Offense is the opposite of 1 Corinthians 13, aka … The Love Chapter. (Serious dude.) Read it and tell me if you see it.
We used to play a game in gym at school. It was called Dodge Ball. The object of the game was
don’t get hit by the ball. There are two teams and one ball. They take turns throwing at the other team trying to hit them. When you get hit by the ball; you are out of the game! Last one in…wins. Even though you can see the ball, there is no way that you can know that it will be thrown at you. You have to stay alert and be agile. Sounds easy but it was hard. That is how offense is. It is like something that is thrown at you and you usually don’t see it coming. BAMM!!! The Bible equates it with strife…and it puts us in a position of hatred if we succumb to it! Wow!!!
Offense in too many cases can be the elephant in the room: in churches, in families, in workplaces…
as long as the church struggles with this; the world will “stay away.” It’s a turnoff.
OFFENSE IS A WORK OF THE FLESH AND SOME OF THE MIGHTIEST PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO IT; truth be told wars have started because of it. Here are some examples of things that can cause offense:
1. YOU SAID SOMETHING I DIDN’T LIKE. (harsh,judgment,opposite opinion)
2. YOU SAID SOMETHING I DIDN’T KNOW.(and didn’t like) It made me feel: uncomfortable, threatened, pushed etc.)
3. I DIDN’T LIKE YOUR TONE(bossy, demanding, controlling, prideful, aggressive etc.)WHEN YOU SPOKE TOME OR SOMEONE ELSE!
4. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND YOU, BUT I THINK I DON’T WANT TO BECAUSE…(see one of the other reasons)
5. YOU IGNORED ME. (talked over, interrupted, walked past without speaking etc.)
6. YOU ARE FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE I DON’T CARE FOR.
7.YOU DID SOMETHING TO ME AND I DID NOT LIKE THE WAY THAT YOU WENT ABOUT DOING IT.
8. SUSPICION: I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT I DIDN’T LIKE. I JUST COULD NOT PUT MY FINGER ON IT.
9. NEGATIVE GOSSIP: LISTENING AND PARTICIPATION CAN HAVE THAT EFFECT. (offense)
10. YOU USE WORDS THAT I DO NOT USE!
11. YOU PUSHED ME AWAY; YOUR FAULT. (ignores the fact that I let you; so I give myself permission to ignore you.)
If we find ourselves tangled in the deceptive WEB of offense we have to ask:DID I ENGAGE IN LONGSUFFERING, KINDNESS, VANITY OR PRIDE?
Psalm 119: 165 Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble [or be offended].
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all wrongs.
Proverbs 15:18
A wrathful man stirs up contention, But one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
Proverbs 16:28
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirs up strife, And a wrathful man abounds in sin.
Proverbs 28:25
One who is greedy stirs up strife; But one who trusts in The LORD will prosper.
Proverbs 17:1
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
Proverbs 17:9
He who covers an offense promotes love; But he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
Proverbs 17:19
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, Therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
Related articles
- Quotes from the Book of Proverbs (history.answers.com)
- Fiery Strife (proverbialthought.com)
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