An individual that I invited to the Christmas party at our place, wrote in response, “As an agnostic, I find what you do, of bringing Jesus to our work community offensive and so I am not interested in attending.” Pastor and Teacher John MacArthur, Jr., in his book Found: God’s Will, writes “If the truth offends, then let it offend. People have been living their whole lives in offense to God; let them be offended for a while.”
Agnostics, Atheists and Anti-theists and for that matter all those who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ and who rebel against him, distorting the Scripture with their own foolish and empty egocentric views, find the work of the followers of Jesus Christ offensive. But those of us, who share the word of truth, of The Truth, Jesus Christ, should not be surprised when our work and words are offensive. When Jesus asserted that He was the only means to Salvation and anyone who refuses to believe and partake in communion with him, will not inherit eternal life, some of his disciples were offended and they deserted him, which led him to ask “Do my words offend you?” (John 6:61). Yes, the work of Christ is hard and the words (preaching) of the Cross is a hard saying that is deemed as foolishness unto those who are perishing but to those who are saved, it is the Power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Points to ponder:
Jesus was deemed to be offensive when He preached Salvation. Are you and I also considered to be offensive when we preach the Cross, which is the word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15); the words of everlasting life (John 6:68)? As Christians let us be unafraid of mere men who can do nothing to us, when we have the Lord on our side (Psalm 118:6) and continue to preach the Cross of Christ that brings everlasting life to all who believe. The word of God is The Sword of the Spirit – an offensive weapon in the spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:17) and when a Sword is wielded correctly, it will cut/divide those who are in Christ from those who aren’t. If the truth offends, then let it offend.
John 6:60-61, 66-69 (KJV)
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
…
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
