The Encourager
“Are We Offended Because of Christ?”
Are We Offended Because of Christ?
by Jeff Curtis
People were offended by Christ. The citizens of His hometown were offended because of Him (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:3; Luke 4:28-29; John 1:46). Why are people offended today?
- Christ was more concerned with the spiritual than with the material. He was more concerned with the soul than with the body. He was concerned with the physical body, but He put its proper perspective. Where do we place the most importance? Our society is drunk on materialism. Media sources like TV are teaching our children self-indulgence and self-pity instead of self-denial, selflessness, and self-sacrifice. What are they learning about what is really important in life?
- Christ exalted the commonplace things in life. He was displeased with the pomp and circumstance of the Jewish religion of His day. He lived as a simple man with simple ways. He used weak and foolish things to confound the mighty (1Corinthians 1:27). “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” Paul feared that some would be corrupted by “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2Corinthians 11:3; NKJV; “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” Are we insulted by the simple acts of worship or the simple plan of salvation?
- Christ contradicted some of the most cherished beliefs and traditions of His day. If He had agreed with the religious leaders of the Jews, they would have flocked to Him. Instead, He condemned their sinful practices and religious error. He charged them with hypocrisy and exhorted them to practice righteousness (Matthew 6:2,5,16; 15:3-11). Some are offended today when they learn that Christ did not teach certain popular doctrines of the religious world. The gospel of Christ alone is God’s power to save; “For I am not ashamed of the gospel [a]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).
We must have more concern with the spiritual than with the material things in life. What if Christ came and walked with us each day? Would we be offended by what He might tell us?
Finding Your Life
(Matthew 10:39)
by Jeff Curtis
We sometimes say about a young person that they are trying to “find themselves.” Many people try to find themselves through legitimate activities such as sports, hobbies, education, and careers. Others attempt to find themselves through illegitimate pursuits, such as experimenting with drugs or being sexually promiscuous. In the end, none of these can satisfy. Solomon pursued work, wealth, and women in order to find life – and came away empty. He concluded the meaning of life is only found in a relationship with God; “13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is mans all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). People can find life today by following Christ. This pathway is one of self-denial and sacrifice, and it is the only one that is truly satisfying.
