HELEN SANDERS
11-17-2024
DEALING WITH OFFENSES
Offenses will come to us because everyone has a sin nature. How we deal with offenses determines whether we bring restoration or not.
First, let me say this, that there is no place in a Christian’s life to hold on to an offense. If you have an issue with someone you must deal with it scripturally. Never use terms like, “What goes around comes around.” We are ALWAYS to treat others the way we would like to be treated.
Matthew 7:12 says, “Therefore ALL THINGS whatsoever ye would that men should do TO YOU, do ye even so to them…” This verse is often called the “Golden Rule,” and it is the way that we should live our lives. If we are the ones that have offended someone, we should try to make things right immediately.
In Matthew 18:15-17 we see the way to deal with offenses. Verse 15 says, “Moreover if thy brother [another Christian] shall trespass [sin, offend] against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” We are not to gang up on someone just to teach them a lesson. Remember, our goal is to bring restoration, not condemnation. You go ALONE to try to get things straightened out.
Verse 16 continues, “But if he will not her thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” Once again, you only take one or two with you IF they did not hear you when you went alone. Again, we are trying to bring reconciliation not condemnation.
Then, Verse 17 goes on with, “and if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church, but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
Nowhere does it say to speak against those that offend you on social media. Nowhere in scripture does it say we seek revenge. The church has missed the process of reconciliation because the people have not been taught. We should always try to do things God’s way, and not out of spite or determination to destroy someone.
Matthew 18:6-7 says, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones [God’s children] which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the see. Woe unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.” God takes offenses seriously and we should too, but we should always deal with them in love to reconcile and not destroy!
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