Offensive? Or helpful?

As I read today's reading from Corinthians (1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1) I chuckled:

Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God. Never do anything offensive to anyone – to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God; just as I try to be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for my own advantage but for the advantage of everybody else, so that they may be saved. Take me for your model, as I take Christ.

What Paul is saying here is very much needed these days. Conduct yourself for the glory of God, don't do anything offensive to anyone, try to always be helpful - that's some good, simple advice we can all benefit from.

And it's a good point of reflection today, I think: How have I been offensive? What have I done to be helpful? What do I get out of being offensive or supporting those who are offensive? What is getting in the way of me being considerate and helpful?

Comments

[Victor Savard]

Hey Steve! You could add me on to your spiritual resume of good things that are considerate and helpful which you’ve done and while Saint Peter is reading “IT” heaven's doors will automatically open and Saint Peter will be comforting you with a tap on the back all the way in. :)

All kidding aside Steve, I don’t think that Paul and/or Jesus was talking literally about the food and drink per say but mainly about the substance of this food and liquid. Where did this food and drinks come from and what were they made of and who made them. Now if we really want to get deep we should ask ourselves how did this food turn out so bad and whom corrupted it and why is “IT” making so many people sick? Forget about the fact that Jesus chased so many of this so called evil food and drinks out of many people cause that’s way too deep for most readers.

I hear ya Steve! I thought you had stopped kidding around Victor? :)

God Bless,

Peace

[Thadeus]

Wow. I think this really hits home when I think about the blogs I visit. Sometimes things are said that really irk me, but if I respond directly out of the emotion that the post has brought about in me, I am not in control of my response (which is probably normal for me), and it is likely to be offensive.

But, rather, if I stop and give it to the Lord and put some effort into it, I could probably provide a response that doesn't just sound like a bitter, unreasonable stance, but more likely to communicate the truth in love (read "helpful").

[Steve Bogner]

Victor - Let's hope you're right about St Peter :)

Hi Thadeus - That's a great point - stopping and praying about a response could have a much more positive effect!

[Kevin Powell]

Steve,

I've always wondered about this passage? Was Jesus never offensive? If, as Paul seems to be saying, that we are to have Jesus as our model, then there may be times when people will take offense to what we say/believe/do as Christians.

That being, said, I think Paul might be saying that we shouldn't be belligerently offensive, and not to let our personal agendas get in the way of showing Jesus to the world by serving others rather than ourselves.

And you're right, what Paul is saying is very much needed today.

Kevin

[Steve Bogner]

Hi Kevin - I'm sure Jesus was offensive to the people of his time; he was sort of out there on the fringe in some ways. But yes, there are different types of offensiveness.

Your comment reminded me of how time and tradition have a way of changing how we interpret the past. If we look at our own life stories we can see it; and I'm sure that the 'real' Jesus was different from how we perceive him via the Gospels today.

[ms]

might not offensive be in the brain of the recipient? Can't take a joke? you're problem, my life's too short.
If people would just act, be, speak and listen, respond and react with an open and honest heart, brain, attitude and soul, none would recognize the world in which we then found ourselves.
Some people take great joy in finding, feigning, hurling offense ... and once again, my life's too short for that garbage.
Take offense if you like, but onec you took it, you own it -- all yours to be used as you wish, in nursing grudges, feeling wronged, feeding hate, building your own hardnesses ...
and so we fight and protest the fighting and convince ourselves we're better than them. Peace remains elusive nad then we wonder why...