You Will Offend

Jesus said, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you,” (Luke 6:26a, NIV)

This passage in the Amplified version says, “Woe to (alas for) you when everyone speaks fairly and handsomely of you and praises you,”

And in The Message: "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.”

When you hear God’s voice and obey His words to you, you put yourself in a position to either gain friends or gain enemies.

You will offend those whose hearts are not right with God—you will offend sinners and you will even offend some Christians.

Offending others should not be the Christian’s goal, but it will happen in the course of speaking God’s words. In fact, especially for the Christian, it’s becoming easier and easier to offend someone here in the United States.

There are currently two major forces at work in the United States to control everyone’s thoughts and speech: tolerance and political correctness.

These are two forces from hell that are, unfortunately, taking ground among Christians and even causing denominations to split.

“Tolerance” is the acceptance of anyone and any belief or lifestyle choice.

If we are tolerant, we accept and agree with gay marriage, unmarried couples living together, having babies out of wedlock and so on.

If we do not accept those beliefs and lifestyles that are against God’s Word, then we are labeled, “intolerant”, “homophobic”, “bigot”, and so on.

God is not tolerant of sin. While He loves the sinner, He will gladly accept him but only through the blood of His Son. His Son is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life. God is not tolerant of anything outside of His Son.

Political correctness tries to force everyone to avoid using words or behavior that might upset anyone—in terms of race, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental impairments, or physical appearance (except if they are Christian). Political correctness is full of speech codes and regulations with the ultimate goal of total control.

Political correctness was easily seen at airports just after 9/11. Screeners were detaining anyone, including elderly white women, instead of those that fit the profile of the terrorists that were behind the 9/11 attack. This procedure was implemented so that those of Middle Eastern origin would not be offended.

Political correctness denies plain speaking ("Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No';" Matthew 5:37a) and denies common sense (wisdom), both of which are two characteristics of God’s Word.

The Bible reveals that the character of God and the will of God is neither politically correct nor is He tolerant.

Therefore, the words that He speaks to us individually are not politically correct, nor are they tolerant.

Jesus offended the Pharisees and the teachers of the law when He told them that they were hypocrites and that they followed their own traditions instead of God’s law (Matthew 15:1–14).

Jesus also offended his own disciples when He told them that they will have no life in them unless they eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man (John 6:53–58).

God’s Word and His ways are offensive to those that love this world. If we love God and if we repeat His words to us, we will also be offensive to those that love this world.

You see, if we are accepted by sinners, if we speak their language and think their way of thinking, we are blending in. And if we are blending in, we are like the Laodicean church in Revelations 3:14–22 that Jesus was very displeased with.

The thoughts we think and the words we speak must please our wonderful God.

It is my prayer for you that Father will continue to help you to hear His voice, and more and more frequently.

With God’s grace and in His peace,

Gary

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

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