Give no offense?

Maybe it is just a difference in style or maybe I am taking it out of context but I don't agree with what Paul is saying here.  Give no offense and try to please all men in all things?

That seems to be the direct opposite to what Jesus did.  Jesus was kind to people and tried to attract them to Him but there were times that Jesus did give offense and He didn't try to be all things to all people. 

1 Corinthians 10:32-33(NKJV)

Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 

just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Now I think what Paul is saying here is that he doesn't want to drive a single person away from Christ so Paul is going to try and be all things to all people to avoid doing that.  Seems like a noble intention.  But is that how Jesus conducted His ministry?  And aren't we supposed to model Jesus?  After all, isn't the question, "what would Jesus do?".

There are several places in the Gospel where Jesus was deliberately offensive and refused to be all things to all people.  I'm thinking specifically of the times where the church leaders would question Him and Jesus didn't give a mealy mouthed answer trying to appeal to these people.  Jesus hit them right between the eyes verbally with some truth!  It offended them! 

I personally think that what Paul is advocating is part of what is wrong with the modern day church.  The message of Jesus continues to be watered down so as not to offend and drive people away. 

Now some might say that only Jesus has the insight and the ability to decide when to offend and when not to.  They might say that the rest of us, since we don't have that ability, should just do everything we can to attract people.

I again would disagree.  We do have the ability to make that discernment with some people.  Who might those people be?  Those who actively and belligerently oppose Jesus for one.  With those people we aren't making a judgement about them.  They have voluntarily identified themselves as enemies of God and are actively involved in trying to tear down Jesus.

I believe that we need to stand up to those people just as Jesus did.  I think it is important that other non-believers see that there are limits and standards. 

But what about "love your enemies"?  What about it?  I didn't say anything about hating these people.  In fact I don't think there is any better way of showing your love to them then to take them on with the truth.  If you truly love them then speak the truth to them, even if it offends and drives them away.  Why?  Because if they don't accept Jesus we know they are going to hell.  If you soften the message so as not to offend and they end up never believing, how loving was that? 

Your love is demonstrated in speaking truth to them and trying to save them.  If they chose to reject that love then it is on them.  But to avoid speaking the truth to them so as not to offend is wrong in my opinion.    

"…in righteousness He judges and makes war."

Have you ever seen the bumper sticker "War is never the answer!"?  I often wonder if the person with the bumper sticker is a Christian or not?  It is a nice sounding slogan and I get the appeal but as a Christian I have to disagree.

Why?

Revelation 19:11(NKJV)

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 

Because the Bible clearly tells me that sometimes war is the answer!  In the end the "Prince of Peace" (Jesus) is going to wage a righteous war. 

Think about that.  There are a lot of people out there who think that the "Prince of Peace" is going to forgive all wrongs and let everyone in to Heaven who is a good person because He didn't really mean all of that stuff about having to accept Him first.

I think they are in for a rude surprise! 

Who you going to listen to?

I believe that Scripture is very clear that when we accept Jesus we get the Holy Spirit to guide us.    As we get used to listening to the Holy Spirit we hear from Him more and more.  At first it was a little disconcerting but I've been listening to Him for so long that it seems perfectly natural. 

I have been amazed repeatedly how He will use the Scriptures to instruct me.  How things that had no special meaning the last time I read them all of a sudden take on new meaning the next time I read them.  It's like having my own personal tutor.  Which brings me to my question regarding this verse.

1 John 2:27(NKJV)

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

You do not need that anyone teach you?  Hmm.  I'll bet there are many who find that statement troubling.  I'm not one of them.  Here is my take on it.

I don't think this means you don't try to listen and learn from other.  I don't think that is the meaning at all.  I think what it is saying is that as we study God's Word, primarily through reading the Scriptures but then reading and listening to others as well; we need to always compare what we hear and read elsewhere with what the Holy Spirit is telling us.

If the two differ, who do we listen to?  Why the Holy Spirit of course!

WE watched Joan of Arc a few months ago and the thing that struck me the most was that the one time when she listened to her church leaders (man) instead of the Holy Spirit was the time that caused her the most anguish.

