Offending and Defending

Fencing is a sport using swords. The words defense and offense are related to the same type of activities: fending off a foe or being fended off by a foe.

Every sin is against Jesus on the cross, because He paid for all of it there. Mine against Him, and mine against you. To allow my failures to offend you is inappropriate, because He paid for the offense.

All of the liberty that I enjoy was purchased by Jesus on the cross, because my sin and failure provoked condemnation over my life and my future, but He set me free by suffering that condemnation for me. To enjoy my freedom without consideration for others He suffered for is inappropriate, because He paid for the liberty.

All of us are servants of the Living God. The advice Paul gave the servants in the congregations in Corinth is good advice for us:

“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.

Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, for the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake. I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience? If I partake with thanks, why am I slandered because of something for which I give thanks?

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory. Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©)