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Jesus did not compromise truth
in order to keep people from being offended.
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“Behold, I lay in
Today the meaning of the word ’believe’ has been weakened. In the eyes
of most it has become a mere acknowledgement of a certain fact. To many it has
nothing to do with obedience. But in the passage above, the
words ’believe’ and ’disobedient’ are represented as opposites.
The Scriptures exhort “that whoever believes in Him [Jesus Christ]
should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). As a result of the way we
view the word ’believe,’ many think that all they are required to do is
believe that Jesus existed and died on
Calvary, and they are in good standing with God. If this were the only
requirement, the demons would be in good standing with Him. The Scriptures also
say, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. ’Even
the demons believe’ -- and tremble” (James 2:19). There is no salvation
for them.
The word ’believe’ has more meaning in the Scriptures than
acknowledging existence of or just mentally assenting to a fact. Remaining true
to the context of the verse above, we can say that the main element of
believing is obedience. We could read it this way: “Therefore, to you who ’obey’
He is precious; but to those who are ’disobedient,’ ’The stone which the
builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ’A stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense.’”
It is not difficult to obey when you know the character and love of the
one to whom you are submitting. Love is the bottom line in our relationship
with the Lord -- not love of principles or teachings but love for the Person of
Jesus Christ. If that love is not firmly in place, we are susceptible to
offense and stumbling.
The Israelites, whom the Lord called to be builders, rejected God’s
chief cornerstone, Jesus. They loved their teachings of the Old Testament. They
were satisfied with their interpretations because they could be wielded to
their own benefit and used to control others. Jesus, on the other hand,
challenged all the legalism they held so dear. He pleaded with them, “You
search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these
are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).
They couldn’t fathom the idea that from the beginning God desired sons
and daughters with whom He could have a relationship. They wanted to rule and
reign. The law had risen above relationship in their eyes. They rejected what
was freely given to them. They would rather have earned it. So the free gift of
God, Jesus Christ, their hope of life and salvation, became “a stone for
stumbling and a rock of offense” to them.
Simeon prophesied as he lifted the baby Jesus in his arms in the
temple: “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in
Jesus and Offenses
In Sunday school Jesus was often presented as the shepherd carrying the
lost lamb on His shoulders back to the fold. Or perhaps He had His arms around
the little children while blessing them or was smiling and saying, “I love you.”
These accounts are all true, but they do not give the whole picture.
This same Jesus denounced the Pharisees for their self-righteousness: “Serpents,
brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Matt. 23:33).
He turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple and ran them out
(John 2:13-22). He told the man who wanted to bury his father before following
Him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the
A close look at the ministry of Jesus reveals a Man who offended many
while He ministered. Let’s look at a few examples.
Jesus offended the Pharisees.
On many occasions Jesus confronted and offended these leaders. Because
they were offended, they sent Him to the cross. They hated Him.
But Jesus loved them enough to speak the truth: “Hypocrites! Well did
Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their
heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me’”
(Matt. 15:7-9). This statement offended them.
Notice what Jesus’ disciples asked Him immediately afterward:
Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You
know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” ~ Matthew
15:12
Study His response:
Every plant which My heavenly Father has not
planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind.
And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch. ~ Matt. 15:13-14
Jesus showed that offenses will actually purge those who are not truly
planted by His Father. Some people may join churches or ministry teams but have
not been sent by God or are not of God. The offense that comes when truth is
preached reveals their true motives and causes them to uproot themselves.
In visiting other churches I have witnessed many cases in which pastors
grieve over people who have left, whether from the staff or congregation. In
most instances those people were upset because the truth was preached, and it
confronted their lifestyles. They would then become critical of every aspect of
the church and leave.
For pastors to hold on to everyone who comes through their doors, they
will eventually have to compromise truth. “If you preach the truth,” I tell
them, “You will offend people, and they will be uprooted and leave. Do not
grieve over them but rather continue to feed and nurture the ones God has sent
you.”
Some leaders avoid confrontation, afraid of losing people. Some are
especially hesitant because those who need confronting are the big givers or
influential in the church or community. Others are afraid of hurting the
feelings of someone who may have been with them a long time. As a result the
pastors lose the God-given authority to protect and feed the sheep entrusted to
them.
