offense - tool of Satan

[B-A-C]

We live in a time when everything offends us.

We are offended by the confederate flag.
We are offended by the US flag.
We are offended by homosexuals.
We are offended by words in a song.
We are offended by certain races.
We are offended by certain religions.
We are offended by what others say here on TalkJesus.
We are offended by the name of a football team.

Sometimes we should be offended, but I think some of us like to be offended.... it seems some of us go looking for a reason to be offended.

The trouble with being offended, is that usually it leads to retribution.
When I was a kid I watched television shows and movies with "heros" in them.
The lone Ranger, Batman, Superman, Daniel Boone, and many others....
I went around my neighborhood with my sheriffs badge, white hat and cap gun.
I killed every "bad guy" in site. Some of them dozens of times. I loved those shows.

But in real life, we are way to eager to kill "the bad guys". Who are the bad guys?
Anyone who offends us. They may not be offending God, but they are offending us.
Therefore it's our job to let them have it. To get even. After all... isn't that what Batman does?

Maybe.. but it isn't what we are told to do.
Romans 12:18; If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

All men? That's what it says.

What about "the bad guys". The lone Ranger would have taken vengeance on them.
Probably... but
Rom 12:19; says ... "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" says the Lord.
Heb 10:30; says the same thing.

Are we leaving room for God to take vengeance? Or are we taking vengeance into our own hands?

It's easy to love those who agree with us and don't offend us. But what about our enemies?
Matt 5:44; But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matt 5:45; so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; ...

We love to see the bad guys "get" what's coming to them. But too many times, it's us
giving it to them. Are we leaving room for "the wrath of God" to do this?

I believe offense is one of Satan's greatest tools in the world today.
Because we are offended, we argue, we bicker, we fight, we are divided, and in some cases...
wars are fought... all because someone was offended.

I see a lot of the "deeds of the flesh" ( Gal 5:19-21; ) being manifested here on TJ.
Because we are offended. But can we disagree with others without taking offense?
Can the love of Christ live within us, even when we are offended?

 

[Curtis]

We live in a time when everything offends us.

We are offended by the confederate flag.
We are offended by the US flag.
We are offended by homosexuals.
We are offended by words in a song.
We are offended by certain races.
We are offended by certain religions.
We are offended by what others say here on TalkJesus.
We are offended by the name of a football team.

Sometimes we should be offended, but I think some of us like to be offended.... it seems some of us go looking for a reason to be offended.

The trouble with being offended, is that usually it leads to retribution.
When I was a kid I watched television shows and movies with "heros" in them.
The lone Ranger, Batman, Superman, Daniel Boone, and many others....
I went around my neighborhood with my sheriffs badge, white hat and cap gun.
I killed every "bad guy" in site. Some of them dozens of times. I loved those shows.

But in real life, we are way to eager to kill "the bad guys". Who are the bad guys?
Anyone who offends us. They may not be offending God, but they are offending us.
Therefore it's our job to let them have it. To get even. After all... isn't that what Batman does?

Maybe.. but it isn't what we are told to do.
Romans 12:18; If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

All men? That's what it says.

What about "the bad guys". The lone Ranger would have taken vengeance on them.
Probably... but
Rom 12:19; says ... "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" says the Lord.
Heb 10:30; says the same thing.

Are we leaving room for God to take vengeance? Or are we taking vengeance into our own hands?

It's easy to love those who agree with us and don't offend us. But what about our enemies?
Matt 5:44; But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matt 5:45; so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; ...

We love to see the bad guys "get" what's coming to them. But too many times, it's us
giving it to them. Are we leaving room for "the wrath of God" to do this?

I believe offense is one of Satan's greatest tools in the world today.
Because we are offended, we argue, we bicker, we fight, we are divided, and in some cases...
wars are fought... all because someone was offended.

I see a lot of the "deeds of the flesh" ( Gal 5:19-21; ) being manifested here on TJ.
Because we are offended. But can we disagree with others without taking offense?
Can the love of Christ live within us, even when we are offended?

James 4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Not only are we at war with spiritual wickedness in high places, but also the "carnal" unrenewed mind which is the enemy of God.
We as Christian all walking on different plains of spirituality. Some know more than others and some know very little. Is there a "polite" way to tear down fortresses, and castles that have been built up in the "mind" of man without causing some kind of "friction"? It all depends if one is open to the voice of the Spirit of God to hear and learn from others where God is dwelling.
Being a retired "electrician" the jobs I disliked the most was doing re-models as it makes a mess of everything, and it is hard to see anything good come out of it until you reach the end.
Hearing something that is contrary to ones beliefs system causes that person to either accept it or reject that belief. If we accept it as truth then we have go back and reassess everything we once thought was true, because it effects everything down line. This takes work, and sometimes we do not want take on that task, and just stay with we know.
It is not fun, but needful if we are going to grow in the Lord. Yes, the enemy can and does use this to his advantage if we are not willing walk in love and know we are only trying to help the body of Christ become more mature.