Nowadays where acceptance of all things is a must, political correctness has become the norm. It is seemingly extremely easy to offend someone these days even when trying hard not to. I often wonder how Jesus Christ would have fitted in today’s society with his style of speaking or preaching at times. Let’s see few examples of instances when Jesus Christ was rebuking the listener:
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (Matthew 12:34, KJV)
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you”. He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50, NIV)
In relation to the concept of “cannibalism” where Jesus Christ mentioned that we as his believers must eat his flesh and drink his blood, many were offended back in Jesus’s days and stopped following him:
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.
(John 6, 54 – 66, KJV)
Jesus Christ in this last passage knew many would be offended at the mention of cannibalism. The idea of eating “Jesus Christ” and drinking his blood turned out to be quite a bit more than what many have signed up for back then. However, Jesus Christ our Lord never shrank back from speaking the truth in this very context and during his whole ministry on earth. Because there is power in the body and blood of Jesus Christ and that is the truth. And remember that what set us free from bondage of the enemy is the unadulterated truth (John 8:32), the unadulterated truth, because it is what you know as in the “truth” that will make you free. Consequently, Jesus Christ lost lots of followers over this particular truth that he preached. The only reaction he had then was to subsequently ask his disciplines if they were leaving him as well? That was it. Jesus then proceeded to moving on to the next thing. Therefore, it is imperative for the “unadulterated truth” to be preached in our churches nowadays.
That same spirit of offense that Jesus encountered is prevalent in our societies nowadays and even more so in the church. The consequence of this spirit of offense is:
1. The silencing of those who work in the ministry (Preachers, Deacons, Evangelists, Prophets, etc.) – It is becoming very hard for many ministers to accurately preach the gospel that was delivered to us through the Bible without taking from or adding to it as Jesus instructed us. Especially preachers within our churches who lead. Though it can be argued that they themselves should follow Jesus Christ’s example by not minding the critics especially those who get offended and leave the church, it still takes the grace and the fear of God to continuously take that stand. Back then, people just left Jesus Christ. Now we have keyboards warriors in addition to the unending complaints via email/mails that preachers must deal with. Why? Because many no longer want to hear the truth that might contradict their feelings, emotions, and whatever else they feel entitled to. This is why the bible warns that:
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3, NLT)
The John 6 example we mentioned earlier clearly shows that all of us at some point should expect to hear a truth out of the Bible that will offend us. Why? Because we are undergoing a supernatural surgery as new creatures in Christ, where the old “us” (the old man) has to completely be done away with to prepare us for the Kingdom of God which has a different constitution than that of the countries on earth we are currently part of. It is a completely different kingdom and the citizens up there behave in a completely different way than we are used to on this earth. As a result, Jesus wants us to turn away from our traditional, cultural, and earthly familiar behavioral predispositions that we have been taught or used to, which is described as the process of “repenting”:
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17, KJV)
In this process of being reformed into citizens of Heaven, our minds are also undergoing transformation:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2, NIV)
Again, we should as Christians expect the truth to rub us the wrong way at times as long as the truth is the true Gospel of the Kingdom being preached. That discomfort is intended by God to happen when our lives and behaviors are not in alignment with his truth:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, KJV)
I have once heard that as you read the Bible, it reads you as well. That discomfort laced with the conviction of the Holy Spirit is what births repentance and transformation into a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Leading ultimately in a change in our actions. It is a process, and we must trust the process and use all the prescribe tools for that process to be successful.
The only time we might criticize a message being preached is if the message is another gospel, meaning, not the original Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ leading us to our next point.
2. It is the “Unadulterated” truth that sets free – Many speak of “another gospel” being preached nowadays but one way this gospel creeps into our churches is through this spirit of offense. This spirit that silences our preachers and spiritual leaders in turn gives birth to “another gospel”. Preachers can no longer preach what is written in the Bible as is and will dilute the truth or avoid preaching parts of the gospel while concentrating on passages that are inspirational and devoid of any convictions. All this in order for many in the congregations not to be offended and leave the church. However, it is the body of Christ is who is suffering the most as a result because it is only the truth that will set us free. Not part of the truth, not the diluted truth, not even 99% of the truth as truth must be 100% accurate to be labeled “truth”. Taking even 0.001% from the truth changes it to something that is no longer the original state of a thing:
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32, KJV)
Without the truth of the gospel being preached exactly as written, many in the church are in bondage and on their way to hell. Yes, I used the words “hell” and “Christians” in the same sentence. God said the following in relation to “his” children, not people in the world:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6, KJV)
Many people in the church are comfortably living in sin on their way to hell because the truth is no longer being preached. They hear what they want to hear, how they want to hear it, and on their own terms. Some “Christians” are having serious demonic oppression of all sorts but have no way to turn because the truth that is supposed to set them free is not being preached. And many spiritual leaders do not even believe in the whole Bible and in the gifts of the Holy Spirit either. In addition, many Christians who are oppressed are not spending enough time in the Bible studying it diligently so the Holy Ghost can’t lead them to the truth that will set them free!
