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By Clay Sterrett What Are Offenses? Every one of us will experience offenses, that, left unchecked, can bring great spiritual harm to the believer. William R. Kimball said, “ An offense can be defined as ‘a feeling of being insulted, slighted of wronged.’ It is an emotional response to a perceived injustice or indignity. When we are offended we often experience hurt feelings, resentment, angers, contempt, and personal outrage. Offenses are usually the result of being unfairly treated or feeling that our rights have been violated.”[2] In scripture, the word for offense is scandalon From this, we get the word “scandalized.” It is also translated into English as stumbling block These are things which can become an obstacle or hindrance to our own spiritual walk or to someone else’s. There are two universal truths concerning this subject: first, we cannot avoid offending others; second, it can be serious problem when we do offend others –especially younger believers. Jesus said, It is inevitable that stumbling blocks should come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. [3] Simon Pete was the first disciple to have a revelation that Jesus was Messiah, but he was also the first to bring offense to the Lord. It was Pete who said, “ You are Christ, the Son of the Living God.” [4] Shortly after this statement, Jesus began to reveal more about his upcoming death and resurrection. Peter, however, was horrified and even began to rebuke the Lord. “ Never Lord…This shall never happen to you!” Jesus, who gave no place to self-pity, turned to Peter and said, “ Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” [5] Peter had simply failed to grasp that the primary reason Jesus had come to the world was to suffer on the cross and bear the sins of mankind. Peter’s immature and man centered response was a stumbling block in the mind of Jesus. Have you ever been highly offended by the insensitive or harsh words of a fellow Christian? Have you ever felt Satan speaking through another believer? Peter’s failure is a warning to us that it can happen, possibly even after a time of deep spiritual revelation. Therefore, we must seek to be careful in our speech and avoid being a stumbling block to others.
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