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Understanding taking offense at God
Taking offense at God can be defined as feeling hurt or angry towards God because of a perceived injustice or wrongdoing. This feeling can arise from a variety of situations, such as the death of a loved one, tragedies in our lives, or our failed plans. When we take offense at God, we may feel betrayed, abandoned, or resentful. However, it is essential to acknowledge these feelings and understand that God is always ready and willing to hear our cries and help us walk through our pain. By recognizing and addressing our hurt, we can begin to move toward healing and restoration.
Why do people take offense at God today?
Many individuals have experienced moments of taking offense at God. This can occur when faced with personal hardships, tragedies, or unanswered prayers. People may feel anger, frustration, or even betrayal towards a higher power they believe should protect and guide them. It is a deeply personal and emotional experience that can challenge one’s faith and beliefs. However, it is important to recognize that taking offense at God is a complex and individual process, influenced by personal experiences, beliefs, and understanding of the divine. These are some of the reasons people take offense at God:
1. They take offense at God during difficult times
Our weaknesses and limitations – limitations in understanding, wisdom, discernment, etc. – set the stage for us to take offense at God when things go south. We do not fully understand the ways of God; and why God does allow pain and suffering to creep into our lives. And even though God has intended even the adverse situations for our good, due to our limitation in understanding, we tend to show little or no appreciation to Him; rather, we take offense at Him.
Some years ago, a Christian brother of mine had an accident; he ran his car into another person’s car. It was his fault because he was a little tipsy while driving, having followed friends to take a few tots of alcohol. In the wake of the accident, he ran into many troubles with the law, and the police badly sought after him. Unfortunately, he took offense at God, saying that God had disappointed him for He could have prevented the accident from happening, yet He did not.
He took offense to the point where he stopped coming to church, even after several attempts to bring him back. As of the time of this writing, he had apostatized. Many Christians who have apostatized have a similar story; when something bad happens in their lives, they blame it on God, take offense at Him, and apostatize, eventually.
2. Envying the wicked leads to taking offense at God
The prosperity of the wicked often becomes a stumbling block in the way of Christians as it was for many righteous men of old. When a Christian, especially a poor Christian, loses his focus and turns his attention to the prosperity of the wicked, he becomes obsessed with it. Then he is seized by many negative emotions such as worry, frustration, bitterness, envy, etc. It gets to the point where he takes offense at God, thinking God hasn’t done enough for him, that he serves God in vain, and that God has not been fair to him for allowing the wicked to prosper while he, a righteous man, is suffering. Envying the wicked into taking offense at God, coupled with other negative feelings, gradually ruins a Christian’s relationship with God.
3. They take offense at God due to unanswered prayers
Sometimes, Christians take offense at God for being who He is. God cannot be frightened, threatened, or manipulated to act either fast or slowly. He does things in His own time and according to His own will; that is how He is. Since Christians cannot manipulate God or get Him to do things as and when they like it, some Christians of little faith, out of pride, turn to accuse God of being slow to respond to prayer and they take offense at Him for that.
4. Over-expectations lead to taking offense at God
A good number of Christians built their faith in Christ on over-expectations and false hopes. It is a wrong notion to think Christianity is an escape from the sufferings of this life. Of late, the gospel is diluted with promises that are not supported by the Scriptures. Jesus and the Christian fathers preached a gospel that foretold that those who are saved shall face hardship on this earth and Scriptures such as John 16:33, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 2:21, etc. say it all.
Such Scriptures are overlooked and out of our own imagination, we have branded Christianity as a doorway to an ever blissful problem-free life here on this earth, contrary to the Bible. When such Christians with over-expectation of problem-free life face hardship, they become so devastated and disappointed and take offense with God, thinking that God has done them wrong by not preventing it.
Effects of taking offense at God
Taking offense at God can have various effects on an individual’s spiritual and emotional well-being. When someone feels offended by God, it often stems from a sense of disappointment, anger, or confusion regarding their beliefs or personal experiences.
One consequence of taking offense at God is a strained relationship with one’s faith. Feeling offended can lead to questioning or even rejecting one’s religious beliefs altogether. This can result in feelings of isolation and loss of spiritual guidance.
Another effect is the impact on emotional well-being. Taking offense at God can lead to feelings of resentment, bitterness, and even depression. It may create a sense of injustice or betrayal, causing individuals to question the fairness or goodness of the divine.
Furthermore, taking offense at God can hinder personal growth and hinder the ability to find meaning and purpose in life. It may prevent individuals from seeking solace in their faith during challenging times or from finding comfort in religious practices such as prayer or meditation.
It is important to note that these effects are subjective and vary from person to person. Some individuals may find ways to reconcile their feelings and rebuild their relationship with God, while others may struggle with these emotions for an extended period.
How to deal with taking offense at God
It is not far for any Christian to take offense at God. Normally, it comes as a natural response of Christians to certain adverse situations that come their way. However, it is a very powerful factor, subtle, and effective in turning even faithful Christians against God. Therefore, we need to check it.
(1) Growing in and exercising a strong unwavering faith in God is a sure way to deal with taking offense at God. If only Christians would believe that God is always right, that He can never be wrong and we be right, and that everything He does in our lives is for our good and not for our destruction, we would always find the cause to appreciate Him and not take offense or complain. That is why the Bible teaches that:
- In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1Th 5:18)
- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Ro 8:28)
(2) Understand and accept God for who He is. He is God and can never be manipulated, threatened, or frightened to act fast or slowly. He acts at His own will and at His appointed time. But mind you, God is never late. The Christian who has a humble heart will wait on Him in prayer continually until, at the appointed time, God grants his requests. But the proud-hearted Christian gives up waiting on God too soon and takes offense, complaining that God is slow in answering prayers.
(3) Know for certain that all manner of sufferings are embedded in Christianity. And Christians are bound to encounter hardship, pain, rejection, grief, etc. At every point in time, you are not the only Christian suffering. Others are facing worse times. However, our God is in control and will deliver us when we cry unto Him for He delights in our humility and our cry.
(4) Seeking support from trusted religious leaders or engaging in open dialogue with others who have experienced similar struggles can be helpful for those grappling with offense toward God. Ultimately, finding a path toward healing and understanding is a personal journey that requires introspection and self-reflection.
Conclusion
Coupled with our little faith, our limitations in wisdom, understanding, etc. make taking offense at God inevitable; if it has not yet happened in your life, it shall happen someday. When it happens, we should hold to our faith that God loves us and that whatever He allows to happen in our lives is intended for our good.