I’ve spent some time this week processing things from my 12 day trip to India. Takes a while to unpack everything emotionally from a trip like that. One of the biggest surprises looking back on the trip was the openness of the Indian people to the message of the Gospel.
While this was my third trip to India, this was the first trip where I had the opportunity to do a lot of preaching in different places. Each time we held a service we were in a place that was 95% Hindu or Muslim.
I’ve heard a phrase most of my life that goes like this: The cross is offensive.
The idea behind the phrase was if you preached the cross of Jesus you would offend people. I disagree. I don’t think the cross is offensive at all.
In fact, over and over again I met people who were incredibly open to the Christian message.
The cross isn’t offensive. What’s offensive is people who claim to have faith in the cross but act nothing like the Man who hung on the cross.
That’s what a curious, questioning world simply can’t swallow.
Have you found this to be true?
Pete – I think this is so great. I grew up in church being told the same sort of thing. I think it’s an easy way for to deflect the blame away. Then when someone get’s mad at us for some sort of “religious junk” we deflect it to the cross. Thanks for the way you lead us in being people who’s live are attractive because of what Jesus is doing and not offensive.
It’s absolutely true, Pete. The problem (as I see it) is that we’ve become so fractured in America as to what the Man on that cross would tell us to do in some situations that even if we all acted exactly like the man on that cross we’d still have serious divisions. Jesus was more than just love. He was more than just truth. He was all of it wrapped up in one. I fall way short of it. But man, I’d love someday for Him to give me that perfect mix just to see what it felt like to really see the world the way He saw it.
Pete, great post.
Living where we do it seems easy to say we are Christ-followers, but yet do so many things to not reflect exactly who Christ is.
You are right. It is the contradiction between a group that preaches the Gospel and does so with judgment, fear, and hate. The cross, and those who demonstrate grace, are not offensive.
There maybe people out there that do, but what I find offensive is that you have atheistist out there who are not bringing any good to the world and not doing anything except being them saying that Christians are offensive by throwing the cross around and throwing Jesus in their faces when we aren’t the ones with all the lawsuits trying to ban such a symbol. I am proud and happy to be a Christian and attempting to live like Christ and if that means I have the cross to prove it, so be it.
You are SO right. Too often, we TALK about what Christ was like and how God wants us to be, but we forget to actually BE that person. It’s hard work…but it’s so completely worth it.
Actually, I find this cross pretty offensive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMUcMoe9FaQ
The offense of the cross was a big theme in my seminary, and I think to an extent it’s true. It’s an offense to lay down our pride and worship a man executed like a criminal. But you’re right, the real offense is that so many of us do not demonstrate to others how to do that, how to make the cross the most beautiful thing that has ever happened.
Agreed. It’s offensive to the One that hung on the cross when the people that claim Him act nothing like him. Great thought.
Yep.
Pete,
I totally agree – many claim to be followers of Christ and people of the Word but often fail to live out life that aligns with it! Many times people confuse going to church (building/program/preference) to being a follower of Him who died on the cross when the real, true relationship never is fulfilled or lived out!
Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 1 and Gal. 5 that the cross is a stumbling block, a word which could also mean “an offense” or a trap.
When Paul preached the gospel at Mars Hill in Acts 17, some mocked him, some said they would hear him again, and some believed and were saved.
Jesus Himself told a parable about a sower who sowed seed, which is the gospel. Only one kind of soil out of the four received the seed in a way that revealed saving faith.
When the Bible tells us that the gospel will be a stumbling block, an offense, to some people, we need to believe the Bible over our own feelings or experiences. This doesn’t mean it will be an offense to all – because God has prepared the hearts of some to receive it joyfully. As long as our gospel is the whole gospel – both the truth of our hopelessness in sin and the hope of Christ to save us – it will offend some. I’m thankful you experienced such openness to the gospel in India. That’s a sign of God at work to prepare the field before you. Some fields are not that way.
yes, yes, yes! a thousand times TRUE! There is no ‘religion’ that will make one self-righteous as quickly as ‘churchianity’
Pete, I think you’re missing it here. While your example of people being offensive is apt, Jesus gives examples of the cross being offensive in John 3:17-22:
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
So whomever doesn’t believe is condemned; whomever does evil hates the light. Therefore, the cross is offensive to those who can clearly see the love of Christ but choose to reject it.
