Why are so many Christians overly careful not to offend people? Did we maybe confuse offending someone with being unloving? Are we not, being filled with the Holy Spirit, able to speak the truth in love – even if some are offended by what we have to say? To be clear, as a Christian I am daily offended by things that I see and hear in the world around me. Others appear to have unlimited freedom to speak their mind – and yet as a Christian, I do not? Would it be more loving for us to keep quiet about what God’s Word says and to continue to allow Satan to deceive the lost? I’m quite sure that he is happy when we bite our tongues and only talk about The Truth in our little Christian circles.
And how about the fact that we are called to be Christ-like? What if we asked the question: “What would Jesus do?” Undoubtedly he loved every sinner he interacted with, but he was not afraid of offending them or making them feel badly when he addressed their sin. Every one of us (all sinners) should feel badly when we see our sin. It is exactly this feeling, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, that is meant to drive us to repentance. That shows us exactly how much we need the Savior because on our own we are lost.
If we see someone driving along in their new sports car, quickly accelerating along a road that we know ends abruptly at a cliff is it more loving to just let them enjoy the ride despite the end result? Or would the right thing to do be to tell them what we know because we don’t want to see them reach the end of the road with too much speed to stop?
I believe that we must speak the truth, even if people don’t like what they hear. Not because we are better than them, but because we know that there is an answer that offers eternal salvation. Because we know that there is far too much at stake for people that do not know the truth.
The message: You are a sinner. I am a sinner. None of us can do anything to save ourselves. The only thing that saves us from our sin and offers us redemption from eternity in hell is the blood of Jesus Christ. It is only by giving our life to Jesus and allowing him to change us that we have any hope at all.
I commend those who speak boldly with a mission to reach the lost and deceived with the truth of God’s Word. He does love the world, which is why he sent his Son. But he will judge the world based on what they did with the truth.
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19 NLT)
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT)
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NLT)
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NLT)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:36-37 NLT)
To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ (Matthew 13:12-15 NLT)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? (Matthew 16:24-26 NLT)
And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:10-14 NLT)
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. (Matthew 24:37-39 NLT)
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. (Matthew 25:31-33 NLT)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)
