No Offense

I started this blog a year ago today, and I know I haven’t posted in a while, but I feel like it is only fitting for me to start back up today. Over the past several months, I have noticed a trend on social media. Much of the political discussion on Facebook is about who is offending who. Many people have developed an attitude of “you offend me, I offend you.”

I believe the Apostle Peter has a unique perspective concerning this type of attitude because he once shared those views. John 18:10 tells us that when the Jewish officials came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew a sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. The soldiers and officials were offending Jesus in a way by arresting him, trying to stir up trouble. Peter let them. He responded by cutting off the servant’s ear. You offend me, I offend you.

Luke 22:51 records that Jesus’ response to Peter’s actions was “No more of this!” So I just want us all to think for a minute: is it possible that Jesus is also saying “No more of this!” to our responses to people who disagree with us? But they started it! I’m sure that you have either heard this from your kids or told this to your parents at least once in your life, and the response is always the same—“it doesn’t matter who started it; it stops with you.” But I need to tell them that they aren’t living how Jesus called everyone to live. This is an interesting thought, but I want to look back at Peter’s perspective. Talking about suffering for doing good, he wrote in 1 Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” In verse 23, he talks about Jesus’ journey to the cross—the steps we are called to follow—saying “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Jesus did not live with the attitude of “you offend me, I offend you.”

Instead, he showed us how to react when people offend us. Do not retaliate. Jesus has been in that situation so he realizes how difficult it can be to do this, which is why he addressed the issue in his ministry. In Matthew 5:11-12, we see that Jesus talked about this in his Sermon on the Mount, saying “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Peter says something similar in 1 Peter 3:9—“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” No more “you offend me, I offend you!”

At the end of Matthew 5, Jesus talks about love for enemies. He says that the “you offend me, I offend you” attitude is for pagans. He says that pagans can also be credited for having a “you bless me, I bless you” attitude, so if we have this, we still aren’t any better than them. Then, in Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus say “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” If we really want to stand out as Christians—as children of God—we must take on an attitude that says “you offend me, I bless you.” That’s what Jesus did. He died for us all—even for those who insulted him, mocked him, offended him, and spat in his face. He died for us all. He blessed those who offended him. “You offend me, I bless you.”

“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” 1 Peter 4:13-14