There are many debates about this. But my experience has shown that the cross poured out through us in true, humble sacrifice is rarely offensive.
When I ask someone who has not made a decision about Christ yet if I can serve them or pray for them, even in their moments of greatest duress, they usually appreciate it.
What’s the Louie Giglio quote on DC Talk’s ‘Jesus Freak’ album? Something about Christians ackowledging Jesus with our lips, & denying Him by our lifestyle. “That’s what an unbelieving worlds finds simply unbelievable.” (Something like that).
I definitely agree that it is the folks who represent the cross who are most often the cause of offense, but I also think that at times it depends on the audience. The cross is much more offensive to certain intellectual/scientific types than the general public it seems. Those who see themselves as their own God and are not open to looking outside themselves do find the cross itself offensive. Persons who are in any type of need that is recognized by themselves are much more open to the cross than those who believe that they are all they need in and of themselves.
I think most people expect christians to be aggressive with our beliefs. We have voted in too many agnostic politicians who make us feel like we are a minority. We need to band together, all christians, and quit fighting each other. We are a mighty force!! They are scared of us!! God Bless!
I whole heartedly agree! People are very open to the cross. I work at a Christian school in the US Virgin Islands. About 95% of the kids that I teach are either Catholic, Muslim, or claim no religious affiliation at all. Whenever we have theological discussions about the Bible and its specific relevance to our lives, you can literally see how they are working out their theology. Teaching these kids who are so hungry for Truth has challenged me to continue to dig deeper into my faith. Working directly with the lost and speaking candidly with them about who Jesus is has been the most rewarding thing I’ve done in my life thus far.
I just returned from Zimbabwe, and I saw the same openness to the cross of Christ. I was floored at their responsiveness. Then as I reread parts of Acts and Matthew, I again saw that the people offended by Jesus are the “religious”. So the people who claim Him by mere words, seem to be the ones who are most easily offended.
P – The cross in my estimation is a beast topic. A beast topic in the way Kanye sings about “Monster” in his latest album Twisted Dark Fantasy. Beast and Monster are superhero words, delivering epic results and blazing trails for others to follow.
When we fully entrench our understanding in the cross we accrue true confidence. True confidence is imperative in expanding the life changing message of the gospel. What we say matters, how we say it – matters, how we talk about it – matters. We are a 42″ plasma to the world and they are watching to discover Christ. It is our job to project a clear message, confident message, faith filled message which allows the Spirit to do his job.
Awesome to hear positive reports in India. My mouth is now watering thinking of Tandoori and Naan, thank you for that.
I think it can be offensive when you ponder God and what your view of God is, or who/what the Messiah was expected to be.
I think that was a big part of the issue in the scripture about it being offensive.
I think it all depends on which “gospel” you are preaching. If you preach the prosperity gospel, I’m sure they are all for it. I mean, who doesn’t want a BMW? But, if you preach repentance for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, then you will likely get a different reaction. People don’t want to be told they are wrong by nature, not just by action. People don’t want to hear that they are under the wrath of God. People hated him, they will hate us. The message Jesus preached sure wasn’t met with much acceptance. They killed him for it.
Preach it! Agree 100%
Yes–absolutely. No doubt. We offend when lack love, compassion, and grace. The differences are offensive.
“What’s offensive is people who claim to have faith in the cross but act nothing like the Man who hung on the cross.”
Unfortunately for us, isn’t that all of us some of the time? When we extend grace to one another AND to the unsaved, isn’t that when the cross can be seen?
Sharing cross culturally is so different than sharing within our peer group also…I think there can be far less baggage and far more open curiosity. I’m so glad you went!
The fact that a sinless man had to die on a cross as payment for my sin is offensive in-so-far as it means I’m not good enough on my own. It offends my pride. I think there are a number of people who are offended by being told that they’re not good enough on their own.
That’s hard to take when you’re filled with pride. You must have spent time with some very humble people.
Hey Pete! Here’s my .02
I feel like you’ll agree with most everything below,but I thought I would add it to the discussion.
I praise God when people humbly accept the message of the cross. But you know that we need only to look at the life of Christ to see that he offended multitudes with his message. Ironically, he would not have been crucified if his message were not offensive.
The cross isn’t offensive to those who see their sin as serious, and the cross as their only means of reconciliation to a Holy God.
