Sun was shining nice and bright – looked out to the Northwest to see some dark clouds coming, really dark clouds, we shall soon have a downpour.  But the air is so clean the yellow light shining on the trees with the dark clouds in the background is very pretty.

Blaze argued with some of the deer from around here, telling them to leave his territory.  Only three this morning and they trotted over to Carla’s garden; not much for them to taste so they walked over to the alfalfa – not much there either so on down to the neighbors.  Wish they would eat those weeds.  The birds like the seeds though.  

Philippians 1:9-11    And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

¹⁰ That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

¹¹ Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

These verses are basically meant to tell the Philippian Christians how to grow in Christ and how to treat each other.

It is a good word of advice for all of us.  We so often focus on the negative within each other.  We don’t like that person’s sense of humor, or that person’s manner of dress or that person’s choice of words.  We don’t agree with their way of worship or their choice of food, etc.  Their clothing and hair style is not what we like – it can interfere with both their and our life in Christ and the harmony in His church.

In the world the theme of this century in our country seems to be to take offense at everything and try to pass laws that will keep us from being offended.

We find that when we take offense at something, those that are proponents of that philosophy or lifestyle or whatever, take offense at our offense.  Some people go out of their way to offend others, they enjoy it, it gives them a feeling of power.

Others choose to look for ways to feel offended.  That person looked at me ‘funny;’ that manner of speaking was meant to ridicule me; we can find all sorts of things to be offended about.  Wars – physical assaults in our streets – are going on in this country because of someone being “offended” by someone else and attacking them.

God’s Word is offensive to many people.  They do not want to hear what God says, so they are trying to make preaching, teaching, reading and studying God’s Word to be evidence of hatred.

In Dearborn, Michigan Christians were attacked by stone throwing Muslims for proclaiming Christ near one of their festivals – and the Christians were threatened with arrest if they did not leave.  Authorities were placating the Muslims, they didn’t want to offend them.  The people that threw the rocks were not arrested.

Part of the claims of offensive language and behavior really are valid and for those we must look at ourselves and determine not to be offensive in those manners.  Others are manufactured and so minute that they would normally not merit any cause for concern, yet, in this country’s desire to not offend anyone, ever, and to be all things to all people they make everything a political commentary.  While developing language that is not offensive, they are bound to offend others. 

As Christians we are going to offend those that are in the world, those who deny the deity and the governing ability of God.  God’s message of repentance does not set well with those that do not want to hear it.  It didn’t when the prophets of old proclaimed God’s Word to the Jews and it didn’t when Jesus confronted the Jewish leaders and called them on their hypocrisy. 

Mark 6:2-4 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

⁴ But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

The war against Christ and God’s Word has continued to this day when Christians stand for Christ against those that do not want to hear.  Many times people who knew us before we were saved, or have seen us falter in our service to God, will choose not to listen because of that knowledge.  They will be offended and point out that we were/are not any different from them, asking ‘who are you to preach (or judge) to me?’  We need to use wisdom in addressing their comments and not take offense ourselves. 

But when it comes to our family in Christ we must take care to work with our brethren in Christ and not offend them if at all possible – using wisdom to correct and nurture them.  Paul was clear about this when he also said:

Romans 14:17-22  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

¹⁸ For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

¹⁹ Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

²⁰ For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

²¹ It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

²² Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

A mature Christian does not deliberately act in a manner that he knows will cause another to stumble.  A mature Christian also learns that others may unintentionally commit an act that is offensive to him.  While corrective action may need to be taken we should not become upset, but in love and wisdom take the necessary steps to make them aware of their actions; and, by the way, not taking offense to those that would try and correct or nurture us when we are in need of it.

God want HIS peace within the community of Christians – His Church, Christ’s Bride.  Though we may sincerely differ on some of the things that Christians should or should not be doing, if those things are not directly related to salvation and proper service to God, we need to take care in our discussions of them. 

We should use the Word of God as our foundation in our disagreements, not rhetoric that we do not understand.  We must also remember that some people view particular verses in a different light and there is no clarity as to who is right and who is wrong in that particular instance.  God is not intending for us to be so hung up on minor disagreements that we become offensive to a brother or sister in Christ.  It is better to hold our tongue then to get into a heated discussion over minor details.

Studying God’s Word and asking for His insights will assist us in having the wisdom, when talking to our brethren to discern when we should be more aggressive in our discussions, or back off and leave it alone.  Art :-)   

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again