The Offensive Church

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Matthew 5:14

I realize that the title of this post is no doubt very controversial. However, I feel that it is good every once and awhile to stir up some good, honest controversy. You see, Jesus was the most controversial Man in history. And the Bible says that that is exactly what we as Christians are supposed to be. The church of Jesus Christ is meant to offend.

John 3:19 tells us that people naturally love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. I am afraid that too many of our modern-day churches are nothing but hiding places for the lost. God has put me here to tell you today that, if your membership is placed at a church where outright, inright, downright sinners are made comfortable, you need to get out and get out right now!

It is my prayer that the church that I attend will be occupied by the lost every time the doors are open. However, I want them to be dragged in there by fellow Christians. You know that you have a problem when the lost walk into a church on their own freewill. You have an even greater problem when the lost walk out of that church feeling the same as when they walked in.

In Matthew 5:13-14 Christians are referred to as the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” What does salt do? It preserves, but it also helps fight infection. Have you ever gotten salt in an open wound? If you have, I can guarantee you it did not feel too good. When a lost person walks into a church service, he ought to feel that uncomfortable.

Likewise, light exposes that which is hidden by darkness. Quite frankly, a church that is doing what it is supposed to do ought to strike up fear in the heart of the unbeliever. The lost ought to be so afraid that the hidden parts of them will be exposed that, when they attend our churches, they do it skeptically.

Finally, the church of Jesus Christ ought to be a place of conviction. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” My ideal church is a church that has a pastor who will get in your face and make you feel as though you are the only one in the room and he is calling you out personally. If the Word of God is preached exactly as it was intended to be and there is any sin present in the life of the listener, that will be the result every time.

You say, “But God is love…” Yes, He is. However, don’t think for one second that Jesus preached a feel-good message during His ministry here on this earth. In fact, in John 8:44 Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees, “Ye are of your father the devil.” Now, how many times has your pastor said that? I am afraid that we are so scared of offending anyone that all we are doing is making this world a better place to go to Hell from.

The church is meant to offend. We ought to follow Jesus’ example of giving the Law to the proud and grace to the humble. So if there are any pastors reading this today, please make it your goal to be salt, to be light, and to preach messages that are convicting to the very soul and do it in love.

If you are reading this today and you do not know Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, it is my prayer that you will come to know Him before it is eternally too late for you. Turn completely from all sin and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. If you will do that, He will save you today and keep you saved forever.