The cross is offensive to those who don’t believe their sin is serious and who believe its unfair that God provided only 1 way of salvation.
Why the difference in reactions. 1 Cor. explains, “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
When we see people open to the gospel, I don’t think its because its not offensive, but its because the Holy Spirit has opened their eyes to the beauty of it.
The offensiveness of Christians, however, is a completely different issue. Christians shouldn’t be jerks, which hinders people from hearing the gospel. They should get out of the way of the gospel.
On the other side: I fear that some, in an effort not to offend (Osteen), downplay sin & water-down the gospel so much that it robs it of its power and usefulness to save.
I love you Pete and am thankful for your faithfulness to the gospel and am excited about the fruitfulness you have experiences in ministry.
Kevin
I think the cross can be offensive. Scripture it clear that the draws us and prepares us. Until that time, our hearts are not open and we may be offended. In addition, when you truly come to understand the cost that goes with the cross, the cost Christ paid and how we are to model after him, that can be offensive. However, Christ transforms our hearts and minds and so to believers, no the cross is not offensive but encouraging and uplifting. We have been renewed to see it differently.
Unfortunately that is a process, and there are many times we will fall short of living with the integrity, heart, and example of Christ. When we do that we claim to have faith but don’t act like Christ, and then we are offensive…not the cross.
I am thinking of the parable of the workers and how the perspective on that situation varied between those hired first and those hired last. In a similar way our view of whether the cross is offensive will vary depending on if we look at it through the eyes of a believer, or a not-yet-believer.
Apparently crucifixion was a public affair. When I hear people say this I think about how brutal and public and grotesque see a death was. I agree though, that most of us have no real understanding of what taking up our own cross means. If nothing else, then it should humble us and make us care more other christians and about nonchristians.
“What’s offensive is people who claim to have faith in the cross but act nothing like the Man who hung on the cross.”
AMEN!!!
Do I find this to be true? Absolutely!
However, I also do find some people (namely agnostics or atheists – not all I meet, but some) do find it offensive. However, I believe the reason some of these people do is because of the misrepresentation of Christ. A good majority of Christian live a life professed in Christ, but not confessed to Him…therefore, He barely can move through them to reach others.
We need to confess to Him our junk…let Him in to heal the brokenness…and through the healing, let Him pour through us to reach others. When people look to us, they should not see us…but Him. They should respond by asking what I did 7 years ago…”What is about people like that? What do they have that I don’t?” Those are questions that changes hearts in time, ones prompted by the Word (Christ Himself) in action through our lives…not any words we can say in profession of Him in our lives.
I was discussing this very thing last night with Jonnelle. I think what people mean when they say, “The cross is offensive,” is that the claim of Christianity to only one way of salvation—Jesus Christ—is exclusive. Of course, the gift is available and open to anyone who will accept it. But the fact that the good news states that Jesus is the way and every other religion is not does offend many… and is a stumbling block to many. It has divided families. (Even those whose members claim to be Christians but differ on what that really means.)
Hope isn’t offensive. Healing isn’t offensive. Receiving love and compassion is wonderful!
But something that is politically incorrect these days, as the true tenets of Christianity are, is offensive to many. And some folks—Hindus and Muslims, for example—who are interested in investigating the claims of the gospel might not yet have counted the cost that rejecting their previous beliefs (and possibly key components of the culture that has so long defined them) will bring.
I do agree that there is the objection against Christians who do not always act like the Savior they/we claim. But ultimately, that will be no excuse when each person faces judgment — either you accept or reject Christ. Period.
Man… so much to think about. I guess the first thing that came to mind when I read this was
2 Corinthians 15-16
15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?
Not sure how it all fits but thanks for giving me something to think about. Big paradigm shift.
Dead on Pete. Thanks.
Yes… I believe the Cross is offensive. Just as I would find it offensive if someone were to hang an electric chair or a noose out in front of my home. The cross is a thing that represents a terrible method of punishment.
However, one singular ACT that occurred on a cross is beautiful beyond compare.
That being said, and this is my opinion, the message of the gospel at some point must come to AND move beyond the cross. For the believer much of the gospel is an awesome reminder of God’s abundant love for us. But for the unbeliever and the believer alike, there are parts of the gospel (much more for the unbeliever) that is offensive because it presents without unabashed shame our need for a savior. It is offensive to our personal pride, ego, or control issues because at the center of our being is always the desire to be lord of ourselves.
