Offensive Christianity

Luke 11:42-44
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
"Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it."


It seems we, as Christians, are so concerned about what our fellow Christians think about what we’re saying - do they agree? are they offended? Then we get out into the world and care nothing about whether or not we offend those we are trying to reach. Granted, we cannot hide our faith, nor should we have to. However, Jesus was all about spreading love to the unloved and unlovable, not judgement.

Yet, we spend our time in front of abortion clinics telling the girls going in how terrible and sinful they are. Jesus would have been at the back door, telling them that He still loves them and that He forgives them, offering them healing and hope. We picket homosexual funerals, gay-rights parades, and the like. Jesus would have been there simply offering His love, letting them know that there is another way - a better way. We love to tell the world how terrible they are, how their destiny lies in hell. Jesus loved to tell the world that despite the wrongs they have committed (and we’ve ALL made mistakes) that they could find love, acceptance, and healing in His outstretched arms.

The ones Christ called to task were those in the church that were, well, very much like us! The ones that said they were so holy and yet never spent a moment with God. They took great pains to do all the right things and let others know they needed to as well (or else!), yet never bothered to get to know the One whom they claimed to serve. Rather than loving those around them, they were heaping rules and regulations upon their backs that the people could not have possibly shouldered! Oh, how like them we are! Woe to us! It seems Jesus would have rather spent His time with the tax collectors and prostitutes, than those who called the church their home - and really, who can blame Him? That is generally one of the things we, as Christians, claim to love most about Him.

If we desire to reach those outside of our church walls, screaming "I can’t do that, I’m a Christian!" isn’t going to do it. Oh, it will let them know where we stand, and what we believe, but it will not show them the love, hope, and healing that Christ offers to each and every one of us, regardless of where we are. And when we heap upon them the rules that we ourselves cannot follow apart from Christ, we are asking them to do the impossible, and simply giving them a plate of despair, and offering no hope at all.

We can live what we believe, walking in the righteousness that Christ has given each of us, and still reach out to those who have yet to taste of the sweet goodness of Jesus. And by loving them in the midst of our Christ-given righteousness, they will see a side of Jesus and His Church that is rarely seen these days. Perhaps this will be the taste they have been waiting for, to draw them to the One who has all they will ever need or desire!