Reading: Offense is a Trap - Slides

Restoring Relationships
Transforming Justice

Lecture 11

Offense is a Trap, But for Whom?

Offense as a Trap

Understanding how the Lord views offense can uncover treasure that will assist you in transforming your shallow conflict stories.

Offense as a Trap

The progression of offense:

We perceive wrongdoing

We elevate our self-interest

We judge the perceived wrongdoer

We justify our (self)righteous judgment

Offense as a Trap

In conflict wildfires, we do not have to take offense every time someone wrongs us.

Offense as a Trap

In conflict wildfires, we do not have to take offense every time someone wrongs us.

When we take offense, the wildfire controls our emotions and thought processes because our focus is on self rather than the Peacefire.

Offense as a Trap

Jesus warns us to stay clear of offense.

Offense as a Trap

First, he warns us against causing offense.

If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause offense! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! Matthew 18:6-7

Offense as a Trap

The Wildfire thrives on offense.

At the Peacefire, we avoid intentionally offending others.

Offenses will occur – we will all cause offense from time to time.

Offense as a Trap

Second, Jesus warns us about taking offense.

Offense as a Trap

Second, Jesus warns us about taking offense.

If your hand or your foot offends you, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye offends you, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. Matthew 18:8-9

Offense as a Trap

The New Testament is written in Greek.

The Greek word that is translated “offense” in Matthew 18 is pronounced skandalon.

One of the root word meanings of skandalon refers to the bait stick of a trap.

Offense as a Trap

In Matthew 18, Jesus uses strong visual language, hyperbole, to emphasize the importance of staying free from the trap of offense.

Offense as a Trap

In the Wildfire, we think the person who caused an offense is in the wrong.

Offense as a Trap

In the Wildfire, we think the person who caused an offense is in the wrong.

We feel justified in holding the offense against the offender until justice is served.

Offense as a Trap

In the Wildfire, we think the person who caused an offense is in the wrong.

We feel justified in holding the offense against the offender until justice is served.

But Jesus taught that it is the person who takes offense who is at risk of being caught in the trap.

Offense as a Trap

He said that whatever causes you to take offense – something you did with your hand – someplace you went with your feet – something you looked at with your eye – cut it off and get out of the trap.

Offense as a Trap

We don’t think about taking offense this way because it feels so right when we take offense!

Offense as a Trap

We don’t think about taking offense this way because it feels so right when we take offense!

But when we take offense, we are not where we are supposed to be – no matter how right it feels.

Offense as a Trap

When we take offense, our focus is on the Wildfire, and we will remain in the trap if we keep our focus there – judging, justifying, serving self-interest.

Offense as a Trap

But if we turn our focus to Jesus Christ at the Peacefire, we can avoid the trap of offense and deal with the wrongs that are done to us in a way that ignites new possibilities to transform our conflict stories.

Lecture 11

We do not have to take offense every time someone wrongs us.

When we take offense, our focus is on the Wildfire, not the Peacefire. 

Jesus said that offenses will come. 

Jesus taught against intentionally offending others. 

Lecture 11

Jesus taught that we should not stay offended. 

Offense is a trap. 

Offense traps the person who takes offense, not the person who causes the offense. 

When we take offense, we are not where we are supposed to be.