Offended

I am still working out why I feel I should have this blog.

I have been reading, The Bait of Satan by John Bevere, and it has opened my eyes to some things that I had never thought about or knew was even in the Bible (I have really got to get on one of those read the Bible in a year programs).

He talks about John the Baptist being offended by Jesus. Say what?! My reaction too. I will paraphrase, John the Baptist is sitting in jail. Some of his followers have left him to follow Jesus, the Messiah, that he, John the Baptist, has proclaimed his coming and prepared the way. He hears through some of the ones that are still serving him that Jesus and his followers are eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners and they break the Sabbath. Far from John the Baptist eating locust and wild honey and fasting in the wilderness. So now he is questioning what he had seen when the Spirit descended on Jesus after he baptized him. So he sends two of his faithful to find out if Jesus is the real deal. After they asked he did this:

Luke 7:21-23 (English Standard Version)
21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."

He is saying, "John, I know you don't understand all that is happening with you and many of My ways, but do not be offended with Me because I do not operate as you expected". John Bevere p. 106-107, The Bait of Satan.

I read this and just had my eyes opened like never before. Basically I have been looking at the Pastors and leaders in the church with the wrong heart. Now, there are wrong ways to do things, but just because someone is doing something to reach people and it is not the way I would do it, does not make it wrong. And the verse also says, 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me." So if you are being offended by the way someone is trying to reach people you can not be blessed. Well. that is the way I see it.

I have served God, with, beside, and under my Pastor, Michael Kyker, for almost 12 years. I have not always agreed with the way he has done things, and I know he has not always agreed with things I have done. I will say that I have been offended at times instead of just not agreeing with him, and that has been so wrong. All this proves that I am still learning and I need to read my Bible continuously.

The main thing that has been revealed to me is being offended can shut you down as a person and stop you from being yourself and from doing what you know God has planned for you. I have seen people lose perspective by being offended by a pastor or church leader because they did not agree with how they were doing something, or something they said. If your pastor is doing something you don't agree with, pray for God to show you their heart, then if that does not clear the matter up, make an appointment and ask them to explain it to you so you can understand. If it is not against the word of God, then what is the problem? Just because it is not the way you would do it does not mean it is wrong, and as long as you are not offended, you are blessed.

Alright, I have got to get busy and see what other trouble I can get into.

Later.