“Take no offence” - Unscriptural

“Don’t get in an offence.” “Don’t take an offence.” “Take no offence.” Ever heard these thrown out before? Sound familiar? Have you found yourself saying this to others? Have you ever checked out the biblical references that support this? Do you even know where the phrase “take no offence” is found in the Bible? Let me give you a hint: it’s not there! You heard me. The oft quoted and popular phrase “take no offence” is NOT TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE!

Perhaps we have been confused by a couple of verses. Take a look:

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.” (1Co 10:32 KJV)

and also this one

“Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.” (2Co 6:3 KJVA)

So, what the Bible actually says is that we are to GIVE no offence. Hmmm. Quite a bit of difference, huh?

However, I’ll go even further and say that the Bible teaches the OPPOSITE. It is not a sin to take offence. In fact in some cases we are supposed to take offence. Now don’t misunderstand me. I did not say it’s OK to stay offended, or to be unforgiving, or to be in a state of bitterness. However, being offended and even angry is not a sin. Look what the Bible says.

“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come….“ (Luk 17:1 KJVA)

The Master says offences WILL come. Did he not? Jesus himself got into an offence:

“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me…. “ (Mat 16:23 KJVA)

Listen to me. The concept of taking no offence, or not getting into an offence is simply unscriptural nonsense.

If it is sin to take offence, or to get angry, then God himself is in sin (I speak as a man) according to that logic. The Word is full of instances where God got angry. He got angry over sin and injustice.

“Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes….” (Deu 4:21 KJV)

“… God is angry with the wicked every day. “ (Psa 7:11 KJVA)

“Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you. “ (Deu 9:8 KJVA)

Question: if God himself gets angry at sin and injustice, and we are created in His image and likeness, then why should we not also rightly be angry at sin and injustice? Is it really sin to be angry when someone is unjust towards us? Is it wrong to feel the offence? Hey, when someone (especially a loved one) kicks you, I’ve got news for you – IT HURTS and not just physically, and it OFFENDS. It is not wrong to be angered at an injustice done to us. It is not sin.

Now it is sin to seek revenge, or to be unloving and unforgiving (see Romans 12, Mt. 18:21-35, Heb 12:15). We are taught to show mercy and forgive. We must not stay angry, withhold forgiveness and develop a root of bitterness. But anger in itself is not sin.

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: “ (Eph 4:26 KJVA)

God gave us His capacity of anger to us to protect us – to motivate us to take action and protect ourselves. But with almost every gift, there are laws.

“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” (Luk 17:3-4 KJVA)

Jesus did not say if your brother trespass against you, then “don’t get in an offence,” or “don’t take offence.” No, He said REBUKE your brother. Whoa! Where is that taught in the Church today? Jesus taught that when a Christian offends you, then you are not supposed to be a doormat; you are supposed to rebuke them!

He also implies that reconciliation cannot happen without the offending person acknowledging what they’ve done and repenting. Hey, get a clue! The Bible also teaches that there is a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgiving someone, and having a relationship restored are two different things. More on that in a future post.

So, the next time someone in the Church begins to lecture you about not taking an offence, ask them where that is taught in Scripture, and also remember to not stay angry, but to extend mercy and forgive.