Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
(Luke 7:22-26 KJV)
It seems people get offended at the slightest things these days and that includes the gospel when it is being shared. If worship isn't entertaining then many will just look for another church or stay home. If both the law and gospel are preached, people become offended. I've personally known a couple of pastors who were told by council members that they were not to be talking so much about the law. I know them personally and know that neither one of them preach only law. I also know the council members. They wanted only those things preached that will make everyone feel good about themselves in order to keep the membership and offerings up.
Yes, many who attend worship as a weekly (or monthly or annual) ritual are offended by Jesus. They are offended at the thought that they are sinners. They do not want to be reminded because they are good people, after all. Many do not want to hear that Jesus had to die because of their sins. He had to die to save us.
Unlike Jesus, many who profess to be Christians are often like reeds shaken with every wind that blows and think so highly of themselves that they have to be treated delicately so that they are not offended.
The truth that we are all sinners and genuinely need the grace and mercy of God offends way too many. But, that should not stop the truth from being shared.
St. Paul was definitely not a follower of Jesus who shook with every wind that blew. He was definitely not delicate! He did not stop proclaiming the good news that Jesus died for us not so that we might live like kings in this world; but, that we might live as heirs of the Kingdom of God. He was not slack in proclaiming Jesus as our Savior even as he faced the prospects of persecution, prison, and death because of the people that were offended by what he preached.
We are all reminded even as he exhorted Timothy to:
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
(2 Tim 4:2-4)
May God open our ears and eyes and hearts so that we might never be offended to hear the truth in Christ Jesus. God help us to proclaim the gospel in both word and deed that all might be blessed.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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