Is the gospel offensive?

Xeno.of.athens · Feb 23, 2023

Some believe that the message of the gospel is intended to challenge sinners and by challenging them cause the elect among them to repent as the Holy Spirit convicts them thought a new-born godly conscience. The word I chose, 'challenge', can be replaced with the word, 'offend' and the meaning will be almost exactly the same.

Are you one who presents a challenging gospel, an offensive one, when you have the opportunity to explain Jesus and his work to people who are not yet professing Christians?

Or is the message that you present different, would you characterise it as something different from offensive?

BobRyan · Feb 23, 2023

Xeno.of.athens said:
Some believe that the message of the gospel is intended to challenge sinners and by challenging them cause the elect among them to repent as the Holy Spirit convicts them thought a new-born godly conscience. The word I chose, 'challenge', can be replaced with the word, 'offend' and the meaning will be almost exactly the same.

Are you one who presents a challenging gospel, an offensive one, when you have the opportunity to explain Jesus and his work to people who are not yet professing Christians?

Or is the message that you present different, would you characterise it as something different from offensive?

2 Cor 5 Paul says "we BEG you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God"

Rom 11 Paul says he moves the Jews to a jealous condition hoping to "win some of them" as they see gentiles accept the Gospel

The cross is offensive to those who are sold out for satan's plans because they can see the conflict between the word of God and the plans of Satan, even if they don't understand/recognize the plans of Satan as being of Satan.

Xeno.of.athens · Feb 23, 2023

BobRyan said:
2 Cor 5 Paul says "we BEG you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God"

Rom 11 Paul says he moves the Jews to a jealous condition hoping to "win some of them" as they see gentiles accept the Gospel

The cross is offensive to those who are sold out for satan's plans because they can see the conflict between the word of God and the plans of Satan, even if they don't understand/recognize the plans of Satan as being of Satan.

I like that you read a thread's original post and offer a reply. It gives me hope.

Thank you @BobRyan

timothyu · Feb 23, 2023

Xeno.of.athens said:
Or is the message that you present different, would you characterise it as something different from offensive?

When Jesus presented His only gospel, the Gospel of the Kingdom, where it was announced that God would be returning to take governance of man away from man and all would live by His will instead of our own selfish will, the majority of the world would be offended due to what they had to lose, but those oppressed by the selfishness and greed of man were joyous. We are meant to be hated by the world for that message for the world prefers to live in a way it created in our own image, not His. Interestingly the gentiles changed that message.

Unqualified · Feb 23, 2023

The gospel is foolishness to the Gentiles and a stumbling block to the Jews. The Jews stumble because of the Law. Gentiles are offended by this perceived foolishness. God made it that way that their pride would stumble them. The foolishness of God is wiser than than the wisdom of man. It’s so simple to believe God the way it is. It causes so many emotions. We have to have a real need to humble ourselves that far. It’s ‘not really easy’ but it’s worth it!

bling · Feb 24, 2023

Xeno.of.athens said:
Some believe that the message of the gospel is intended to challenge sinners and by challenging them cause the elect among them to repent as the Holy Spirit convicts them thought a new-born godly conscience. The word I chose, 'challenge', can be replaced with the word, 'offend' and the meaning will be almost exactly the same.

Are you one who presents a challenging gospel, an offensive one, when you have the opportunity to explain Jesus and his work to people who are not yet professing Christians?

Or is the message that you present different, would you characterise it as something different from offensive?

If people do not see you as a help to them, they might be offended by what you are trying to sell them. Everyone needs Jesus, but not everyone wants Jesus at the time you are talking with them. I just try to set the seed and remain available to those who are comfortable at the time. Those who are hurting and open to having help (there are lots of these) I try to help as Jesus would help them.

fhansen · Feb 24, 2023

Xeno.of.athens said:
Some believe that the message of the gospel is intended to challenge sinners and by challenging them cause the elect among them to repent as the Holy Spirit convicts them thought a new-born godly conscience. The word I chose, 'challenge', can be replaced with the word, 'offend' and the meaning will be almost exactly the same.

