Jerry C. Brewer
It’s become a daily litany in newscasts: “Remove a flag because it offends people.” “Don’t pass laws against unisex public bathrooms because transgender people are offended.” Don’t preach what Jesus taught about divorce because that offends those who are,” etc. ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
There has never been a time in the history of the world when someone wasn’t “offended” by the Truth. Judah was “offended” by the Truth Jeremiah spoke, Ahab and Jezebel were “offended” by Elijah, Michaiah “offended” Ahab, Sanballat was “offended” by Nehemiah, and Haman was “offended” by Mordecai. The Pharisees were “offended” by Jesus, the Sanhedrin was “offended” by the apostles, and the Ephesian artisans were “offended” by Paul, as were the Judaizers of Galatia.
Who knew that “offending” the wicked would become the “unpardonable sin” in our day and time? Truth has always been “offensive” to the wicked and will remain so until time shall be no more. What do you suppose the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” is (Eph. 6:17)? A sword is not used for defense. It is an offensive weapon and as such, it must be wielded by the faithful. Any preacher who waters down the Truth in order to avoid “offending” someone is neither a fit preacher, nor a fit subject of Jesus Christ.
