Offending and Being Offended

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of OFFENSE: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed (Romans 9:33).

To offend can mean a number of different things. It means to cause displeasure, resentment or wounded feelings. It is a matter that is very difficult in our daily relationships with other people, first because we can be offensive without even realizing it and secondly because what is offensive to one person may not be offensive to someone else.

Our text reveals the attitude of the Jewish nation toward Jesus Christ. He came as their Messiah and instead, they saw Him as being offensive, a stumbling stone.

Jude wrote of the common salvation, which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3). The word “delivered” can refer to teaching and preaching by way of the Apostles of Jesus but the source is the Word of God. The Word of God is the final and authoritative message from God. God’s Word is not something we dreamed up. God gave it to us Himself. In the same way that Israel rejected her Messiah, those who are unsaved find the Gospel as very offensive, a stumbling block.

If mankind rejects God and His Word, whether he realizes it or not, he has taken sides with God’s greatest enemy – Satan. As Christians, Satan, his philosophy, deception and even his people ought to be OFFENSIVE to us. Jesus found Satan to be offensive and so should we. Get thee behind Me, Satan; thou art an offense unto Me: for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men (Matthew 16:23).

1 Peter 2:7-8 provide us a clear picture of the difference between those who find Christ precious and those who find Him offensive.

• Genuine Christians find Christ as precious. We consider our relationship with Him as valuable and honor, respect and worship Him (v. 7).
• The unsaved consider Him a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense (v.8).

Atheism is becoming more and more the belief of so many Americans today. Those who claim to be atheists have merely rejected the one and only true God and made Satan their god, just as many Israelites in the past made Baal their god, as though man had a choice. Without realizing it, in making Satan their god, they are in actuality making themselves their god.

When we share Christ with those who have chosen to follow Satan, their hatred is stirred up against us because the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (I Corinthians 1:18). The Word of God and those who hold to it are becoming more and more offensive as we get closer to the return of Jesus Christ. As a result, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (II Timothy 3:12).

This should have no effect on what God’s Word says is true. We still believe that the Bible is the Word of God, we believe that our living God is sovereign, we believe that heaven is our eternal home and we believe hell is real, and men must run from it.

Truth in our society today has become very offensive and if you hold to the truths of God’s Word, many will consider you offensive. That does not mean you ought to go out of our way to be offensive. We do not want to offensive to others, especially to one another in the body of Christ. We do need, however, to stand firm on what God’s Word states and obey it regardless of what others are doing. If you are faithful in your relationship to God, you will not be able to avoid being offensive to the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doth the will of God abideth forever (I John 2:17). Trust God to use your testimony and to protect you as you live for Him.

George Stiekes held successful pastorates in churches in Michigan and Washington among other places. He currently resides in North Carolina and blogs at Reverent Reflections. We recommend his ministry and republish his material by permission.