Tag: Offense

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Hardcore Seventies Vibe.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Coming to Christ in 1977, the tail end of the “Jesus movement,” was a radical time of faith. Calvary Chapel and Chuck Smith were very much at the forefront of this raw truth, with this “turn or burn” belief system. Our youth group’s messages were all about picking up your cross, expecting opposition, even suffering and doing life for the cause of Christ! Yes, we all had rapture fever. And, there was a unified feeling that our family and friends could miss heaven and spend eternity in hell, if they didn’t believe and become saved. “Chic-tracs,” and salvation pamphlets could be found everywhere in restaurants and restrooms. The new translations of the Bible were selling like crazy. One of them, “Good news for modern man,” was a paraphrased version of the Bible. It read like a modern young adult drama, using surfing lingo instead of the King’s English. It was offensive to older folks and a bit off in the translation, but it was a big attention getter in High Schools. It became a conversation starter on campuses across America.

Students curiously stared at those who carried a Bible to school and read it at lunch. They would pass by these new “Bible Thumpers,” and with some respect say, “Whoa, that’s radical man!” I can tell you that it was powerful to be counter-cultural with Christianity in the seventies. But the message wasn’t soft, and filled with comfort and peace. It was considered to be hard-core, and in one’s face about their faith. When we would openly talk about Jesus in class, on campus, it wasn’t seen as judging, narrow minded, bigoted or phobic, it was hard truth. And, it was expected to challenged – we were taught that our faith would be challenged because Jesus himself was challenged!

In my high school science class, my teacher made this brash, arrogant statement about the theory of evolution. But in stating evolution as a fact, he just couldn’t help taking a jab at Christianity, saying, “who would be stupid enough to believe the God created the world?” I was young in my faith, and didn’t think through the moment. I just heard him insult my faith! I raised my hand and said, “I am.” I don’t think he expected anyone to challenge him. Ah, but the sixties and seventies were all about challenging authority figures! He gleefully took opportunity to mock me in front of the whole class.

“Garvin!” He shouted, “you are dumb enough to believe that God created the world?” “Yes,” I said, my cheeks turning bright red with emotion and embarrassment. “How in the world could you believe such nonsense?” he asked. I quietly responded “God said He did in the Bible. And I believe it’s true.” He went on with his lecture and I immediately thought of this idea of picking up the cross and losing my life – or at least my dismal high school reputation. My Youth Pastor had told me this kind of thing would happen when one follows Jesus and quoted Jesus saying “pick up your cross!” Great lesson, right?

I wasn’t being bold, I was just determined not to have anyone knock my faith in the One who had saved my life, promised to change me, lead me and love me. After class, I tried to slip out to avoid the blowback from other students. Shockingly, several of my classmates came up and said, “I’m a Christian too,” and congratulated me for standing up to “the man.” Quietly, I thought, why didn’t anyone else say something? Why didn’t any of them side with me in class? Here’s the thing. I was not some kind of bold, brash evangelist. I didn’t stand on a lunch table and start preaching. I just carried my Bible, had a few conversations with friends and lived my faith with confidence.

Where is that boldness to carry my cross of faith and conviction? Where is the fear of losing my life today? It’s been masked and submerged in trying not to OFFEND others. I must remember the Apostle Paul’s words, “the cross is offensive!” It’s also foolish, he said. (Galations 5:11 & 1 Corinthians 1:18). I understand being gracious, but I was much more forward about defending my faith when I was new believer. Christ died for me, saving me. That’s not just my story, it’s millions of others as well.

Prayer

Dad,
Restore unto me the joy of my salvation! Kindness does not mean I should deny truth, not my truth – THE TRUTH. It should not mean that I can’t boldly tell my story and let you work in those who will listen. Thank you for reminding me to pick up my cross, laying down my life to follow you.

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Stuff Christians are offended by.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT

It seems like it’s a lot more than just foody issues. This chapter is famous for the whole idea of Jewish vs Gentile food choices. It was a huge ordeal to the Jewish community because they were raised in a strict dietary culture obeying the commandments of God from the Old Testament. God’s food commandments were given for multiple reasons, primarily for their own health and safety. When God opened the door for the Gentiles (all non-Jews) to have access to salvation, He also let them drop most of the regulations and restrictions the Jews had practiced for thousands of years. It wasn’t just about eating pork and other foods formerly considered “unclean.” It was also this idea of where the food came from.

The Roman/Greek world worshipped multiple gods and they often connected that worship with a number of ritual practices. Some of those practices were sexual, which God forbid all followers of Jesus to participate in. Many practices involved the practice of bringing a food offering. The butcher business was booming in New Testament times! These meats and produce were often prepared for those rituals, then sold in the marketplace. Jewish believers only purchased their food from Jewish merchants. And, their food was prepared according to the rules of the Old Testament- especially the meat. Today, there are many groups of folks in our culture that still are required to only eat kosher foods. Foods properly prepared and blessed by priests or holy persons.

