Great Exercise Program

“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” (Ac 24:16 AV)

 

The first is possible.  The second, not always.  That is, unless the definition of ‘offense’ is different than we think.  The word means to have nothing to strike against or cause to stumble.  The first definition would fit with God.  God cannot stumble, but He can accuse or strike against that which we have done.  Here is the important part.  The word ‘offence’, when it comes to people, means to cause them to stumble in their walk with or towards God.  What it does not mean is to insult someone’s sensitivities.  This is often misunderstood when studying church discipline.  Some define an ‘offence’ as something someone does that insults one’s sensitivities.  I have seen church disputes over the misunderstanding of what the Bible would call an ‘offence’.  I have seen drag-out fights over something that did not cause anyone to stumble in their faith.  I have even been accused of an offence by another and threatened with church discipline over something the other was angry at but did not affect his walk with God.  What we want to think about today is the noble goal here of Paul.  He strove to not insult God and walk with integrity with others.

Let's face it.  Neither goal is easy.  Living for God so as not to offend Him means our flesh is totally surrendered to His will.  Living without offence towards others means living transparently and honestly before all people without compromising the truth.  Once a month, our church celebrates the LORD’s supper.  The LORD’s supper was instituted as a memorial service to call to mind what the gift of salvation required of Christ.  When we prepare ourselves to receive the bread and grape juice, we examine ourselves according to the commandment to do so in Pauls’ epistle to the Corinthians.  There is a warning against partaking of the LORD’s supper unworthily.  That would be partaking of the LORD’s supper without taking Him as our Savior, and if we are saved, partaking in the LORD’s supper with unconfessed and unrepentant sin.  Therefore, we are clearing all offenses towards the LORD that we might recall the grace that was extended to us by the cross of Calvary.  Certainly, it is virtually impossible to live without offence towards the LORD.

One thing I learned when I served in a diverse culture much different from my own is that it is virtually impossible to live without offence towards others.  When one tries to adapt to an unfamiliar culture, there will be offenses.  Many times I had to visit a wayward church member only to find out I has phrased something in a way that to me was normal, but to the individual was offensive.  There were other times I offended someone but it was on them and not on me.  In one particular situation, a young lady wanted me to marry her and her boyfriend.  She was separated from her husband who was serving time in jail.  When the divorce was complete, she wanted me to officiate.  Because I believe in the permanent nature of marriage, I explained to her that as long as her husband was alive and unattached, there was always a chance for reconciliation.  Therefore, I could not officiate.  She took that to mean she was to pray for her husband's death.  That is not what I said.  She took offense that I wouldn’t compromise a biblical position and that is not a biblical offense.  It is hard to live without offence towards man.

As hard as these things are, Paul committed to strive to that end.  He was not always successful.  Nor are we.  What that does not mean is we are free from such a goal because it would be virtually impossible to do so.  Not so.  Paul committed.  Paul aspired to live as Jesus did.  To please God and man.  If we were to live this way every moment, or at least attempt to do so, so much would change.  Our walk with God would be far different.  We would not spend so much time seeking reconciliation.  We would seek opportunities of faith.  If we strove to live without offence towards others, so much would be different.  We would experience grace when we failed.  Our relationships would be founded on respect.  We would gain opportunities to be a positive influence on the lives of others.  Paul had this goal at the forefront of all that he did.  We should do likewise.