get me wrong there are times when a church change can be beneficial for you, and sometimes one is called by God to make a change. When you get offended in your new church, leaving will be easier. This behavior can cause you not to get as involved, as you build up walls of insecurity, and so you join the new church with the feeling of insecurity still persisting. This will leave to church hoping, or you will slowly stop attending altogether. Other relationships will be strained in your life as a result of getting offended if you allow the situation to consume you. Look at Saul and David's relationship in the old testament for an example. David found favor in Saul's sight as a young shepherd who had killed Goliath and was an excellent harpist. His music soothed and was very pleasing to Saul's ears. David had already been anointed the future king of Israel, sat at the king's table, married one of the king's daughters, and was best friends with Johnathan one of the king's sons. However, Saul turned on David and considered him to be a huge threat to his reign as king. David was ordered to be killed by Saul, the King of Israel. In 1 Samuel 18:6-9, we see that David's popularity was growing and that displeased Saul greatly. 

  "When the men were returning home after David has killed the Philistine, the women came

from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs

and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: Saul has slain his thousands and David

his tens of thousands. Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. They have

credited David with tens of thousands, he thought, but me with only thousands. What more

can he get but the kingdom? And for that time on Saul kept a close eye on David."

David never once tried to kill Saul although he had every reason to. David roamed the countryside trying to escape Saul's wrath. Saul ordered thousand of warriors to capture David. David was hiding in dark molded caves and was eating wild honey to survive. Continuing in 1 Samuel in chapter 24:16-19, we hear Saul's response to David, sparing his life.

 
"Is that your voice, David my son? And he wept aloud. You are more righteous than I, he said.

You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you 

treated me today."

 Making the decision to forgive is difficult, especially when the offender is a fellow brother or sister in Christ. Make the choice to forgive in your heart, before you talk one on one with the person. Ask God to bless their lives and to give you a sincere heart to forgive. Are you harboring an offense? I encourage you to release it to God and to forgive that person.

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And in all these virtues put on love, which binds all together in perfect unity" -Colossians 3:13-14

Resource: The Bait of Satan, John Bevere