Midweek Encouragement - "How To Limit Offending People"

"How To Limit Offending People”

  ^{If there’s one thing I’ve learned through 31 years of pastoral ministry it’s this: Never underestimate your ability to offend. I don’t need to tell you that people are easily offended, and sometimes we can be easily offensive. Put those two together and you’ve got trouble. The writer of Proverbs put it this way, “It’s easier to break into a fortified city than to regain trust and loyalty once it’s been lost because you offended a person” (Proverbs 18:19).}

         ^{I know what some of you might be thinking. “But speaking the truth will offend people. The gospel is offensive: 1 Corinthians 1:23 and Galatians 5:11. Besides, Jesus offended people: Matthew 13:57 and Mark 6:3.”}

         ^{That’s not the kind of offense I’m talking about.}

         ^{I’m referring to an offense that’s not necessary, or one that could be avoided. There’s an offense that comes because we’ve said or done something stupid or insensitive. Why would I want to offend someone if I didn’t need to? If I need to I need to, but if I don’t, why would I want to? Four times God’s Word tells me to avoid offending or placing a stumbling block before people: 1 Corinthians 8:9 and 10:32, 2 Corinthians 6:3, and Romans 14:13.}

         ^{I remember a pastor at a conference saying, “The only way not to offend people is to say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing.” The people around me burst into applause and cheered. But I couldn’t help but think that some had interpreted that as permission to offend.}

         ^{I think we have to realize that some people offend because they’ve been offended, and that’s their way of striking back. I wish Paul hadn’t said, “Don’t return evil for evil,” but he did (Romans 12:17).}

         ^{Despite our greatest efforts, we’re still going to (hopefully unintentionally) offend someone. Is it possible to limit the times we offend others?}

         ^{Ask yourself these four ‘offense-limiting’ questions before you say or do anything that has the potential of being offensive:}

^{1. How might my words or actions offend this person?}

^{2. Do I care if I offend them?}

^{3. Should I care if I offend them?}

^{4. Can I achieve my objective in a way that might be less likely to offend?}

         ^{A good rule to live by is this: If you have to ask yourself if what you’re about to say or do will be offensive, it’ll probably be offensive. Let’s try to have the mind of Christ as we live with and interact with others.}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.