Should Christians be overly concerned about giving offense? Political correctness is the reigning secular creed of our time. It's the sea we swim in; we are faced with it everywhere in our culture. It cries out, “Don’t you dare say anything to offend me, and if you do I will be offended, and I will let everyone know, futhermore I will tell everyone that you are a bigot, and finally I will tell Daddy, er the government on you and they will make you pay for my hurt feelings." You know I do not exaggerate. So what are Christians to do? We must go back to Jesus and Paul. In Matthew 15 the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Your words have offended the Pharisees.” And Jesus was remorseful and broke down in grief that he had caused offense and apologized profusely. NO HE DID NOT! He was not even perturbed…he said, “Every plant which my heavenly father did not plant shall be rooted up. Let them alone they are blind guides of the blind.” Jesus was not afraid to offend. But I have seen too many Christians tie themselves up in pretzels in order to accommodate sin and not give offense. I ask you, why should we try and out Jesus Jesus. Are we more spiritual than him? I think not. But surely Paul was accommodating and tolerant, and would never give offense. Really? Try reading the book of Acts…almost everywhere Paul went riots broke out…why because he would not tolerate falsehood…he insisted on speaking the truth. But some would say there shouldn't be an adversarial relationship between Christians and an unbelieving world. And I would respond that yes, by all means let Christians everywhere speak truth in love and with grace. But let's give up the silly, unbiblical notion that light and darkness will coexist in mutual fraternity and harmony.
Reading Matthew 15 is a real encouragement, can the Pastor provide a current life application example with reference to your recent blog....
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Pastors and and all Christians who desire to be faithful light bearers must throw off fear and actually say politically incorrect things in their circle of friends and even casual relationships. For example we must not be afraid to say that abortion is the deliberate taking of innocent life and therefore a type of murder. Furthermore in a culture when co-habiting is as common as tea in the afternoon we must be willing to lovingly point out that fornication is still immoral and will bring judgment from God (Rev.21:8). Tragically we live in a time of general cowardice and Christians, often to the astonishment of a secular world, speak not at all to blatant evil. Rh
ReplyDeleteAmen! Lord give us the courage to face the stones when we do what we must...
ReplyDeleteEnjoying your posts...
-K