Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
5 Reasons Why People May Oppose the Gospel

5 Reasons Why People May Oppose the Gospel

Last updated on: March 8, 2018 at 10:01 pm by Jim Erwin

5 Reasons Why People May Oppose the Gospel 2018-03-08T22:01:23-05:00 Jim Erwin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

1. Some oppose the Gospel because they are JEALOUS (Mark 6:14-16)

“King Herod heard about it, because Jesus’s name had become well known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He’s Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.” When Herod heard of it, he said, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!”” (Mark 6:14–16, CSB)

Herod decided that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Herod was jealous of Jesus’ popularity just as he was jealous of John’s popularity. When a person is jealous of the popularity that comes with the spreading of the Gospel, they may oppose it by any means.

We live in a world today for the competition of attention. Herod wanted to the attention of his subjects. Yet, John, and eventually Jesus, won more followers. As Herod saw it, he was losing followers to Jesus. So Herod got jealous and wanted to put a stop to it. Today is the same. We live in a world of competition. The competition for people’s attention is coming from other community groups, even other churches. This competition for popularity can breed jealousy.

One of the lessons we learn here is that the Gospel should rise above our jealousy of other groups. We shouldn’t let our jealousy for attention stop us from sharing the Gospel.

2. Some oppose the Gospel because they hold GRUDGES about being confronted for their sins (Mark 6:17-19)

“For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not,” (Mark 6:17–19, CSB)

John the Baptist had been continually confronting Herod. John wanted Herod to truly repent and change. That required confronting Herod with his sin. In this case, the sin was sexual intercourse within the family. Herod was having sex with his brother’s wife. This was strictly forbidden.

“You are not to have sexual intercourse with your brother’s wife; she is your brother’s family.” (Leviticus 18:16, CSB)

“If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is impurity. He has violated the intimacy that belongs to his brother; they will be childless.” (Leviticus 20:21, CSB)

Herod wanted to not just have sex with her. He wanted to marry her.

While some oppose the Gospel because of grudges based on confrontation for sin, others will oppose the Gospel because they are fearful of God’ people.

3. Some oppose the Gospel because they are FEARFUL of God’s people for what they represent (Mark 6:20)

“because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.” (Mark 6:20, CSB)

John’s confronted had two different reactions. When John confronted Herod about Herodias, Herodias became bitter, angry, and held a grudge. It’s clear that when someone is confronted with their sin and they are unrepentant and angry, you know that they still have a sin problem. She wanted the relationship. Yet with Herod, his sin affected him differently. When John confronts Herod, Herod was truly scared. He knew that John was right. But Herod was put between a rock and a hard place. Because sometimes, people will use personal excuses to oppose the Gospel.

4. Some oppose the Gospel because they have PERSONAL EXCUSES (Mark 6:24)

“She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” she said.” (Mark 6:24, CSB)

Some people oppose the Gospel because they have personal excuses. What originally was a prophetic rebuttal against sin has become a personal issue with Herodias. Earlier, she wanted to kill John the Baptist because of her grudge. However, she was prevented by Herod not to kill John. Yet, later she is given the opportunity to oppose John. She takes her personal problem with John and uses her political influence over Herod to have John killed.

This reveals the attitude of a person who opposed the Gospel. It doesn’t matter what excuse is used. They accomplish the same goal: opposing the Gospel.

“We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t mourn! For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” Then he proceeded to denounce the towns where most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent:” (Matthew 11:17–20, CSB)

It doesn’t matter how you act, someone will use an excuse to oppose you. You can play the flute, but they won’t dance. You can sing a sad country song, but they won’t mourn. A Christian can choose to not drink alcohol, but they will call you demon possessed. A Christian can choose to drink, but they will call you a sinner.

Some people will use personal excuses to oppose the Gospel. Others will use political pressure.

5. Some oppose the Gospel because of POLITICAL PRESSURE (Mark 6:26)

“Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her.” (Mark 6:26, CSB)

Salome, with whispers from her mother Herodias, uses this opportunity to cut off John the Baptist and his influence. Herodias uses this political opportunity that presents itself to get what she wants. She manipulates her daughter and Herod to stop the prophet who told her she was wrong. She used political pressure.

Political pressure can be used by anyone who wants to put themselves above Jesus and His mission. People use political pressure in the church. I have seen this happen many times. There will be people who will try to use people of influence and power for their own personal agendas. Many times, these personal agendas don’t move the Gospel forward. Instead, personal preferences are promoted in favor of the Gospel.

For example, someone can use political pressure to oppose a certain worship style. But in opposing a worship style, they prevent the Gospel from working.

Here we see five reasons why we may face opposition to the Gospel. No doubt, this story looks like an insertion. It is more like a pause from the flow of the rest of the Gospel of Mark. However, this story is told for a good reason.

John suffered death at the hands of people who opposed to the Gospel. Jesus suffered death as well. Jesus and John were not surprised by the opposition they encountered. We may not suffer death. But we will encounter opposition and we should not be afraid of it. As a matter of fact, we can have victory over this opposition if we continue to be faithful to the Gospel.

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

Other Related Posts:

5 Church Evangelism Principles

Countering Celebrity Christianity

Previous Post

March 8, 2018

Living Revision by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew

Next Post

March 12, 2018 6 Steps in the Process of Reaching the Community for Christ

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 Chronicles 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Kings 1 Peter 1 Samuel 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Chronicles 2 Corinthians 2 John 2 Kings 2 Peter 2 Samuel 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy 3 John Acts Advent Amos Book Review Colossians Comics Culture Watch Daniel Deuteronomy Ecclesiastes Ephesians Esther Exodus Ezekiel Ezra Galatians Genesis Guest Post Habakkuk Haggai Hebrews Hosea Humor Inspiritational Isaiah James Jeremiah Job Joel John Jonah Joshua Jude Judges Lamentations Lectionary Lent Leviticus Link Love Luke Malachi Mark Matthew Micah Movie Review Nahum Nehemiah Numbers Philippians Political Watch Prophecy Watch Proverbs Psalm Revelation Reviews Romans Ruth Science Watch Sermon Series Sermons Simple Thoughts Song of Solomon Titus Top Ten Uncategorized Video Review Zechariah Zephaniah

Select a Month May 2026 October 2025 September 2025 June 2025 February 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 January 2022 June 2021 January 2021 October 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2009 June 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the primary liquid measurement in Biblical times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Cor Ephah Hin Bath