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Death by Etiquette
In Matthew 5, Jesus ends the beatitudes with, âBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you false for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.â (Matthew 5:10-12)
Jesus was making a dramatic point that day on the Galilean hillside. That true Christianity came with a price. The disciples and others in the crowd would face turbulent times as a result of Jesus. Not only did Jesus face death, but ten of the original twelve apostles died a martyrâs death because of their faith in Jesus.
The early Christian Church faced troublesome times as well. Israel and its surrounding neighbors fell under the rule of the Roman Empire. The rulers of the Empire, known as Caesars, began to view themselves as God. The Emperor Nero would impale believers on a stake and then set their bodies on fire and use them as lamps for his evening banquets. The Emperor Domitian ordered soldiers to go door to door demanding all citizens to bow and say, âCaesar is Lord.â For believers there was only one Lord, Jesus. Those refusing to say âCaesar is Lordâ would face a variety of fates. Some would be carted off to Rome to face the lions for the sheer entertainment of Romeâs citizens. Others would be dragged behind a cart and the sheer journey would bring death. While others were instantly beheaded still some believers were sold into slavery. The words of Jesus truly applied to these believers as they faced ridicule, slavery and even death.
The preaching of the gospel and the life that is lived out when it is believed brings persecution. There is no way to escape it. Therefore, the question that begs to be answered is, if weâre not being persecuted are we faithfully living the life?
The gospel is offensive. Telling someone they are sinful, dirty, and unclean is not a popular message. It is offensive to hear that God is not pleased with you. It does not win friends and influence people when telling unbelievers that upon death they will be cast into hell by a holy God who finds their lives unacceptable. The truth of the gospel is offensive and brings with it persecution. As a result, the gospel is often toned-down. Individuals are told that Jesus wants to be their friend instead of telling them Jesus died to put them in a right relationship with God. Individuals are taught that Jesus will come into their heart and take care of all their problems and theyâll never have another care (a promise Jesus Himself never made). In an effort not to turn people away from the Church, the truth of message is toned-down as to not offend the potential Church attendee. Yet, the truth remains: the gospel is offensive.
Often the gospel is toned-down in an effort to escape criticism. A preacher in todayâs society would find himself criticized for saying that people are NOT basically good, but they are basically bad and thatâs why there is a need for a Savior. Persecution is avoided by tweaking the message.
Societyâs great thinkers, and many times our own people, criticize ministers for proclaiming the truth that people without Jesus will go to hell. The deepest of minds will ask how a God of love can allow His own creation to suffer eternally and then progress to label the preacher who teaches that truth as uneducated and simple minded.
Let us not shrink from our calling. We must proclaim the gospel with love and boldness. Simply because the message is offensive does not mean we have to be offensive. Yet, we must proclaim the message no matter the cost. If we are ridiculed, the message must be proclaimed. If we are jailed, the message must be proclaimed. If our own government passes laws against the preaching of the message, the message must be proclaimed. Why must it be proclaimed? For the God that saved us, commands us to tell the world. Jesus said in Matthew 28, âGo, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.â (Matthew 28:18-20) The gospel must be preached. The truth must be told. Are we willing to pay the price to preach the gospel? Are we willing to preach a message that may offend some in an effort to save some?
Not only does the preaching of the gospel bring persecution, but so does living it out. We are called to be holy people. In I Peter 1:15-16 Peter writes, âbut as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.â The world doesnât like holy people. Thereâs a simple reason: holy people, through the simple living of their lives, expose sin in others.
The Old Testament prophets were killed for pointing out the sin of the nation of Israel. John the Baptizer was beheaded for preaching a message of holiness and for exposing the sickening sexual relationship Herod was having with his dead brotherâs widow. Jesus angered the religious authorities of His time for doing good things that was not approved by the religious establishment. Eventually, the establishment murdered Him. Paul faced prison, beatings with a whip, trials, a shipwreck, he was stoned, and eventually beheaded in Rome. Living a life for Christ has a high price. The price is persecution.
We should never seek persecution. As the people of God there is no need to worry, persecution will find us. Yet it only finds us if weâre living a holy life. The world has no need in getting rid of people that agree with it and live like it. Those who stand for righteousness and live for God will find themselves losing friends, losing jobs, and sometimes losing a spouse.