I think it is a lesson we should all bear in mind.  Always, always, always listen to that inner voice which is the Holy Spirit!!! 

True worshipers?

Hmm, doesn't that determination require a judgement?  :)

But seriously, what do you think is meant by "true worshipers"?

John 4:23(NKJV)

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 

Here is my take.  There are a lot of Christians out there who think it is open minded and sophisticated to include stuff from other religions in their worship.  They don't think they are doing anything wrong and I don't think they have bad intentions.  But what do you think God thinks of that?

Based on this verse I think a case can be made that God is rejecting their worship.  It says that true worshipers will worship in "spirit and truth".  Where do we find God's truth?  In His Word. 

I think that those who go outside God's word to other religions are in effect saying that God's Word isn't the complete truth and quite frankly I think that offends God.  God is very specific that true worshipers are who He is seeking.  By logical extension I think that means God isn't seeking those who worship Him in anything other than the "truth".  Make sense? 

The word True only appears once in Proverbs

I don't know that this means anything.  I just found it to be an interesting bit of trivia.  Proverbs is full of folksy phrases and I guess I just through the word true would be used more in Proverbs.  :)

Proverbs 14:25(NKJV)

    A true witness delivers souls,      But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

I've got to disagree with Paul a bit on this one.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4(NKJV)

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 

For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Here is my disagreement.  Do divisions among the church always indicate that we are "carnal and behaving like men"?  What about those who may be teaching a false doctrine that they believe to be true.  In other words I am not attributing any evil intent to them. 

Should we do as Paul says and sit idly by and let them continue to teach incorrect doctrine so that we are not creating "divisions among us"? 

I believe the answer is no.  Scripture tells us that one of the things it is used for is correction.

2 Timothy 3:16(NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 

Correcting people is going to lead to division isn't it?  But if you are basing your correction on Scripture how is that "carnal and behaving like mere men"?

God is….Love

This was an interesting one.  I found myself drawn to verses that I think address the way that "God is love" is the most misused.  A lot of people, Christians included, like to use the "God is love" theme to excuse any and all bad behavior.  That God loves us all equally because He made us all.

Well let's take a look at some Scripture. 

Exodus 20:4-6(NKJV)

    “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 

you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 

but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Notice that God shows mercy to a select group.  Who does God show mercy to?  Those who love Him and keep His commandments.  Now God does love everyone but as you can see from this Scripture, that love doesn't exempt people from punishment.

It's no different than the way we deal with our kids.  In fact the whole idea of God not punishing people because He loves them is pretty childish in and of itself.  Think about it.  If your kids did something wrong that deserved punishment and they said "you wouldn't punish me if you really loved me." what would you tell them?  Well I believe God the Father sees things the same way.

Proverbs 8:17(NKJV)

    I love those who love me,     And those who seek me diligently will find me.

Once again we see God singling out a group for His love.  He loves those who love Him.  Here is how I see this one.  We read and hear about families where a person's kids or grandkids never come to see them anymore.  In a general way this person still loves their kids or grandkids but it probably isn't the same type of "active" love that there would be if those kids or grandkids had an actual relationship with the person.  Make sense? 

Isaiah 61:8(NKJV)

    “For I, the Lord, love justice;      I hate robbery for burnt offering;     I will direct their work in truth,     And will make with them an everlasting covenant.

I found this one interesting.  God makes a point of saying that he loves justice.  I think that there are a lot of "social justice warriors" out there who are seeking anything but real justice.  It'll be interesting to see how God deals with them. 

Oh and BTW, for all of those people who say "God doesn't hate anything", you are wrong.  Take a look at the green highlighted Scripture.

Daniel 9:4(NKJV)

And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 

This seems to be a common theme.  God's active love is again reserved for those who love God and keep his commandments.

1 John 4:8(NKJV)

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

And finally we have this verse.  God is love.  Here is how I see this one.  I think there are different levels of love in play here. 

There is the general love that God has for everyone because He made them.  On the other hand there is a more personal and a more active love for those who love God and actively seek to build a relationship with Him.

When viewed through the paradigm of God the Father this makes sense doesn't it?