Faith that Offends

This is going to be a hard post to write, but there are some things I want to say here that I think need to be said.  Perhaps the difficulty lies in the fact that this issue hits uncomfortably close to home for me.  Some things are just so personal that it's hard to deal with them even in writing.  But if we never wrestle with the tough things in scripture, or the hard things about following Christ, then we will never grow.  Our faith won't be stretched and challenged, and we'll find ourselves not much farther along the path than we were when we first began our journey with Christ.

Perhaps you are easily offended by the Truth of God.  If that's the case I suggest you stop reading right here and read something else.  Maybe you are pursuing a brand of faith that makes you feel good inside about who you are without the challenge to be transformed into the image of Christ.  If that's the case, you can't back up your faith with the Word of God.  That's just not what Jesus came to earth to accomplish.  Jesus didn't come to be the opiate of the masses.  Jesus tells us the reason he came in John 18:37.  "In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."  In John 10:10 he says this, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  It doesn't sound like Jesus wants to simply subdue the populace.  He wants followers who are actively seeking Truth.    

The longer I live the more I realize that the gospel of Christ is just plain offensive.  Until you are completely devastated by the sin in your life you will not understand your need for a savior.  Coming face to face with your sin is painful, and most people would rather not do it.  But God did not come to earth so we could feel good about ourselves.  I see much of that in the church (and sometimes in my own life.)  People are comfortable in their sins so they try to justify it by saying "God made me this way so it can't really be sin."  Seriously?  Scripture is blatantly clear about the fact that man is engulfed in the sinful nature and it is Christ alone that rescues us from it.  Christ came to give us new life, not a life continued on in sin.  That means we must put off the old and enjoy life as God intended us to live it; glorifying Him by enjoying fellowship with him.

This is a truth that I believe with my whole heart, and it has given me great joy.  Sadly, this faith of mine offends.  It divides.  It separates.  I've been called an idiot by my family for believing that Jesus is my savior.  Others have called me close-minded, judgmental, and radical.  I wouldn't call my faith radical, I would call it Biblical.  Actually I wish I could be more radical for Christ!  Jesus called his followers to a radical kind of faith; a faith that would turn their entire world upside down.  I want that kind of faith.  I've also been told that all my "religious stuff" has put up walls between me and other members of my family.  At first I despaired at this, but then I remembered that this is exactly what Jesus said would happen to his followers.

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law --a man's enemies will be the members of his household." (Matthew 10:34-36)


For the longest time I thought these verses sounded terrible.  Why would Jesus bring division?  Why would he want to turn family members against each other?  But as these verses come to fruition in my own life God has granted me deeper understanding.  We all have to make a choice about Jesus, and that is the most important decision we will ever make.  Jesus came to separate his followers from the followers of the world.  When you give your life to Christ people will hate you.  They will persecute you.  Jesus is incredibly offensive to people who can't confront the sin in their lives.  It is not so much you that they hate but Christ in you that they can't stand.  "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."  (Matthew 24:9-14)


Jesus came to earth and turned the world upside down.  It's tempting to simply ignore those who persecute you or even return evil for evil.  But Christ calls christians to something better.  In Matthew 5:43-45 he says, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven."  If we are truly God's children we will love even those who hate us.  It might seem like a tall order, and if we were to try to do so in our own strength we would fail.  Thankfully we have the power of the Holy Spirit which enables us to do all things for God's glory!


My intent here is not to be a downer.  In fact, my hope is that some of you will be encouraged in your faith with the reminder that, when people hate you for your faith, Christ in you is all the more evident.  In some ways it may be a sign that you are running the race well.  So stand firm in your faith and in your love for Christ.  Though we may lose the love of some family and friends in this life, we are promised eternal life with the Father.  And in the end, it will be more than worth the pain.