Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Thou Shalt Not Offend

By Dr. Richard P. Bucher

A moderator at a local Federated congregation recently told me that their congregational meetings are usually indecisive affairs. "Why?" I asked. "No one wants to offend anyone," he answered. If his appraisal of that congregation is correct, what is true for the parish is true for the society. Somewhere along the line, we as a society have made the "O" in offense into the new scarlet letter. From academia to Wall Street, offending someone is now viewed as the basest of evils. Horribly insensitive students who fail to use gender neutral language are slapped with the scarlet O and chastized for offending women. Coarse employees who have the audacity of objecting to homosexuality in the work place are sent off to that moral detox center known as "sensitivity training." We've become the nation of the timidly tongue tied, as we tentatively tip toe through our conversations. We are so afraid of saying something that might offend someone's strange sensitivity, that we end up talking about meaningless banalities, or nothing at all.

How should Christians respond to this? They should indeed avoid giving unnecessary offense. Paul's admonition, "Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:17-18) is still our rule of thumb. The Christian goal should always be peace not offense. But the fact of the matter is, sometimes that laudable goal is not possible for Christians devoted to loving their neighbor and speaking the truth in love. Truth (especially God's truth) always offends someone because the truth always clashes with the lie that someone is clinging to. If Christians faithfully speak the truth of God's Word, that truth will offend others. The Law offends because it tells people they are wrong and need to repent and change. The Gospel offends because it tells people that Jesus Christ crucified and risen is the only way, truth, and life.

I'm reminded of that place in Matthew 15 where Christ rebukes the Pharisees for their Word of God-cancelling-traditions. When He had finished speaking, the disciples wanted Jesus to know that the Pharisees had been offended by what He had said. Christ's response? "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit" (Matthew 15:1-14). The typical postmodern would have caved into the criticism and offered some sheepish retraction, "It was not my intention to offend, blah, blah, blah." Not the premodern Christ. He stands by the truth and adds to the rebuke.

"A servant is not greater than His Master" (John 15:20). If Jesus offended, why should we expect less? Christians need to rid themselves of the silly notion that they can be faithful Christians and nonoffensive at the same time. Love demands that Christians speak the truth to their neighbor when that neighbor is believing or doing something harmful and wrong. The truly wise will eventually heed the rebuke and change while fools will forever be offended (Proverbs 9:8). As for me, I will never unnecessarily offend. But I will also never compromise or silence the truth to keep it from offending. And I refuse to let the overly sensitive turn my life into a field of landmines.

February 1999