Becoming Offensive

Informed and vocal change agents who confront spiritual lies by engaging cultural ideas with the truth of God’s word will cause offense. This is because truth compels people to face the ugly reality of their actions, along with their consequences. This is why the apostle Paul writes, “To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom” (2 Cor. 2:16a).

Many will flee the truth, and others will seek to silence it. Nevertheless, some will be so repulsed by their behavior that they will repent and embrace God’s offer of deliverance. Therefore, Paul adds, “But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume” (2 Cor. 2:16b).

God’s people cannot be afraid of offending others with His truth because freedom from the corrupting influence of sin only comes through a committed understanding of truth (John 8:31–32). Indeed, we have an obligation to speak God’s truth, even if it causes offense: “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Eph. 4:15, ESV). Note, however, that there is an expectation that we will do this in the most tender, yet meaningful, way possible.

People do not change unless they are first offended by their own behavior. In this sense, the truth should, and must, offend. But this offense ought to stem from the conviction of the Holy Spirit, not from the force of our delivery: “[The Holy Spirit] will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment” (John 16:8).

If we are overly concerned about causing discomfort or offense, then we will likely never see meaningful change. Even Jesus was not more concerned about people’s feelings than their need to embrace truth. Jesus regularly reached out to those whom society rejected as sinful reprobates, but He did not build relationships with sinners just to make them feel loved. Instead, He wanted to see them freed from their sin. After first demonstrating His genuine concern for their wellbeing, Jesus was not afraid to offend sinners with the truth because Jesus never placed people’s feelings above their need for salvation.

This is the tough love to which we are called: “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34). Becoming God’s cultural influencers includes showing a tough love that is honest enough to elicit offense for the purpose of conviction.

This article comes from Heart of a Forerunner: How to Be a Relevant and Influential Voice in a Wayward Nation