Does the world really hate us? No. The world hates God. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22, âAnd you will be hated by all for My nameâs sake.â The world hates us because of our love for God. As believers faithfully living for God we are reminders to the world of their sin and impending doom.
Yet, letâs be honest we often find ourselves living like the world. We laugh at their jokes, find loopholes in the law, and attempt to be ârealâ people in effort to win their friendship. Often times, etiquette is important than the message. In an effort to be nice and accepting of people believers wink at sin and never speak up for righteousness. Thirty years ago, a young lady pregnant out of wedlock was a disgrace. Today she is a victim and is to be pitied. Thirty years ago, an alcoholic man was seen as a failure in his home. Today we want to know what his father did to drive him to drink.
Somewhere along the way, the church stopped being salt. Jesus said, âYou are the salt of the earth.â Ever pour salt into a wound? It burns. Does a young lady pregnant out of wedlock need to be pitied? Yes. She needs love. Yet she also needs to know the price of sin and what God demands of her. Does the alcoholic Dad need therapy? Possibly. But even more he needs a believer to speak the truth to him of how God is not pleased with his own life and to remind him of how he is ruining others. True love for the world is shown by sharing the gospel with it. Not being friends with it. Not offending it. But bringing the saving message of the gospel to it. That is the greatest expression of love.
Let us not shun our responsibility of living holy lives. May we never quit preaching the truth of the gospel. The instant we find it more important to be friends with the world than to reach it for Christ, the church will begin to die. If we laugh at their jokes, approve of the sin, ignore the consequences, and water-down the message the church will die. In an effort to practice proper etiquette and not offend anyone, the church will die. Should the church die, let it be said she died a martyrâs death proclaiming the gospel. May the death certificate never read: Death by Etiquette.
Lighthouse Ministries
Father God, I pray for the power and peace by the fullness of the Holy Spirit to always preach the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. I pray, Lord Jesus, that I may never comprise your Word by befriending the world or watering down the offensive message of the cross. This I ask Father, in Jesus Christ, my precious Lord and Savior's name. Have your way with me Lord, and do as you will so that I might please you Beloved Spotless Lamb of God. Amen.
Death by Etiquette
In Matthew 5, Jesus ends the beatitudes with, âBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you false for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.â (Matthew 5:10-12)
Jesus was making a dramatic point that day on the Galilean hillside. That true Christianity came with a price. The disciples and others in the crowd would face turbulent times as a result of Jesus. Not only did Jesus face death, but ten of the original twelve apostles died a martyrâs death because of their faith in Jesus.
The early Christian Church faced troublesome times as well. Israel and its surrounding neighbors fell under the rule of the Roman Empire. The rulers of the Empire, known as Caesars, began to view themselves as God. The Emperor Nero would impale believers on a stake and then set their bodies on fire and use them as lamps for his evening banquets. The Emperor Domitian ordered soldiers to go door to door demanding all citizens to bow and say, âCaesar is Lord.â For believers there was only one Lord, Jesus. Those refusing to say âCaesar is Lordâ would face a variety of fates. Some would be carted off to Rome to face the lions for the sheer entertainment of Romeâs citizens. Others would be dragged behind a cart and the sheer journey would bring death. While others were instantly beheaded still some believers were sold into slavery. The words of Jesus truly applied to these believers as they faced ridicule, slavery and even death.
The preaching of the gospel and the life that is lived out when it is believed brings persecution. There is no way to escape it. Therefore, the question that begs to be answered is, if weâre not being persecuted are we faithfully living the life?
The gospel is offensive. Telling someone they are sinful, dirty, and unclean is not a popular message. It is offensive to hear that God is not pleased with you. It does not win friends and influence people when telling unbelievers that upon death they will be cast into hell by a holy God who finds their lives unacceptable. The truth of the gospel is offensive and brings with it persecution. As a result, the gospel is often toned-down. Individuals are told that Jesus wants to be their friend instead of telling them Jesus died to put them in a right relationship with God. Individuals are taught that Jesus will come into their heart and take care of all their problems and theyâll never have another care (a promise Jesus Himself never made). In an effort not to turn people away from the Church, the truth of message is toned-down as to not offend the potential Church attendee. Yet, the truth remains: the gospel is offensive.