Are you one who presents a challenging gospel, an offensive one, when you have the opportunity to explain Jesus and his work to people who are not yet professing Christians?

Or is the message that you present different, would you characterise it as something different from offensive?

People, as they're ready, need to know that something's wrong with this world, including themslelves, and yet that there's soemething right "out there" anyway, something "bigger", and better and more right than all of us. Often times they already sense that something isn't right, within and without, and so the message, then, of a good and trustworthy God of infinte mercy and love can resonate. We need to know both sides, spoken in love and often tailored to the particular person's needs.

Xeno.of.athens · Feb 24, 2023

bling said:
If people do not see you as a help to them, they might be offended by what you are trying to sell them. Everyone needs Jesus, but not everyone wants Jesus at the time you are talking with them. I just try to set the seed and remain available to those who are comfortable at the time. Those who are hurting and open to having help (there are lots of these) I try to help as Jesus would help them.

A long time ago, I did some door-to-door evangelism, not for long, and the people who answered their door were mostly polite and indifferent.

Xeno.of.athens · Feb 24, 2023

fhansen said:
People, as they're ready, need to know that something's wrong with this world, including themslelves, and yet that there's soemething right "out there" anyway, something "bigger", and better and more right than all of us. Often times they already sense that something isn't right, within and without, and so the message, then, of a good and trustworthy God of infinte mercy and love can resonate. We need to know both sides, spoken in love and often tailored to the particular person's needs.

Do you think that maybe the Holy Spirit manages to tailor the hearer of the message preached?

fhansen · Feb 24, 2023

Xeno.of.athens said:
Do you think that maybe the Holy Spirit manages to tailor the hearer of the message preached?

Yes, absolutely. But I mean that we can be sensitive to the other person's backgrounds, struggles, knowledge or lack of it, etc.

Xeno.of.athens · Feb 24, 2023

fhansen said:
Yes, absolutely. But I mean that we can be sensitive to the other person's backgrounds, struggles, knowledge or lack of it, etc.

Agreed, and we can also preach the good news, being ready always to do so, and doing so when it is easy and when it is not. As one scripture verse says: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2 Timothy 4:2

bling · Feb 24, 2023

Xeno.of.athens said:
A long time ago, I did some door-to-door evangelism, not for long, and the people who answered their door were mostly polite and indifferent.

You are really looking for that "Person of peace". Be diligent, patient and being prepared. I feel I found two in my life, although time will tell, about others I spent time with. Those two brought thousands to Christ by being very Christ like, much better than myself.

timothyu · Feb 24, 2023

When preaching be careful to make it about God and not about what's in it for self. His message was the good news about God's will, not about us and how we could profit. Jesus spoke over and over that the Kingdom (governance) of God was coming and man would no longer be allowed to govern over fellow man (that's good news). He said we would not find Him in these we call world leaders, be it in politics or business or finance, but only in the poor in spirit, the meek, the peacemakers, the oppressed, etc., those who sought righteousness rather than power or glory.

Clare73 · Feb 24, 2023

Xeno.of.athens said:
Some believe that the message of the gospel is intended to challenge sinners and by challenging them cause the elect among them to repent as the Holy Spirit convicts them thought a new-born godly conscience. The word I chose, 'challenge', can be replaced with the word, 'offend' and the meaning will be almost exactly the same.
Are you one who presents a challenging gospel, an offensive one, when you have the opportunity to explain Jesus and his work to people who are not yet professing Christians?
Or is the message that you present different, would you characterise it as something different from offensive?

I hope not. . .

It is Paul that calls the cross (gospel) an offense (Gal 5:11), a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishess to the Gentiles (1 Co 1:23,
Ro 9:32-33) and Simeon who said that Jesus would be a sign spoken against (Lk 2:34).

Is the gospel offensive?

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

Junior Member

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

Well-Known Member

243 God loves me

Regular Member

Oldbie

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

Oldbie

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

Regular Member

Well-Known Member

Blood-bought

Similar threads