ARE YOU OFFENDED
Romans 14:21, KJV
“It is good neither to… [do] anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
Romans 15:1, KJV
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
The claim of being “offended” is a classic trump card for the manipulator. This is a person who would never consider himself to be the weaker brother, let alone spiritually immature.
What this person does is a cultic tactic of psychological double bind. He appeals to but misuses an accepted authority. In this case it is an abuse of Scripture to get one’s way.
This is not only a serious misuse of Scripture, but it is a form of extortion which is explicitly condemned in 1 Corinthians 6:10, “such will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus describes such a person as a ravenous wolf (Matthew 7:15-23). As a matter of fact the two terms are related in the Greek. They both come from a root that means “to seize, or to carry off by force.”
This person robs others of their freedom of opinion, etc. They seek to control others by feigning offense.
When Paul used the term “offended” in Romans 14:21 he is not talking about an individual’s personal preferences. He is not talking likes or dislikes. He is not talking mere opinions.
The Old English use of “offend” or “offense” is not the same as it is most widely used today. It is the ambiguous or equivocating use of the term that is the problem.
Today one may say that he is offended by someone’s body odor. He is merely saying that he is displeased. This has no moral or spiritual implication upon him however.
When Paul says, “offend,” he means that one has had a snare or stumbling block placed in his way. It comes from the term “skandalizo” (Eng: scandalize).
Oddly this is a textual variant not found in the oldest manuscripts. Because of this it is not found in most modern versions. Both the KJV and the NKJV have it. But none of these do: ASV, NASB, ESV, RSV, NRSV, NIV, etc.
The primary definition of offend is consistent with the biblical usage.
1. to transgress the moral or divine law; sin.
It is the secondary usage when appealed to which brings about the ambiguity.
2. to cause dislike, …; displease.
(Merriam-Webster New Collegiate Dictionary, 2nd Ed.)
Personal sense of what is proper or fitting is mere opinion. One can sin by the divisive insistence of his opinion upon others. No one should be allowed veto power simply because he does not like something.
Jesus is the Head of the Church. Jesus is Lord. Only He has all authority.
“It is good neither to… [do] anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
Romans 15:1, KJV
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
The claim of being “offended” is a classic trump card for the manipulator. This is a person who would never consider himself to be the weaker brother, let alone spiritually immature.
What this person does is a cultic tactic of psychological double bind. He appeals to but misuses an accepted authority. In this case it is an abuse of Scripture to get one’s way.
This is not only a serious misuse of Scripture, but it is a form of extortion which is explicitly condemned in 1 Corinthians 6:10, “such will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus describes such a person as a ravenous wolf (Matthew 7:15-23). As a matter of fact the two terms are related in the Greek. They both come from a root that means “to seize, or to carry off by force.”
This person robs others of their freedom of opinion, etc. They seek to control others by feigning offense.
When Paul used the term “offended” in Romans 14:21 he is not talking about an individual’s personal preferences. He is not talking likes or dislikes. He is not talking mere opinions.
The Old English use of “offend” or “offense” is not the same as it is most widely used today. It is the ambiguous or equivocating use of the term that is the problem.
Today one may say that he is offended by someone’s body odor. He is merely saying that he is displeased. This has no moral or spiritual implication upon him however.
When Paul says, “offend,” he means that one has had a snare or stumbling block placed in his way. It comes from the term “skandalizo” (Eng: scandalize).
Oddly this is a textual variant not found in the oldest manuscripts. Because of this it is not found in most modern versions. Both the KJV and the NKJV have it. But none of these do: ASV, NASB, ESV, RSV, NRSV, NIV, etc.
The primary definition of offend is consistent with the biblical usage.
1. to transgress the moral or divine law; sin.
It is the secondary usage when appealed to which brings about the ambiguity.
2. to cause dislike, …; displease.
(Merriam-Webster New Collegiate Dictionary, 2nd Ed.)
Personal sense of what is proper or fitting is mere opinion. One can sin by the divisive insistence of his opinion upon others. No one should be allowed veto power simply because he does not like something.
Jesus is the Head of the Church. Jesus is Lord. Only He has all authority.
posted by Johnny D. Hinton @ 1:21 PM
2 comments