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness;”
I understand what you’re trying to say, Tony, but moving “beyond” the message of the cross seems like the problem the church has gotten into. Paul resolved to preach Jesus Christ crucified (1 Cor. 2) and not move beyond that. Learning to live a cruciform life must remain at the heart of our teaching and practice. Otherwise, we quickly fall into error and spiritual irrelevancy.
Thanks, Michael. I don’t believe I made the point that the cross is irrelevant. It is PART of the gospel message as is the whole of scripture. My God did hang on a cross but He didn’t stay there. Paul (and other writers) spent a lot of time speaking to those other aspects of the gospel as well.
I think we are on the same page. So no worries.
Interesting… Lots of good discussion on the offense, (or otherwise), of the cross but…
Nothing yet on the fact that our faith should not be in the cross anyway! Surely our faith must be entirely in Christ Jesus?
… or am I nitpicking?
Great post that cuts to the heart however – keep up the good work.
I hear ya. I think when we say “the cross,” that’s just Christian shorthand for “Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.” Kinda similar to “the blood” and other phrases we Christians are fond of.
I have found this to be true many times in my life as well. I am always amazed at how open people really are to hearing about Christ.
Hey Pete,
Glad you made it home safely!
I still think the cross can be offensive, but not necessarily. It is an offense to those who want to claim some level of personal merit as a means to earn their salvation.
This seems to be the thrust of Paul’s commentary in Galatians 5:11 – “Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.”
We read a similar statement in 1 Cor. 1:18, “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.”
The cross is an offense to those who stand in their own righteousness before God. They see no need for a cross to save them, but would rather stand on their own (in Galatians it was the observance of certain dietary laws and days, culminating in circumcision).
So, when we present the cross to some (not all), they take offense at it and call it ‘foolishness.’
For others, which seems to reflect your experience in India, such self righteousness did not exist (at least to any significant degree). For them, there was no offense. With God’s help, they began to see their need for Christ and received the cross with gladness. For them it was a demonstration of God’s power and love, and not an offense.
I trust this makes sense. I’ve only had two coffees so far today
Looking forward to hearing your speak tomorrow at Radicalis!
I agree 100% with you Pete the statement that the cross is offensive I believe comes from a society that is so worried about political correctness. The cross is not offensive (least of all to a non-believer) what is offensive is people who dance around the truth that Jesus made so easy to share and we try to change the delivery to make it more user friendly…keep it simple, Jesus Loves All
Pete,
I don’t know how we never crossed paths when I lived in Nashville (for 30 years!)but we never did. I stumbled across you on twitter when one of your congregation retweeted you and have been a follower ever since.
I LOVED this post and think a lot of the watering down of the gospel that has been encouraged over the last few years has done just that. Watered down the most powerful, greatest story ever. Only The Truth sets us free–the entire Truth-the Gospel of Jesus Christ who humbled himself and bore our sin upon the cross.
You’re so right, it’s not the cross of Christ that’s offensive. Unfortunately it’s some of his misguided believers that drive people from the truth.
Be blessed and by all means, keep preaching and blogging and tweeting!
Don’t understand this..
How can the “Cross of Jesus” ever be offensive? When it was God ordained for His Glory!!!
If I will, let me say one more thing to you Pete.
Repentance of sin.
REPENT is not a bad word, it is a Good word, a Glorious word.
It is the word that verifies the change of hart, the call, the verification of the realization of God, the wake up reflex.
By the Grace of God!!!
You want change in your church and the world. It has to start there.
Praying for you, praying for all of us.
Furthermore, it was the very first thing that Jesus himself preached when He came out of temptation in the wilderness.
Mathew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach,”Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
I guess it depends on what you mean by acting like Jesus. Do you mean preaching that the cross (i.e. Christ’s atoning death) is the ONLY way to heaven, as Jesus taught, or do you mean being nice?
I follow updates from an organization called Voice of the Martyrs. The people covered are not thrown in jail and murdered across the world for being nice or for not being “Christian” enough. I got one recently about a pastor who had been in jail twelve years. Another about a woman who was thrown in jail for proclaiming Christ… and to save her from the mob trying to kill her.
In modern western countries, preachers and churches are being sued for preaching the gospel of Christ and him crucified for our sins. It isn’t for loving they neighbor (in the social gospel sense) that organizations spend millions of dollars every year fighting against the gospel.
