Does this offend you?

We live in a postmodern world which seems terrified of offence. We often tiptoe around the truth for fear of offending someone.

However, the Bible makes it clear that at least three things will cause offence: Jesus Christ Himself (Romans 9:33); the cross (Galatians 5:11); and preaching (1 Corinthians 1:23).

So, when we preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2), we are bound to offend someone. Whether we like it or not, the gospel is a stumbling block.

As the eighteenth-century preacher George Whitefield is reputed to have said, “It is a poor sermon that gives no offence”.

Although Jesus always took care to build bridges to His audience, as He did when speaking to the Samaritan woman, He never did so at the expense of truth.

For example, when teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum, He told His listeners that they needed to eat His flesh and drink His blood. Understandably, they found His teaching hard, and started grumbling.

So, He asked, “…Does this offend you…” (John 6:61), and then went on to add, “…Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before…” (John 6:62).

In other words, how much more offensive will it be when you understand who I am and what I am about to do?

Do you think that we need greater revelation of Christ and His cross, so that we can stop worrying about what people think of us, and start preaching without apology? 

Robert