September 27, 2020
By nature, the gospel is offensive. We are all messed up sinners, living in a messed-up world, separated from a Holy God as a result of our sins. God had to come to us because we could not get to Him on our own. We could not fix ourselves. People don’t want to hear that they are broken and need fixing. It runs contrary to the politically correct culture in which we live. That being said, the ONLY offense that a Christian should present to a non-Christian is the fact that they need Jesus and can’t fix themselves. Unfortunately, the turbulent, confusing times in which we live often brings out the worst in all of us, Christians included. I have read on social media and heard in casual conversation Christians speaking and posting with such venom and hatred that even though what they are posting or saying might be true, quite often, it is so hate filled and nasty that it is offensive. It is offensive to me as a Christian. I can only imagine how a person on the receiving end of these diatribes must feel. May I offer a few suggestions? First, slow down and breathe. In the scheme of the earth falling off its axis, the things you are upset about are probably not earth changing and even if they are, what you are posting and saying will be received much more readily when it is presented in calm, well-thought-out manner. Next, remember that just because a person disagrees with you, that does not make him or her the Spawn of Satan. There are other opinions to be heard that may be the opposite of yours and mine. Just because you find pushback does not necessarily mean that the one with whom you disagree is ready to throw down and rumble. Also, can we take the time to really listen to what the other person is saying? Don’t just blow it off as fluff. Unless we have walked in the shoes and skin of another person, we don’t know it all. Finally, and most importantly, let’s remember that the Prince of the power of the air is alive and well in our present world. If Satan can cause confusion, division and hatred among humans, he will be able to move forward with his agenda. Speaking of which, as Christians, our agenda should be the same as the agenda of Jesus which was and is to seek and save the lost. That having been said, you might have just introduced the perfect argument that totally blows your “opponent’s” position out of the water. You might have just crushed him underneath your heel or smashed her to smithereens. Let me ask you a question. When you look at that person you have just crushed, what are your chances of turning around and introducing that person to Jesus? Fellow Christians, we may be so busy winning the battle that we lose the war! Let’s make and effort to be salt and light to a dark, dying and lost world. Be blessed and be a blessing…Bro. Andy