As a result, many Christians have a form of godliness nowadays with no power of transformation of their “post-Jesus selves” to show for it. Many forget that the truth of God has the power to transform and make one free and a new whole creature:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3:5, ESV)
The lack of the true gospel being preached is hence doing a great disservice to almost everybody: many congregations are no longer being transformed and living holy as we were commanded to do and are in in obedience to God, and the preachers of the gospel are also now in danger of hellfire:
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8, Berean Literal Bible)
All this in the name of “offense” in our churches.
3. The Holy Spirit is nowhere to be found in our churches nowadays – The Holy Spirit, the Great I Am, yes he is God or God is the Holy Spirit who is part of the Godhead ( The Great I am the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit is also called the “Holy Ghost” or the “Spirit of truth”. He is the author of the Bible in the sense that the spirit of God inspired men of god to write the Bible:
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21, KJV)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, KJV)
There is a story in the Bible that is often overlooked that shows the power of preaching the truth. When Peter was sent to Cornelius in the Book Acts 10, once Peter got to Cornelius ‘s house and all introduction were made, Peter proceed to preaching the gospel to the house of Cornelius. In the process of him preaching the gospel, without him needing to speak in tongues or to lay hands but by simply preaching the truth of God, the Holy Ghost fell upon everyone who was “hearing” the truth that Peter was preaching:
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. (Acts 10:44, NLT)
The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth so wherever the truth he delivered to us is, we don’t need to do much for him to start moving on our congregations powerfully according to the will of God. Then we will see people in the church operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit again so the power that is promised to us through Christ can be manifested again. Our churches will then become sevenfold ministries through the Holy Spirit like they ought to be as different members will operate in different gifts of the Holy Spirit:
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, NKJV)
These are the things we are missing one by having itchy ears and listening to diluted gospel that tickle our fancies. God does not dance to our tunes; we dance to his if we want what he is trying to offer us. In addition, many forget one important thing about the Holy Spirit. One cannot be a Christian and walk successfully this walk of faith until the end without the Holy Spirit because out of the Godhead, he is the only one who has the title of a Helper:
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26, NIV)
Some Bible translations instead of “Helper” use “Advocate”, “Counselor”, or “Comforter”.
Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26, KJV)
There are many examples that shows us the office of the Holy Spirit of God. Not to mention that Jesus Christ did not start his ministry until after baptism after which the Holy Spirit descended upon him. And it was the same spirit that led Jesus Christ to the Wilderness for his 40 days fast.
We cannot walk in our faith and make it without the help of the Holy Spirit. If not, God would not have seen the need to give us his spirit. There are few ways to receive the holy spirit:
3.a – By the laying on of hands
Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:17-19, NASB)
I however urge you to diligently and carefully seek/select who can and should lay hands on you because not every minister of God operates in the right spirit. There are many pastors, prophets, evangelist, etc. who are operating in different spirits that is not the Holy Ghost and if you let them lay their hands on you, they may impart to you a spirit or other spiritual “things” that are not from the Holy Spirit of the Jesus Christ.
3.b – Just Seek the Lord and ask Jesus directly to give you the Holy Spirit
This method consists in you fasting or praying and asking Jesus Christ directly to give you the Holy Ghost and his gift. That was the method I used. I fasted and asked for him to give me the gift of tongues for example:
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13, NIV)
Now to finalize this article, there are true incidents in churches that lead many saints to be offended rightfully so. Or churches are full of gossiping, partiality (respect of person attitude), slandering, backbiting, judgment, and many more things that cause many to be offended to the point of leaving a church or even the faith in Christ. However, to those who are causing people to fall way form the faith through offense, you are in danger of judgment and hellfire:
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! (Luke 17:1, NKJV)
What you have done is to become a stumbling block to another brethren and the Lord does not take it lightly. If you have the chance to make your wrongs right, reach out and do it quickly. If not go to the father and genuinely repent and ask him to forgive you and to heal the heart of the other person.
For those who have legitimately been offended, I want to encourage you and remind you that you are in church for Jesus Christ and to fellowship with the other brethren, keep your eyes on Jesus and ask Jesus to help you take the offense out of your heart. I am not saying that you were wrong for being offended as many incidents when people offended me occurred me in my own life that almost caused me to walkaway from the church but then I remembered, that I am serving Christ not man and I am here because of Christ. And I ask grace from God to help me let it go and forgive. And this took some time.
If you want to receive Jesus Christ today and make him the Lord of your life! Click Here. This will be the BEST thing you will ever do! I promise! Watch your hole life change while heading for your eternal life which is the greatest gift anyone could offer mankind!
I love you all with the love of Jesus Christ! Shalom!
Glory be to the Great I AM the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
Our Lord God is One!
Thank you, Jesus Christ my Lord & Savior!