Offense

I think the most common complaint I hear these days is that someone is “offended.” At every turn someone takes offense at what is “said,” what is “done,” what is “inferred,” what is “implied,” and on, and on, and on.

That really makes my job difficult. The Chief Corner Stone of the Church is a “rock of offense.” The Word of God is offensive to those who disobey it. (see 1 Peter 2:7ff) My goal is to bring glory to our Lord Jesus Christ through the proclaiming of His Word (Truth).

So often it is a simple lack of understanding that causes the problems. A good example would be the words of Prime Minister Netanyahu during the recent elections in Israel.

Netanyahu drew accusations of racism in Israel, especially from its Arab minority, and a White House rebuke when, just a few hours before polling stations were to close across the country, he warned that Arab citizens were voting “in droves.” (TIME)

(Coincidentally, at a wedding I attended this past Saturday, there were “droves” of people ahead of me in the pie line.)

I’m trying to figure out if the Arab community is angry because he used the word “droves” (Definition: a large number of people doing the same thing), or that he was encouraging the non-Arab population (evidently his primary supporters) to do the same thing. Perhaps the White House does not know the definition either, or maybe they just don’t like Mr. Netanyahu. In either case, the PM has apologized.

On the other hand, I can’t and won’t apologize for clearly and accurately speaking (writing) the Word of God. I am accused sometimes of not being open to the “other ways to Heaven,” or “other gods,” or “religions.”  Nor will I apologize that Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father (GOD) except through me.” (John 14:6)

That is the “narrow” way. Everything else leads to destruction.