I’ll take what the Bible plainly says that it is a stumbling block to some (who seek signs) and foolishness to others (who seek wisdom). The cross offends both the atheist, who won’t accept any god, and the pagan who can’t accept Christ as the One True God.
So yes, I’d say the cross is offensive to at least some when preached faithfully.
I can imagine how difficult it must have seemed to discuss the cross in a large community of Hindu and Muslim believers. I credit it you that but it is with that…with you…that the cross becomes less offensive to so many. Understanding what it means, discussing it, is different than “shoving it down someone’s throat”. I think with such a fractured society, it is easier and more difficult to discuss it at times. It’s more complex than that.
God Bless and thank you for your work.
I think the only things offended by the cross are my pride and sin nature (which may be different names for the same thing). It would be great if they got offended enough to just leave. Oh wait, that’s what the Holy Spirit is trying to do, make me holy by training me to live a cruciform life. Better to stumble on the cross, than saunter in my sin, right?
Not once in my 52 years has anyone ever said the cross is offensive…interesting. But I agree that perspective is what stirs offense. “What’s offensive is people who claim to have faith in the cross but act nothing like the Man who hung on the cross.” AMEN….
Yup, I think it’s pretty easy to agree that the “offensive Christian” doesn’t help the cause. However, I think there’s a somewhat fuzzy line somewhere in there… Left to my own devices (without Jesus) I’m sorta messed up right? Try and try again, at some point along the way, I’m most likely going to insert my foot directly into my mouth… and I have the Holy Spirit in me! But, if/when that occurs that doesn’t mean I stop sharing the Gospel. My failure is a grand opportunity to showcase the best part of the Gospel… asking for and receiving forgiveness. That’s good stuff! That being said, being offensive sure doesn’t make things easier.
The “cross” or the gospel is offensive to some. I mean, look at Paul’s life, uh…pretty sure he offended people (he was beaten for preaching Christ) and yet at the same time, he encountered people who were incredibly open. I don’t think we can say that the gospel of Jesus as the only way to salvation is not going to offend some, especially when people in other parts of the world are being persecuted for faithfully preaching the gospel. The reality is that you can be nice, loving, and great to people and people will still hate you because of your faith in Christ. I mean, Jesus was perfect and they still crucified Him. However, that doesn’t give Christians the excuse to be offensive jerks. Live the way Jesus lived, love others, many will be drawn to you and accept Christ, others may dislike you. But that’s just kind of the way it is.
“What’s offensive is people who claim to have faith in the cross but act nothing like the Man who hung on the cross.”
AMEN!
” I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ” – Mahatma Gandhi
The Way may be offensive but for different reasons. In Jesus’ day it was His challenge to a belief and social system, maybe in our day it is because I do not challenge in a positive way.
I agree and disagree… the cross is offensive to people who believe in something other than the saving grace it offers. In fact, Jesus was offensive to many… to the religious leaders, to religious people, as well as to the Romans and their officials.
Now he wasn’t being offensive for the sake of being offensive. He was speaking the truth into folks lives and that can be offensive. Truth is offensive at times.
Is the cross offensive? Yes. It can be. Are people who claim Christ and live as if nothing’s changed more offensive? Probably! Just my own thoughts…
Pete,
I struggle with this idea. After giving it some thought, I came to the conclusion that there are aspects of the cross that are offensive. Humans want to believe that they can do things themselves, that somehow through effort we can appease God. The cross said we are totally dependant on someone else, that we ARENT good enough. Certainly this concept may offend.
However, the flip side can be true. For people who know that they are screwed up and flawed, the truth of someone loving them enough to die will be embraced. Its funny that in India where so many have so little that this love resonates so clearly. Yet here in the States where we have so much (and so much arrogance) that the cross will be “offensive.” Just some thoughts….
Absolutely. God was offended. Jesus was humiliated because of us and our lack of fear, consideration, regard, etc. of God´s holiness and will. BUT the extravagance and prodigality of His Love and Grace MUST offend us and push us, drive us, to desire and seek His communion. The cross MUST offend us, that showing such a Love, many of us live as if we had never offended Him.
I think it’s an unnecessary argument really and a false dichotomy.
