Reading: How Offense Hinders - Slides

Restoring Relationships
Transforming Justice

Lecture 12

How Offense Hinders Our Peacefire Stories

Offense Hinders Restoration

The Biblical story about God’s love and justice being satisfied in Jesus Christ includes the presence of an enemy – the ruler of the earthly kingdom – Satan.

Offense Hinders Restoration

God and Satan have objectives at the trap of offense.

In this lecture, we consider the adversary’s objectives in tempting people to take offense.

Offense Hinders Restoration

The adversary is known by many names: The Devil,  Satan, Lucifer, etc.

Offense Hinders Restoration

The adversary is known by many names: The Devil,  Satan, Lucifer, etc.

The adversary is a liar, deceiver, thief, and murderer.

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

Offense Hinders Restoration

One of the adversary’s objectives at the trap of offense is to hinder people from enjoying a relationship of relentless reliance on Jesus Christ.

. . . and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:26

Offense Hinders Restoration

The adversary’s will is to keep people from giving their lives to Jesus Christ and to keep Christians from following Jesus Christ.

Offense Hinders Restoration

Another of the adversary’s objectives at the trap of offense is to tempt us to despise those who offended us. 

Offense Hinders Restoration

Another of the adversary’s objectives at the trap of offense is to tempt us to despise those who offended us. 

Jesus warned us against despising others in conflict.

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10

Offense Hinders Restoration

When we are offended, we can usually provide reasons why we are justified in despising the person who offended us.

Offense Hinders Restoration

But the reason the Lord commands us not to despise other people is because the person who wrongs us is not the one who steals our peace. This is a spiritual war.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Offense Hinders Restoration

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to treat others the same way that God treats us.

Offense Hinders Restoration

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to treat others the same way that God treats us.

God does not despise us when we wrong Him and we are not to despise others.

Offense Hinders Restoration

When we think we are justified in despising someone who wronged us, we are deceived.

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:20-21

Curious Questions

In your conflict story, are their people you despise?

Are there people who despise you?

How will you respond to Jesus’ challenge to get out of the trap of offense and not despise those who offended you?

Lecture 12

We have an adversary at work in our conflicts. 

The adversary has goals at the trap of offense. 

The adversary uses offense to hinder our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Lecture 12

The adversary uses the trap of offense to deceive us into despising those who wrong us. 

Conflict is a spiritual battle, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. 

When we despise someone who wronged us, we are focused on the Wildfire, not the Peacefire.