So, My Preaching Offends You? Good!

So, My Preaching Offends You? Good!

Jim Miller.

Acts 20:27-29:  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

There are times that others will come to you and say that they are offended by something you proclaim concerning the scriptures. Today more often than not you will hear that you are not being “Christlike” or that you are “Unloving” in your speech because you tell them the truth based on God's word. When we preach the truth many will be offended just as the Pharisees were in Jesus day.... Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch (Mat. 15:12-14).

Today the seeds of error have been planted deep and spread throughout the world. The “love and mercy” crowd who preach a watered down version of the Gospel have invaded even the church of the Lord. These ear-tickling preachers are a real and present danger to all they teach. They will not preach the whole counsel of God, they must either ad to or take away from God's counsel or even redefine its meaning in order to deceive their listeners into believing the error they so boldly proclaim. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (1 Pe 4:11).

The Christian cannot be ambivalent in attitude toward truth and error. Every Christian must be at war against error: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is
fulfilled (2 Cor. 10:4–6).

We have had our weapons and armor issued by God: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints  (Eph. 6:10-18).

When we engage the enemy we can give no quarter: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good
conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck (1 Tim. 1: 18-19).

Our preaching is only offensive to those in error.  The plain truth of God’s Word is like a two edged sword that cuts to the heart:  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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 (Heb 4:12). Stephen used it on his rebellious brethren, who put him to death (Acts 7, 8). Paul used it on the brethren at Corinth who were in sin (1 Cor. 5). Jesus used it through John to the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2, 3).

“My preaching offends you (because of the way it is presented).” This is what we are often told. “Oh, its not the truth that offends me,” they say, yet all the while they imply that there is a better way to preach than the way we do. “You are too hard, too harsh. You are not loving enough, kind enough, sweet tempered enough.” We are told, “You are too quick to jump, too rash, head strong, and divisive.” How many times have you heard people say, “You are driving folks away with your preaching; is it any wonder they do not want to come back?” What these folks fail to realize is, it is not we who are offensive, but the truth is what offends them just like it did the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. When we stand firmly on the word and proclaim it so others can understand some are going to be offended, because deep down they know that they are living in sin and do not want to admit it. Preaching the Truth will always offend those in error. The purpose of Gospel preaching is to bring others to the truth of God’s word. The message of the cross to those in sin is “repent.” Jesus said, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). Jesus said to the disciples, “All of you will be offended because of me this night…” (Mark 14:27). There was no way Jesus could do the Father’s will and not offend the Pharisees, or even his apostles.

False teachers do NOT like to be exposed and once they are they will say anything to make their followers believe that the sound teacher is the one in error. When they find that they cannot use their twisted and vile doctrine to refute the truth they will then stoop to personal attacks. The followers of these false teachers are taught early on to become offended by the teaching of the truth.

What we see being taught today is a “better felt than obeyed” gospel of man, not God. It has been said we have a heart problem, and to some extent this is true. The real problem I see is an attitude problem. The attitude that we can worship and live and make up our own rules and that God will just have to accept it. This is the real problem. We should be bringing our lives into subjection to God's will, not trying to bring God's to our own. Paul knew well this attitude when he wrote to the Corinthians: For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Cor. 9:19-27).

Sound Gospel preaching is preaching that exposes man’s sin and brings him to repentance. It cuts to the very heart it brings man to the understanding that the truth of God's word is what saves. The truth we preach is what men today do not want to comply with and therefore they twist and turn like torn sails in the wind with their false doctrines and teachings. When confronted with the truth the wolves will then show their teeth and try to devour all around them. Sound preaching keeps these wolves out of the Lord’s church. Sound men of God's word know not to fellowship these evil heretics: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds (2 John 1:7-11). This is why the false accusations fly and the character of those who preach the word is attacked so vehemently. The false teacher—the wolf at the door—knows the truth will show them for who they are.

For those who want to complain that my preaching or any other sound brother’s preaching is too harsh, too plain, or too offensive, I ask you this: Since you proclaim that you are preaching the same truth that we are yet we are faulty in our approach to the truth of God's Word and since you believe you can do so much better, why don't you get to it? When will we see these false teachers and preachers start teaching the real word of God and not some man-made gobbledy gook?  Where are the men who teach that fellowship with sin is wrong? Where are the sermons showing the error of man-made doctrines? Where are the sermons teaching the whole counsel of God, not just that which tickles the ear.

So my preaching offends you? GOOD! Come hear the truth...........