by The below post was not an easy one to work on. I prayed about it and worked on it for a couple weeks. I’m just going to layout what God gave me. It has helped me and prayerfully it will help others as well.
Here it goes.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I am a bit tired of hearing in the news, at churches, at the schools, or just in daily living that someone got their feelings hurt and now they are offended. People are suing one another, losing jobs, losing friends everywhere just because they got “offended” by something some else said or did. Most of the time, the thing people are offended by, wasn’t even something said or done to be malicious. It was just something said or done with no ill harm intended.
Currently, there are way too many people, including Christians, who are not familiar with God’s Word. They are weak in the knowledge of God’s Word.
II Timothy 3:1 starts with “This know also, that in the last days…” and 3:7 says people will be “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
People are studying politics, Facebook, Linked-In, Instagram, and other social media platforms instead their Bibles. Someday, if they are a child of God, they will be ashamed before God.
II Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed…”
Nowhere in the Bible will someone find it is okay to be offended and get their way. The Word of God is supposed to tear us apart, rip down to the depths of our souls, prick our hearts and make us uncomfortable. In do so, it is showing us areas we need work in.
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
With God, there is no middle ground. During Bible times, people could not say, “Jesus, you’ve offended me. You hurt my feelings.” They could not expect Jesus to pay them retribution for hurting their feelings. In this present world, people can’t say, “God’s Word has offended me. I don’t like what it says. It hurts my feelings.” Hell is filled with people who got their feelings hurt but chose not to accept what the Lord did to cover their sins. There is no middle ground with God. There is heaven and hell. Nothing in between. It’s simple.
Let’s look at a good Bible example for this topic. The woman taken in the act of adultery in John 8:3. Today she would have a serious court case. Lawyers everywhere would be lining up to defend her for her public embarrassment. But, according to the Bible, she could not say, “I’m offended.” Jesus told those who took her, “the offending parties,” to examine their own lives and
“…He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7.
Then the story concludes with Jesus telling her, “the offendee,”
“go, and sin no more.” John 8:11
At no point in time, was she allowed to say, “I’m offended.” She had to “suck it up and deal with it (her public embarrassment) and go on with life.” She had to “Man Up” or in this case “Woman Up.”
This worldly concept of “you’ve offended me” has crept into the churches. Some Pastors, Sunday school teachers and even church members are now unsure what to say to people anymore. Some people seem more sensitive than others and it is hard to know what to say to them because everyone is living in fear of “offending” someone.
Let’s look at a few points about how not to be a person who gets offended.
I. A parent’s responsibility.
Parents have such a big responsibility on them now. More so than ever before. Children in public schools are being bombarded 8+ hours a day for 5 days a week with things that are against the Bible. Sexual promiscuity, drugs, smoking, lying, cheating, abortions, homosexual lifestyles, etc are all okay according to the world. They see their friends living these lifestyles, their teachers telling them it is all okay. They are being taught to do what you want as long as you don’t hurt someone else. “It is your life. It is your body. Live how you want” is what they are being told hour – after hour – after hour. So, they think the things the parents and preacher are telling them from the Bible are not just “old fashioned” anymore but now are “offensive.”
On top of the list of things above that our children are being taught; they are being taught, “Live how you want and if someone offends you – sue them – even if it is your own parents or friends.”
This is so against the Bible; it is disgraceful.
II. Things need to change, and the change needs to start in our houses.
If adults are being easily offended, get it right with the Lord. Next, parents teach your children to “Man up or Woman up.”
One of Job’s frie
nds, Elihu, had been talking in previous verses. Most of us know that Job did not have good friends during his trials in life; but instead of Job being “offended” at them – this is what God had to say:
Job 38:1-3 “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this (Elihu) that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.”
I love the phrase “Gird up now thy loins like a man.” God also repeated himself in Job 40:6-7.
Job was told by God, “Who is this person/friend who doesn’t know what he is talking about? Get up, dust yourself off, forget it, and move on with life.” Job was not allowed to say, “Elihu hurt my feelings. Boohoo. I’m offended.” Wouldn’t this have been hilarious to see a grown man act like this? Well, this is exactly what we are seeing everyday now in the news. Grown men and women saying, “Boohoo my feelings are hurt and I’m offended.”
III. This worldly attitude, of being offended, has crept into our churches.
We have enough mess in the world without having to walk into the church and having to worry about “offending” someone.
I think we need to get back to a phrase I was taught as a child. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Instead of “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words now offend me.”
So, Christian, this is a challenge to you today to “Man up or Woman up” or as God says, “Gird up thy loins now like a man.”
But, before we leave this thought, I believe we need a couple minutes on the flip side of things.
IV. Woman Up or Have Compassion?
Manning Up doesn’t mean we can’t have compassion on people. Some people have gone to the extremes the other way and regardless of what someone has going on in their life, even serious health issues, some people say, “Oh well, that is just how it is; deal with it.” This statement shows no compa
ssion. However, the receiver of such comment should not get “offended.” Feelings may be hurt, but don’t get “offended.”
But let’s talk about compassion. One needs to know when to have compassion and not tell someone to Man up or Woman Up. We need to have compassion when people are:
- Having health issues
- Going through bad times
- Lost and going to hell
Jesus showed compassion towards those that were physically hurt, poor, and spiritually lost in their sins. Wherever Jesus went, he had compassion on people.
Matthew 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
There is a difference between being compassionate and offensive. We need more compassion, encouragement and exhortation in our churches.
- When others are speaking to you.
Remember, if someone says something that doesn’t seem appropriate for the conversation – don’t get offended. Think about the old phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Think of God telling Job to “Gird up now thy loins like a man.”
Remember, we all stick our foot in our mouth at times. Friends and family may say something that could be offensive. Stop thinking of things as “offensive” and “Gird up now thy loins like a man.” Or woman.
2. When you are speaking to others.
When in a conversation – think of what you’d like to hear from others and be compassionate if the receiver needs a caring friend. Most of the time, that is what people need – someone to care and show some compassion.
In summary:
- We are to be compassionate towards others who are physically hurting, poor, and those lost in their sins and going to hell.
- We should not be offensive to someone if at all possible
- However, if someone offends us, then remember the phrase God told Job, “Gird up thy loins now like a man.” Man up or Woman up.
Adults pray and search your hearts. If you are easily offended, God can help you change your ways.
Phillipians 4:8 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Let’s rephrase the verse above “I can do all things (even be a person who does not get offended) through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
