For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.-1 Corinthians 1:18 We live in a world where you can't say or do anything that's not prescribed by the Offensive Patrol. Constantly changing the rules, they determine what we can and can't say, watch, or do, and seek to cancel anyone they deem offensive. Many of us toe the line, but we try to keep the peace, as we should. Yet, there is a place where we cannot break from, and that is the word of God. Over the course of my ministry, I know I've offended many, some of it because of my blundering nature, but much of it because I would not then, will not now, or will ever back down from following Christ through the Scriptures and the convictions He leads me to. If I've offended you from some human error, I'm sorry. If I've offended you because I would not back down from my mandated calling to Christ, I'm not. If we're offended by a brother or sister, we need to consider the "why" of it. Some of it could be human error, which, according to the Scripture, we're to make it right, as far as it is from us. This is part of being human, and letting God work out the meanness from us. But mostly, when a person in church says "I'm offended" it's because the Bible has stepped on someone's toes. Sometimes, we can follow Christ heartily, but our relationship is a mile wide and an inch deep. The Word of God, the Message of Christ, the Gospel cut through our human understanding, and allow for the Holy Spirit to penetrate the deepest part of ourselves. If not, then what we're doing is play-acting; what Jesus called being a hypocrite. We come to church and put on our church face, but then try and live the rest of our lives apart from Christ. Either all of the Bible is true, and it MUST penetrate each part of our lives, or it's not. Sorry if this offends you, but I'm not sorry, and I must speak the truth. I hope you'll stand upon the truth with me! 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Comments