When I first entered a pastoral position, a wise man warned me: “Stay
in your authority, or someone else will take it from you and use it against
you.”
Samuel was a man of God who would not compromise truth for anyone, not
even the king. When Saul disobeyed God, the Lord told Samuel to confront him.
He did. Unfortunately, Saul did not respond to the word of the Lord with true
repentance. He was more concerned about how he looked to other people. When
Samuel started to leave him, Saul clutched at his robe and tore off a corner of
it. Samuel devastated him with these words: “The Lord has torn the
This is not what Samuel wanted for Saul. He was grieved for him. He had
anointed Saul as King, trained him to govern and conducted his coronation. He
was Saul’s personal friend. But listen to how God reacted to Samuel’s grief
over Saul: “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from
reigning over
God was saying that in order for Samuel to continue to move in fresh
oil or anointing, he had to realize God’s love and judgment is perfect. If
Samuel went back to Saul once God had rejected him, he wouldn’t have had fresh
oil. If he kept mourning, he would go nowhere.
Pastors who grieve and mourn over people who leave the church or who
refuse to confront members because they are friends end up with the anointing
oil in their lives running dry. Some ministries die, while others simply
imitate being alive. Unknowingly they have chosen their relationship with men
over their relationship with God.
The Bible does not record that Jesus reacted to any of the men who left
Him. His only delight was to do the will of the Father. In doing so He would
benefit the greatest number of people.
I will never forget the time I was preaching in a Spirit-filled
denominational church. We had been on the road for about a year. The first
Sunday morning, I preached a simple message of repentance and returning to one’s
first love. I sensed the resistance but knew it was the message I was to bring.
After the service the pastor said, “God has shown me what you preached
this morning, but I didn’t think my people were ready for it.”
My wife felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to ask him, “Who is the
pastor of the church -- you or Jesus?”
The pastor dropped his head. “That is exactly what the Lord said to me
about a month ago. He told me that he knew what these people could handle.” He told us that a third of his church was
made up of “old liners” who did not want any change in the order of service,
the music, or the preaching. We encouraged him to be strong and obey the Lord.
We did four more services in the church; each one was more difficult . When we left the city, I felt as if a sack of
sand were in my gut. I couldn’t figure it out. It got heaver and more
unpleasant. Usually when I leave a church, joy fills my heart .I didn’t know
what was wrong.
When I finally got alone with the Lord, I asked ,
“Father what did do wrong? Why do I have this heavy burden in my spirit? Did I
usurp the pastor’s authority?”
He simply said, “Dust the dust off the bottom of your feet” (see Luke
(:5).
I was shocked to hear Him say that. I kept praying and questioning Him,
only to hear the same words: “Dust the dust off the bottom of your feet.”
Finally, I obeyed. As my hand left the sole of my second shoe, the
heaviness lifted, and joy entered my heart. Again I said in amazement, “Lord,
they did not attack me and throw me out of town. Why?”
He showed me that the leadership and many of the people had rejected
His word to them.
“Give them more time, Lord,” I petitioned.
“If I gave them fifty more years, they would not change. They have set
their hearts.”
I knew this leader had chosen to keep peace through compromise rather
than obey God. His horn was not filled with fresh oil. He had the form without
the substance. In other words, he had the appearance of being Spirit-filled yet
lacked the power or presence of God. I later heard that he resigned as the
pastor, and the church is just a fraction of what it was.
Jesus would not be controlled by others. He would speak truth even if
it meant confrontation and ultimately offense. If you desire the approval of
men, God’s anointing cannot fall upon you. You must purpose in your heart to
speak the Word of God and perform His will even at the risk of offending
others.
Jesus offended those of His own hometown.
Jesus had come to His own hometown to minister. But He was unable to
bring them the liberty and healing He had brought to so many others. Look at
what they said:
“Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and
Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with
us? Where then did this Man get all these things? So they were offended at Him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own
country and in his own house.” ~ Matthew 13:55-57
Can you hear these men and women of
Again Jesus did not compromise truth in order to keep them from being
offended. The townspeople were so angry that they tried to kill Him by pushing
Him off a cliff (Luke 4:28-30). Even when His life was in danger He continued
to speak the truth. How we need more men and women like that today!