Pastoring churches for upward of three decades brought me to a conclusion that what eats into the fabrics of most congregations is offense. People get offended too easily. Whole families have pulled out from congregation because they feel aggrieved. To compound the problem, they leave without giving the pastor a hint of why they are offended. I know a case of a sister who loaned another sister some money. When repayment was delayed, there was problem. Part of the fall-outs was that they both left the church, at different times. Offences happen between one member and another, and between members and the authority of the church. People are unaware of the corporate damage such attitude brings. It is hardly possible for someone to be offended and not speak negatively about the supposed offender.

The way to deal with offences is to pray; trusting God to prevent the root of bitterness from springing up in your heart.

It is not only the church that suffers from offenses. Those who pick offense, particularly when there is no justifiable reason for it, are also hurt. The danger is that if we nurse a hurt for considerable length of time, it will take root in the heart. This may lead to evil speaking and other inconsiderate behaviour. The way to deal with offences is to pray; trusting God to prevent the root of bitterness from springing up in your heart. Well, this subject can actually be an acid test of your level of spiritual development. Since we are no higher than the things that offend us, it simply boils down to the fact that if we are offended often at things we ought to overlook, we have some growing up to do.