People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense. – John Wesley

It’s amazing as you read history how many wars began, and lives lost over trivial things. For example, the Ashanti Kingdom, now part of modern-day Ghana, was once coveted by the British Empire. King Prempeh, in 1896, refused to become part of the British Protectorate, and so the British forcibly “protected” his kingdom. The Ashanti people did not give up easily however and fought bitterly against their invaders. One of their sacred icons, the Golden Stool, was a symbol of power in the Ashanti Kingdom. It was reputed to have descended from the sky to land at the feet of the first King of Ashanti and was believed to hold the soul of the Ashanti nation. It was made from solid gold and was only 18 inches high and 24 inches long. It was considered so sacred that no one was ever allowed to sit on it. But then, in 1900, the British Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Frederick Hodgson, decided that he wanted to sit on it. In fact, he demanded to sit on it, in what was both a power and pride issue. 

Because they believed the Golden Stool was sacred, the Ashanti people were outraged. A fierce war broke out, during which 2,000 Ashanti people and 1,000 British soldiers died. It raged for 6 months.  The Golden Stool, however, was never found. It was hidden from the British for many years before it was finally restored to its ceremonial home.

Aren’t you thankful things like that don’t happen at churches? We never get upset or our nose out of joint over something insignificant…or do we? Church consultant, Thom Rainier, shared these true stories: One church business meeting had a 45-minute heated argument over the type of filing cabinet to purchase: black or brown; 2, 3, or 4 drawers. Another had a fight over the discovery that the church budget was off by 10 cents. Someone finally gave a dime to settle the issue. Two different churches reported fights over the type of coffee to serve. In one, they moved from Folgers to a stronger Starbucks brand. In the other church, they simply moved to a stronger blend…and members left the church over the change in coffee.  

Microaggression is the new buzz word. It’s used of commonplace verbal or behavioral, whether intentional or unintentional. It may be a new word, but it’s not a new problem. It goes all the way back to Genesis when Cain murdered his brother, Abel, because God liked Abel’s sacrifice and not his. A friend recently observed, Everybody is angry about something.

We live in a culture of “outrageous offendability.” Americans have degenerated into a culture of unusually high sensitivity to trivial offenses. 

As Christ-followers, we’re to be a “Christian Counterculture.” A believer who is easily offended is out of sync with Scripture. It’s frequently a symptom of a sin problem, P-R-I-D-E. Over the years I’ve seen professing Christians get all bent out of shape over anything and everything. 

Some get mad and just disappear. Others stomp out of church, leaving other believers wounded in the crossfire. It’s ironic that few would quit their job over much worse offenses. It reveals where their values truly are.

Can you imagine a married couple, who though they’re very much in love, never disagreeing or offending each other? We know fights happen in the most ideal marriages because we’re all sinners saved by grace. Jane and I have had ours. You probably can surmise who the more guilty partner is (not that you need a hint, but it’s not Jane). Yet, God in His grace has transformed what could be weapons of warfare into tools of growth. Through our rubbing each other the wrong way, Jane and I have both grown spiritually and are more in love today than when we first said “I do” many years ago. That’s God’s plan for Christ-followers! 

Too often we have forgotten that God is actively working to shape, mold, and even break down every false idea of “self” so that we’re being transformed to be more and more like Jesus (Romans 8:29). Those of us who follow Jesus are to be devoted to becoming like our Lord. 

We need to continually remind ourselves what Jesus’ response was when He was mistreated (none were oversights or accidental). They called [Jesus] every name in the book, and He said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right (1 Peter 2:23, The Message). 

Are YOU easily offended? Do you have thin skin? Do you get bent out of shape over “microaggressions”? Easily offended is a spirit-fruit, but it’s not a fruit of the Spirit. Spiritual immaturity can be measured by the degree to which we are easily offended. 

Let me challenge you to examine your heart. Could God be allowing offenses to come your way for the purpose of conforming you to the image of His Son? If so, don’t resist them. They’re reasons to rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:12).

We’re to be like Jesus. The Savior repeatedly chose not to be offended when others wronged Him. God calls us as Christ-followers to do the same. Being easily offended hurts us, the unity of our church family and damages our witness of Christ. If Christians are quick to become offended like pagans, what message do we have for a lost world? That Christians and non-Christians are essentially the same? We’re not…or we shouldn’t be. 

As Christ-followers, our identity is found in Jesus, not in what others think or say about us. Just like Him, we’re to be loving, patient and forgiving even to those who purposefully mistreat us or accidentally offend us because we know God is loving, patient and forgiving with us. A micro-aggressive, easily offended outlook that the world tells us we should harbor is toxic for the Christ-follower and for his/her witness of Christ. Instead, we should display a graciousness that we believers share in Christ and shine a light on the powerful love that God has for each of us. 

One of my favorite verses and a continual challenge to my heart is Acts 4:13, they had been with Jesus. Enemies of the early church because of the attitude and behavior of Peter and John could tell they’d spent time with the Savior. By living and communing with Him, they became like Jesus. I know too well what the old “Scott” was like. What a compliment if others, even those who despise me and my faith would say of me, “he’s been with Jesus.” What a difference letting Jesus live through us makes!