Doug Cotton Preaching on Offenses

I saw Doug Cotton preached a message titled “A Dream Buster – The Expense of an Offense” and chuckled. I kinda knew what to expect, more preaching on “if you are offended, its your fault, your sin, and your problem”. Translation for you laymen out there “Don’t question your leaders – if you do, that is a huge sin”.

I think having Doug preach such a sermon is ironic. If you don’t know why, see this article. The article will explain why Doug doesn’t talk much about the sin of the “offender”, but brings a lot of condemnation on the “offended”.

I listened to the message, and unfortunately found my suspicions were right.

First, Doug started off by reciting a creed about the Bible and had the church repeat after him…

“Today I’m going to receive from God’s word…be who it says I can be…today I can have what it says I can have…today I can do all it says I can do.” Has anyone seen Joel Osteen lately? I digress…

After opening with the Joel Osteen…um I mean Biblical creed, he gives us the Doug Cotton definition of an offense.

Doug Cotton’s Definition Of An Offense:
To put a stumbling block in the way in which another might trip and fall, to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he aught to trust and obey. To see in another what I disapprove of, and what hinders me, listen, once you take up the offense and look at their fault, it will hinder you from acknowledging his authority and to cause one to judge unfairly or unjustly.

When an offense comes, it comes from a grudge. The French word [for grudge] means grouchy.

Right out of the gates, the finger is pointed to the “offended” not the “offender”. If you are offended, then you are caused to judge unfairly or unjustly – or to desert one you aught to trust and obey. To sum up the Doug Cotton’s definition of being offended is “your just grouchy”.

I would like to say, being offended and taking up a grudge are two different things. Being offended is a benign thing. You can be offended for all sorts of reasons, but you can be offended without taking up a grudge.

I could really pick apart the use of scripture and fallacies brought by making the Bible his personal jigsaw puzzle, but I will just say that Jesus didn’t warn those who were offended, but those who brought offenses. Why does Doug spend so much time warning the people who were offended? Seems unbalanced to me…

Matthew 16:23
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Did Jesus have a grudge from the offense? Was the offense a problem for Jesus or Peter? I think it is clear, being offended didn’t bring shame to Jesus.

Matthew 18:7
Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

Luke 17:1
[ Jesus Warns of Offenses ] Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!”

Once again, “woe to that man by whom the offense comes”. After listening to Doug’s sermon I would think it should read “woe to that man who is offended”.

Romans 16:17
[ Avoid Divisive Persons ] Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

Paul taught to avoid those who are offensive, not to avoid those who are offended. We are also to stick to sound doctrine (see my other posts about this one).

After a quick search of the New Testament, I could not find one place where it says if you are offended you are sinning. I believe being offended by itself is not sinful. I think if we become vindictive and hold a grudge then we start to step over the line.

As Christians we need to focus on the things Christ and the Apostles taught us to focus on. In scripture we are taught to be careful to not offend and ask for forgiveness from those we offend. Also, as Christians, we need to pray for those that offend us and seek reconciliation if they are willing to repent. We are to be concerned for the offender because they are going to have a millstone hung around their neck according to Jesus.

Mark 9:42
[ Jesus Warns of Offenses ] “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

If we relish that thought of them being punished there is a problem. There is nothing wrong with recognizing the offense, and sometime making them public in hopes of repentance. That is exactly what Paul did when Peter was avoiding the Gentiles around Jews. I’ll follow Paul on this one, not Doug.

Jesus said:

But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, “Raca!” shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, “You fool!” shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:22-24

We are not to be angry without cause. We are also to seek reconciliation with a humble heart if we have caused other to be offended.

This type of preaching is commonly used to keep the people who might have questions under control by fear. If you question doctrine, or false teaching then you are labeled as offended, and thus sinning and holding a grudge. I believe the Bible is clear that we are to question what we are taught and to not allow abusive and offending people to be leaders. If this was followed then we wouldn’t have need for such sermons.

Tags: Doug Cotton, The City Church

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