The Best Defense for Being Offended

by Barbara Latta

“That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10).

It's All About Me

The prophet Isaiah said the Messiah would be an offense to many because his teaching would prick the conscience of those who wouldn’t believe (Isaiah 8:14). So many in the world today reject Christ because to embrace him is to deny the god of self. People want everything their way so that nothing even remotely goes against their senses.

Every day it’s something new someone gets offended about.  Recently, some college students protested so loudly the school gave in to their demands and took the American flag down. Others have become so enraged over such trivial things such as a cell phone, a seat on a plane, or being cut off in line. 

I am not advocating giving up our freedom to speak and stand for our values. It’s the overt shout of the selfish that claim “I don’t like something so you shouldn’t have it or display it” which promotes “me-ism”. This attitude hurts everyone because the focus is on petty feelings. The rest of the population is forced to give in to the complainer to try to keep the peace. All this does is fuel someone else’s need to rant.

The Gospel Is Love

The best defense for offense is found in Philippians 1:11, “being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

If the fruits of righteousness are filling us there is no room for making such big issues out of small things. When the focus is on God and what he wants, desires that are wrong fade away and right ones take their place. When the Almighty One of the universe is at the heart of our feelings, we find out what is important.

When emotions rise over something that doesn’t really matter,  we need to put up our defense of righteousness and the offense won’t win.

How do you apply this solution for offense to your situations? Share your thoughts.