The Most Offensive Aspect of Christianity

Last updated on: August 27, 2015 at 8:43 am by Josh Daffern

The Most Offensive Aspect of Christianity 2015-08-27T08:43:54-06:00 Josh Daffern

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.

There are a truckload of issues where Christians are seen to be offensive and countercultural: gay marriage, abortion, religious liberty being the most prevalent. Yet with all of these issues, I would argue that as offensive as our views on these issues might seem to the world, there is one that is more offensive still: the gospel.

Why is the gospel so offensive? Because of Jesus’ claims. He says he’s the good shepherd, which means everyone else is lost. He’s the light, which means everyone else is in darkness. He’s the bread of the world, indicating that everyone else is hungry. Everyone is sinful, only Jesus can forgive. He’s coming to judge the world, and Jesus will decide eternal destinies on the day of judgment.

The central offense is the claim that Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus says in John 14:6, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. We want more ways. If there were 1000 ways to God, we would want 1001. We want to call the shots. The Bible says the only way we can receive forgiveness is to turn from our sins and trust in Jesus.

The idea that Jesus is God is offensive to people. Over 1 billion Muslims in the world find it offensive that God would ever humiliate himself by becoming a man. Hundreds of millions more think it’s preposterous that a man could be divine.

But the offense goes further. Not only did God become man, but that God-man was crucified at the hands of a pagan government, a humiliating death as there could be. Imagine taking a successful, well-dressed American with a nice job, big house, sweet car and free-thinking American woman who thrives on her independence and leading them to a garbage dump, where a naked man hangs by nails on a tree, covered in blood, and telling them, “This is your God.” They would laugh at you, possibly feel sorry for you, and certainly move on with their lives.

The peak of their offense would come when you told them that their eternal destinies rested not on anything they did, but on believing that the naked dying man was in fact God. If they don’t believe, their eternity is hell.

When you put all these truths together, you realize that the most offensive and countercultural claim in Christianity is not what Christians believe about homosexuality or abortion, marriage or religious liberty. Instead, the most offensive claim in Christianity is that God is the Creator, Owner, and Judge of every person on the planet, and that forgiveness only comes through believing in His Son. That’s offensive.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Previous Post

August 26, 2015

Why Does God Allow Persecution?

Next Post

August 28, 2015 Hurricane Katrina and My Journey to Columbus

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Family Matters Ministry in the Trenches Morning Brew MTVpastor New Wineskins Top Menu Truth from Life Uncategorized Watch Sermons

Select a Month June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 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 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 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Levi" mean in Hebrew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

God is my strength Chosen Joined Set apart