Are You Offensive?

Yep...Today I was "that person."

I had my $80 worth of groceries in the 15 items or less line. I totally offended the cheese block lady (lady with just a block of cheese) who walked up behind me. After she gave the block of cheese to the checker and said, "Never mind. I thought this was the 15 items or less line," she then walked out in a huff. Surprisingly, it didn't faze the checker one bit, but cheese lady was not happy...

Ooops! Totally my fault for not paying attention. However, I did not intend to be offensive. In fact, I would have moved myself to the other lane if I had noticed in time. Normally, I am a nice person who is considerate of others. But nonetheless, I was offensive today.

It gets me thinking these thoughts -
How many times are we offensive when we totally don't intend to be?
How many times are we offended by others when they didn't mean to be?

I wonder what the percentage is of unintended offenses. 50%? 60%? 90%? Unless it is at a public middle school or high school (I can say that because I've worked at a public high school!), I bet the percentage is high. Most people do not normally intend to offend others.

When we find ourselves as the offender, what do we do? In Ezekiel, the Bible says, "Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die." Once we have an awareness of our offensiveness, then we can choose to change and repent.

How does God handle offenses that we commit (after we first, we ask for forgiveness, and turn away from our offenses)? In Isaiah, God's forgiveness covers or removes offenses. "I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."

When we find ourselves offended by others, what then? Proverbs has several wise thoughts, such as, "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends," and "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

Hopefully this gives you a new perspective on being offended or offensive. We can learn these lessons in interesting ways; even at the checkout line...

Posted by Krista Dunk
www.KBWomen.com

Persecuted for Your Faith?

As a Christian businesswoman, I recently experienced some online persecution on a social networking site. Here is the irony - I was hoping to get feedback from other Christian business owners on the challenges they experience. With the abrupt hostility I faced, my own question was answered!

We in the U.S. experience "persecution" on a much smaller scale (usually) compared to Christians in other countries, where they experience financial, physical and even legal persecution for their faith. However, what we deal with is real none-the-less. Anti-Christian attitudes, unfair treatment, ignorance, slander, prejudice, and more rarely, attacks on property are realities of Christian life in the modern-day USA.

Realize this - the offenders, at the core, are against God, not us as individuals.

What can we do? Pray. Forgive. Do not let our hearts be troubled. Overcome the offense. Seek God on how to respond or if to respond at all. Sometimes the antagonist is actually seeking answers about God.

Are you wondering what I did? I did not respond - it was futile. These folks were questioning, yet not really wanting answers. "Light" and just the mentioning of "Christian" was offensive to their darkness. In this world we will have troubles, but He gives us His peace to see situations and people through His perspective. And now this situation can be shared to encourage others to press on towards the prize, no matter how many others want to trip you on the way!