Offense of the Word – July Topic

Sorry I didn’t get this up earlier in the month. We will be more prompt for next month.

This topic was decided on because of a vision that Susan had while fasting for this event. She saw a child in the corner of a classroom with dunce hat on being punished for bringing his bible to school.

In the last few years here in America we have been witnessing a hostility towards the holy scriptures and the confession of Christ God. We have seen a movement to remove “under God” from the pledge, “in God we trust” from our money, the ten commandments from our courthouses and government offices, and an uprising to remove prayer from our public schools and ANY public gathering. As the name of Jesus becomes less ‘tolerated’ and the holy scriptures are put away and ridiculed, we are exhorted to remain strong in the faith and boldly stand for the truth. Surely we are to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15) but guaranteed that you will get many who are offended by that as well. We cannot resort to just love without truth or truth with no love.  We certainly do not seek to offend, but we must be aware that standing for truth will bring an offense and that is to be expected.

Some biblical truths that offend are in our day and culture:

• All men are condemned already unless they receive the atoning work of Christ. (John 3:18)(Mark 16:16)
• Christ is the ONLY way to the father; he is the only one who died for the sins of the world.  (1John 2:2)
• The bible is the truth and the words of God.
• Homosexually is an abomination to the Lord. (Romans 1:27)
• It is by grace you have been saved through faith. It is the gift of God (Eph 2:8)

Consider these biblical passages:

- I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. (Luke 12:49)

- If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. (John 15:19-21)

- For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. (2 Cor 2:15-16)