In today’s world, offense seems to be everywhere. A careless comment, a misunderstood action, or even silence can lead to hurt feelings and division. Social media and cultural tensions have made people more prone to taking offense, often creating rifts in relationships, families, and even churches. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to a higher standard—to guard our hearts and walk in peace.
In John 6:60-71, Jesus spoke words that many of His disciples found difficult to accept. Instead of seeking understanding, they took offense and turned away. This passage teaches us a powerful lesson: offense is a choice. We can either allow it to take root in our hearts or surrender it to God and keep moving forward in faith.
Why Offense is Dangerous
The Greek word for offense, “skandalon,” refers to a trap or snare—something designed to keep us stuck. The offense does exactly that. When we let offense take root, it clouds our judgment, strains our relationships, and distances us from God’s best for our lives. It can cause us to walk away from places and people where God has called us to grow. Left unchecked, offense leads to bitterness, resentment, and division—none of which align with the heart of Christ.
How to Guard Your Heart Against Offense:
- Check Your Filters – Are you seeing things clearly, or through the lens of past wounds? Seek clarity before reacting.
- Avoid Second-Hand Offense – Don’t let others’ bitterness become yours. Gossip fuels division—choose peace instead.
- Don’t Give Offense Permission – Most offenses only have power if we allow them to. Decide to let go and forgive quickly.
- Address Unresolved Offense – Holding onto hurt only poisons our hearts. Bring it to God and pursue healing.
When offense tempts us to walk away from a church, relationship, or calling, we should ask ourselves:
- Have I truly dealt with my hurt?
- Have I sought clarity and spoken directly with those involved?
- Am I listening to God’s voice—or just my emotions?
When we feel tempted to walk away from a church, a relationship, or a calling because of offense, we should pause and ask ourselves some important questions. Have we truly dealt with our hurt, or are we allowing emotions to dictate our decisions? Have we sought clarity and spoken directly to those involved, or are we making assumptions? Are we listening to God’s voice, or are we letting offense cloud our ability to hear Him?
Peter’s response in John 6:68 serves as a powerful reminder. When many of Jesus’s disciples turned away, Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” He recognized that no matter how difficult Jesus’s teachings were to understand, walking away from Him was not the answer. Likewise, we must keep our eyes on Jesus, even when situations or people challenge us.
Offense is a trap, but we don’t have to take the bait. The world may encourage division, but as believers, we are called to be peacemakers. By choosing to forgive, seeking understanding, and guarding our hearts, we can walk in freedom and spiritual maturity. When we keep our focus on Jesus, we can rise above offense and live in the peace that He has called us to.
Let’s commit to setting a strong defense against offense and keeping our hearts aligned with God’s truth.