A Den of Porcupines

Luke 17:1-2

In February 1962, the temperature at Navajo, New Mexico got down to fifty two below zero. Imagine, if you will, a group of porcupines huddling together in a hollow tree to keep from freezing. In their fur are thousands of quills capable of inflicting serious pain, injuries, or even death. Armor similar to that of an armadillo would simplify things a lot, but they have only a soft skin. A careless action by any of them could easily hurt several. Survival requires that every porcupine do nothing to hurt those around him.

Like porcupines, people can unintentionally hurt others, even with the best of intentions. Others have no armor to protect them from our barbs, so it is imperative we learn to control them. Jesus addressed the problem in this passage.

“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (Luke 17:1-2)

Because people are particularly sensitive about certain things, depending on what they have experienced, it will be impossible to prevent misunderstandings and hurts completely. However, for those who have caused such hurts by acting without consideration for others, and those who have deliberately caused hurts, it would be better if some one drowned them to keep them from doing it. It would be less severe than God’s judgment on those who do so.

One of the hardest things I have found in my ministry is trying to straighten out situations where people have been hurt. Proverbs 18:19 declares, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” The worst and most painful hurts come from those we have been close to. One who has been hurt is afraid to get close again, because his trust has been destroyed.

As Christians, it is especially important that we not hurt others. If the Holy Spirit dwells in us, he will try to produce the spiritual fruit described in Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Love is that deep concern for others. Joy and peace will keep us from being us from being upset and taking it out on others. Longsuffering will keep us from retaliating even when we have been hurt. Gentleness is the characteristic of deliberately trying to keep from hurting others accidentally. Just being good will avoid a lot of offensive situations. Faith allows us to trust God when we are wronged. Meekness doesn’t demand it‘s own way, but yields to others. Temperance, or self control will prevent over reacting.

Obviously, offenses and conflicts are the result of an unspiritual state. While it is important for every Christian, it is vital for those in positions of leadership, so in his requirements for pastors in I Timothy and Titus, Paul tells how to know whether a person is spiritual or not. James warns that leaders will be even more severely judged than others, because of their position, in James 3:1-2. “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” The ability to control the tongue indicates the spiritual attribute of temperance in every area of life.

Paul gives some instructions on how to avoid giving offense. In Romans 14:1 he commands, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” Literally, he says we are not to involve weak Christians in arguments over things that can be understood in more than one way. While I believe that baptism is a way of demonstrating that we have placed our faith in Christ, and failure to be baptized indicates that person has not in fact, surrendered to Christ, others insist that it is essential for salvation. Both positions have dedicated men of God as supporters, and to demand that others take our position is clearly an indication of an unspiritual attitude. They have the right to their opinion, even if it is wrong. Such arguments turn a lot of people away from the church, and we do not have the right to turn them away over such matters. As the rest of Romans 14 makes clear, they are not accountable to us, or for what we believe, but for what God wants them to do.

Rather than trying to impose our standards or opinions on others, Romans 15:1-3 states, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”

In I Corinthians 11:16, after dealing with all the reasons for not doing certain things, Paul concludes, “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” Though there were many reasons for taking the position, it was not God’s command, and neither the Apostles, nor churches who truly believed in God would make an issue of it.

As Romans 14:2-4 makes clear, to demand that others agree with us is to usurp god’s authority. “For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”

Instead, Romans 14:13 commands, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.” In I Corinthians 8:13 Paul promises “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” Romans 14:21 advises, “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” It makes no difference how strongly I believe something, if the scripture leaves any doubt, I should not make it an issue.