Of course Christians who don’t act like their Saviour (do I? not as much as He’d like me to i’m sure) are offensive sometimes. However it’s not the same as the offence of the cross which was
for Jews – the ultimate sign that a person was cursed
for Gentiles – the execution of a criminal which no Roman citizen could ever be sentenced to-
therefore to preach the cross as a place where the Son of God revealed his saving glory was foolishness or an offence, depending who you were. But it’s an offence of a different nature entirely.
What i find is that those who know they are sinners (in prison ministry etc and travels to India, Africa, Haiti etc I find ‘the sick know they need a doctor’
Western people whose main concern is how to beat the economic collapse so I stay comfortable and continue able to consume find the idea of the cross irrelevant except as another piece of jewellery.
But when we preach IT and not OURSELVES, He is lifted up, and draws all kinds of people to Himself.
Yes, unfortunately, it often IS us who are offensive – sometimes by commission, others by omission.
I once asked my then-nearly-30 youngest son and daughter which of the many churches we’d attended in our travels had had the most effect on them. Their answer? NONE! To my great surprise, they told us their faith had not come from any church, at all, but from seeing their mother and I live consistent lives at home, and from the miracles and answers to prayer they saw in our own family.
One attractive but disturbed young woman I guarded at our local hospital told me that in all the years she spent in church, she NEVER ONCE saw any love. She told me “the only thing my church ever did for me was make me feel I could never be good enough.”
And a very, very nice young woman who worked for my kids told them she didn’t believe in God because she’d never seen anything “real” happen in church. She defined that as no love; no miracles; no answers to prayer.
But, speaking as someone who’s been in Nashville ONCE, and who now lives 1200 or so miles away (just west of the Continental Divide), I have to believe most people in Nashville do NOT find the cross, or the church, offensive. Not after seeing how all your volunteers helped clean up after the flood. The same for Baton Rouge, after seeing all the “love and help” the Healing Place Church has given to that community.
This morning my Bible reading included Galatians 6:14-15 (Living Bible): “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in all the attractive things of the world was killed long ago … what counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people.”
The curious paradox of the atoning death of a bloody Jesus rising above the plane of human history with a mocking crown of thorns is that he is offensive in an attractive way. It is the utter horror of the cross that cuts through the chatter, noise, and nonsense of our day to rivet our attention, shut our mouths, and compel us to listen to an impassioned dying man who is crying out for the forgiveness of our sins and to ask why he suffered. Tragically, if we lose the offense of the cross, we also lose the attraction of the cross so that no one is compelled to look at Jesus. Therefore, Jesus does not need a marketing firm or a makeover as much as a prophet to preach the horror of the cross unashamedly.
-Mark Driscoll
Yes, the cross is offensive. Unless you want to disagree with Paul in Galatians 5:11, “But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.”
Implication: The cross is offensive, and if you preach something other than the true gospel, the offense is removed.
I stumbled on this blog a while back, and although I lean towards atheism but also understanding I may be wrong, I kind of like this blog and many other christian and other peoples blogs who have different faiths people are great to get to know. I just wanted to address some things I seen while reading some responses to your question at the end of your blog. The comments from Sarah 5th down from the top and Barb 18th down from the top I believe left comments that are untruthful and no one commented. Sarah said atheist do no good in the world that’s not true there are atheist who do good in the world I volunteer every other weekend and devote my job to helping others. I’m not perfect and have really bad moments but to say I do no good for this world is rubbish. Atheist do bad and good so do Christians and everyone else. Also there are many lawsuits on both the side of atheist and christians about religious symbols and other things. Barbs comments about us electing too many agnostic politicians is really weird since I think one elected politician has ever come out to say they were an atheist and some may claim agnostisim but the number is very low so not very true and if you think your a minority you are very off basis. Also saying “they are scared of us” is a very good indicator you’re doing things wrong if you want people to believe what your preaching that’s probably something you don’t want to preach. As for the cross being offensive I don’t know I don’t see it that way but I understand how it can be too much for some. Sarah and Barb your entitled to your opinion and it doesn’t hurt me that you say kit but don’t make broad assumptions based off one or two people you see in the news. If I did that i’d assume most christian leaders are many of the things they preach they are not but I don’t listen to what’s in the new because that doesn’t account for everyone. Thanks for reading this and I didn’t mean to offend just ask for you the dig deep into what you say. Keep up the great volunteer work Pete that’s always a loving activity and if your right about Christ that’s how you spread love!