THE DOCTRINE OF OFFENSE

 

By Gary Ray Branscome

 

          Just as it is a sin to do evil, the words, “He who bids him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds,” tell us that it is a sin to bless those who do evil, for those who do so are encouraging them to do evil. And, when the Bible warns against giving offence, it is a warning against doing or saying things that encourage others to do evil, lead them to sin, harden their hearts, or result in their damnation.

          The words, “Make note of those who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine that you have learned; and avoid them,” tell us to avoid associating with those who cause division and offence (Romans 16:17). Christ’s words, “It is inevitable that offences will occur: but woe to him, through whom they come! It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea, with a millstone tied around his neck, than for him to cause one of these little ones to fall away,” are a stern warning against giving offence; and the words, “Cause one of these little ones to fall away,” apply to every teacher and professor who ridicules the Christian faith (Luke 17:1-2). [See Matthew 18:6 and Mark 9:42.] What Christ said about Judas, “Woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had never been born,” applies to all who turn people away from Christ (Mark 14:21).

 

          While encouraging others to sin or hardening them in unbelief is a serious matter, the Bible speaks of another way of giving offence. That is giving offence by leading others to go against their conscience. We find that in the words, “Receive him who is weak in faith, but not to doubtful disputations. For one is confident that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eats only vegetablesThere is nothing unclean of itself, but if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. But if your brother is grieved because of what you eat, you are not walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food, him for whom Christ died. Do not allow your good be spoken of as evilHe who doubts is under condemnation if he eats, for his eating is not of faith: for whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:1-2, 14-16 and 23).

          However, there is a difference between avoiding something perfectly harmless because it may give offence, and being told that you must avoid it. For example, if someone from a Jewish background comes to faith in Christ, but is troubled in conscience by the thought of eating ham, we should not push him to go contrary to his conscience. At the same time, if someone in the congregation begins to insist that everyone must give up ham, then he is a false teacher, and must be dealt with as such. In that situation the words, “Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat, or drink, or in regard to a holyday, or the new moon, or the Sabbath day,” apply (Colossians 2:16).

 

          In Scripture we also see a distinction between giving offence, and taking offence. If we do something wrong, and someone else follows our example we have given offence. But if we are doing something that is not wrong (such as eating ham) and someone who sees us takes offence, then they are in the wrong. The Pharisees took offence at the words of Jesus when He said, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, that defiles a man,” we know they took offence because the Bible says, “His disciples came to him, and asked, Do you know the Pharisees were offended, when they heard you say that?” (Matthew 15:11-12).

          There is another aspect of taking offence, and that is those who take offence at the Gospel. Regarding such offence, Jesus said, “Blessed is he, who does not take offence at me” (Matthew 11:6). The words, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews,” speak of Christ as a “stumbling block” (1Corinthians 1:23). The words, “Israel, that followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it through faith, but through the works of the law, for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone. As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling-stone and rock of offence: and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame,” Use, “stumbling-stone” and “rock of offence” as synonyms, and reveal that the Jews were offended at Jesus because they sought righteousness through the Law (Romans 9:31-33). The words, “He [the LORD of hosts] will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, and a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem,” reveal that Christ [the rock of offence] is God (Isaiah 8:14). And, the words, “Behold, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone: and he who believes on Him will never be put to shame,” assure all who trust in Christ that they will never be condemned (1Peter 2:6).