Often the gospel is toned-down in an effort to escape criticism. A preacher in todayâs society would find himself criticized for saying that people are NOT basically good, but they are basically bad and thatâs why there is a need for a Savior. Persecution is avoided by tweaking the message.
Societyâs great thinkers, and many times our own people, criticize ministers for proclaiming the truth that people without Jesus will go to hell. The deepest of minds will ask how a God of love can allow His own creation to suffer eternally and then progress to label the preacher who teaches that truth as uneducated and simple minded.
Let us not shrink from our calling. We must proclaim the gospel with love and boldness. Simply because the message is offensive does not mean we have to be offensive. Yet, we must proclaim the message no matter the cost. If we are ridiculed, the message must be proclaimed. If we are jailed, the message must be proclaimed. If our own government passes laws against the preaching of the message, the message must be proclaimed. Why must it be proclaimed? For the God that saved us, commands us to tell the world. Jesus said in Matthew 28, âGo, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.â (Matthew 28:18-20) The gospel must be preached. The truth must be told. Are we willing to pay the price to preach the gospel? Are we willing to preach a message that may offend some in an effort to save some?
Not only does the preaching of the gospel bring persecution, but so does living it out. We are called to be holy people. In I Peter 1:15-16 Peter writes, âbut as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.â The world doesnât like holy people. Thereâs a simple reason: holy people, through the simple living of their lives, expose sin in others.
The Old Testament prophets were killed for pointing out the sin of the nation of Israel. John the Baptizer was beheaded for preaching a message of holiness and for exposing the sickening sexual relationship Herod was having with his dead brotherâs widow. Jesus angered the religious authorities of His time for doing good things that was not approved by the religious establishment. Eventually, the establishment murdered Him. Paul faced prison, beatings with a whip, trials, a shipwreck, he was stoned, and eventually beheaded in Rome. Living a life for Christ has a high price. The price is persecution.
We should never seek persecution. As the people of God there is no need to worry, persecution will find us. Yet it only finds us if weâre living a holy life. The world has no need in getting rid of people that agree with it and live like it. Those who stand for righteousness and live for God will find themselves losing friends, losing jobs, and sometimes losing a spouse.
Does the world really hate us? No. The world hates God. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22, âAnd you will be hated by all for My nameâs sake.â The world hates us because of our love for God. As believers faithfully living for God we are reminders to the world of their sin and impending doom.
Yet, letâs be honest we often find ourselves living like the world. We laugh at their jokes, find loopholes in the law, and attempt to be ârealâ people in effort to win their friendship. Often times, etiquette is important than the message. In an effort to be nice and accepting of people believers wink at sin and never speak up for righteousness. Thirty years ago, a young lady pregnant out of wedlock was a disgrace. Today she is a victim and is to be pitied. Thirty years ago, an alcoholic man was seen as a failure in his home. Today we want to know what his father did to drive him to drink.
Somewhere along the way, the church stopped being salt. Jesus said, âYou are the salt of the earth.â Ever pour salt into a wound? It burns. Does a young lady pregnant out of wedlock need to be pitied? Yes. She needs love. Yet she also needs to know the price of sin and what God demands of her. Does the alcoholic Dad need therapy? Possibly. But even more he needs a believer to speak the truth to him of how God is not pleased with his own life and to remind him of how he is ruining others. True love for the world is shown by sharing the gospel with it. Not being friends with it. Not offending it. But bringing the saving message of the gospel to it. That is the greatest expression of love.
Let us not shun our responsibility of living holy lives. May we never quit preaching the truth of the gospel. The instant we find it more important to be friends with the world than to reach it for Christ, the church will begin to die. If we laugh at their jokes, approve of the sin, ignore the consequences, and water-down the message the church will die. In an effort to practice proper etiquette and not offend anyone, the church will die. Should the church die, let it be said she died a martyrâs death proclaiming the gospel. May the death certificate never read: Death by Etiquette.
Lighthouse Ministries
Father God, I pray for the power and peace by the fullness of the Holy Spirit to always preach the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. I pray, Lord Jesus, that I may never comprise your Word by befriending the world or watering down the offensive message of the cross. This I ask Father, in Jesus Christ, my precious Lord and Savior's name. Have your way with me Lord, and do as you will so that I might please you Beloved Spotless Lamb of God. Amen.