When Jewish believers started fellowshipping with Gentile believers, it usually meant there was food involved. The big concern was – where did the meat come from? Was it certified and approved or was it purchased from some street vendor who got it directly from a ritualistic offering to fake gods (idols)? You can see why this would cause problems for the Jewish believers! They could not even imagine anyone eating non-kosher, unclean meat, that had been used to worship idols. It was more than just offensive, it was repulsive!

Paul had been given the job of gently correcting both the Jewish and the Gentile folks, NOT in their preferences or their convictions, but in their behaviors and interactions with one another. This is never easy! How does one correct someone’s convictions? One holds deeply personal beliefs about their spiritual practices with God. The other does not have those internal convictions and came to Christ with little or no spiritual practices at all. Paul doesn’t go after the convictions, he goes after the attitudes and behaviors of those who believe differently than they do.

When it came to non-kosher meat, he appeals not to their sense of the law, but to their responsibility to grace. Wow – that’s tough. He implores the Jewish believers to accept the Gentile person, without needing to accept their preferences or lack of convictions. In other places, he refers to those who cling to the law over grace as the “weaker” faith! (Romans 14:1-2). Paul also deals with the brash, hubris behavior of the Gentile believers who felt free to flaunt their freedom, completely unconcerned about the convictions of their Jewish friends.

Paul writes this brilliant, Holy Spirit inspired word, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” (Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭17‬-‭19‬). This goes far beyond eating preferences! This speaks to much of our current crisis of church raised believers verses non-church raised believers. There are a massive amount of convictions and preferences that have come from those who were raised in church families. Not all of which were good or even Biblical. Then, along comes hundreds, thousands of those with zero spiritual practices coming from a godly heritage. Paul’s words are more than appropriate today, they are necessary reminders! The Kingdom of God is not about such things as bowling alleys, moving picture shows, wearing jeans or tattoos! It is about a life of goodness, peace and joy which is specifically expressed in how we behave towards one another. One position should not SHUN the other. And, one position shouldn’t flaunt their freedoms either. We need unity over preferences and care over convictions.

Prayer

Dad,
Help us behave like we are family, under the lordship of Jesus. Help us fulfill the prayer of Jesus to be one, even as you are one!

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Good Guilt

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.” Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is a tricky one to translate no matter what version of the Bible you use. The Hebrew words and phrases are deeply embedded in cultural and have nuanced ways of using words in context. Not to get too deep in Hebrew here, because I am a complete novice at this. However, many of the tools to study the Bible are super useful.

There are a few fascinating words used in this text. One is the word, translated in NLT as guilt is the word, asham: offense, guilt. Strong’s concordance straight out translates this as the word “sin,” because it is often used in that way.

Keeping that in mind, the other word is translated as fools but the actual Hebrew word is evil: אֱוִיל. Hold on. That’s not our word evil, it’s a Hebrew word meaning a fool. There are four different words for the word fool in Proverbs and this one is used 19 times. It means to be perverse; (fig.) silly. This person (perverse fool) mocks or scorns guilt, offense or sin, believing it to be useless.

Do you know anyone who has convinced themselves they should not feel guilty for anything because they declare any sense of wrong to be a false moral construct. They believe guilt or sin is a made up, social restraint! This ancient text, the Bible, God’s wisdom, disagrees and WARNS the fool about it. But the upright do not mock guilt they see it as the Hebrew word “ratson,” or “favorable and accept it.” I love the fact that the New Living Translation translates “ratson” into the phrase, “seek reconciliation,” as this idea of favorable acceptance.

We are in a cultural crisis of passive/aggressive behavioral patterns in our relationships and work hard to completely AVOID any perceived confrontation or conflict. This is whether we caused it or were the recipient of it! We are all avoiding reconciliation! We’ve allowed many of our relationships, deep or shallow to become soured and embittered, littered with blame and ghosting.

We are, in fact, playing the Biblical fool by ignoring wisdom’s life giving advice. Wisdom tells me to embrace the offense or guilt, favorably accepting it because, for one, it’s shredding our ability to form and keep healthy relationships. Have I offended or hurt someone? I should own it and say I’M SORRY, and ask for forgiveness. Has someone offended or hurt me? I should see it as an opportunity to value the friendship enough to tell them it hurt! That is still a form of favorably accepting their offense and seeking reconciliation. The aim is to repair, not ignore, to love, not run away.

Love demands that we promptly and maturely handle each other as Christ handles us! God’s wisdom works every time. I need to quit playing the fool, whether it’s my hurtful words towards someone or my bruised ego because of what others said. I want to be godly, to reconcile and restore those relationships I value so much.

Prayer

Dad,
Your Word is truly a lamp for my feet and a light on the path to wisdom and life itself. I am so thankful that you cut through the nonsense of my thinking to confront the brutal facts, the radical candor of how life works. You have designed this life to be experienced in all beauty and wonder and yet I still attempt to manipulate the rules to suit myself. I am humbled by Proverbs and hope to fulfill its intent to make me wise and not play the fool.