Why Does the Word of God (the Bible) Offend?

Why does the Word of God, the Bible, offend so many people?

Cuts in Order to Heal

Why does the Word of God, the Bible, offend so many people? I would ask, “Whatever happened to the Gospel?” Jesus defined the Gospel as repenting and believing (Mark 1:15), but if we tell people they need to repent, they won’t like it. They think they’re good people, which we know is not true of course because only God is good (Mark 10:18; Rom 3:10-12, 23). But we can’t help the fact that it offends. The most loving thing we can do is to be willing to offend others for the sake of love in God’s using us as a means to rescue the perishing. A surgeon has to make painful cuts but it’s in order to heal the patient. We know God’s Word cuts us to the bone…down to our innermost thoughts and intentions (Heb 4:12), but it is for our good. It helps us know we need help outside of ourselves. May we run to the cross for mercy and grace when we see how much we have offended a holy and righteous God (Rom 5:6-10).

Keeps Us Out of Sin

The Psalmist sees that there is power in the Word of God to keep us out of sin, but even our trials and troubles make us seek comfort in His Word. And there we will find it. The Psalmist says, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). Good came out of his affliction because he went to the Scriptures. Not only did the Psalmist find comfort there, he learned more of God’s statutes. To know more of His statues is to know more of Him. He knew less of the Word before, which is why “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (Psalm 119:67). Sin can keep us out of the Bible, but the Bible can keep us out of sin.

The Truth Hurts

I imagine you would be offended if someone told you that you are a sloppy dresser and there’s a stain on your shirt. Even though it might be true, the truth said out loud would likely offend you. Now consider this. If a doctor came out and told you that you had to have an operation or you would die, would that truth hurt you? Probably, yes, but its far worse if the doctor keep it a secret and told you nothing for fear of upsetting you, his patient. Naturally, that would be unethical and illegal for the doctor to do that, so we too must warn others of the coming wrath of God (Dan 12:2-3; 1 Thess 1:10; Rev 1:7, 20:12-15, 21:8). God’s mercy is not relevant until God’s wrath is revealed. The doctor’s deadly diagnosis makes us run to the pharmacy. So too knowing the wrath of God comes upon all who reject Jesus Christ should (we pray, would) make the run to the cross. Dr. John MacArthur said, “You’ve got to get them lost before you can get them saved,” and he’s exactly right. The false idea that people are good and they’ve done enough to get to heaven must be rejected, for if that were true, then Christ died for nothing (Gal 2:11)! We know He died for something. Us who have trusted in Him!

Offense is Necessary

The Word of God comforts the afflicted but it afflicts the comfortable. The truth sets us free…or it makes us really mad. We can’t help that, but that does not diminish our responsibility to share Christ. When Jesus was telling the truth about the spiritual state of the religious leaders, He didn’t pull punches. He offended many of them, but He was only offending them by speaking the truth. After one of these strong rebukes, Jesus’ disciple came and told Him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying” (Matt 15:12)? Was Jesus sorry about offending them? No! He said, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up” (Matt 15:13) so “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matt 15:14). There are some who we will witness to that will be like casting pearls before swine so we must “not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” ( Matt 7:6). Nobody has ever been argued into salvation.

Exposes Us

The Word of God shows us who we really are, and that is sinners with hearts exceedingly deceitful (Jer 17:9). Just consider the fact that Jesus died for us, not after we “got our act together,” but even while we were ungodly, wicked sinners, and still enemies of God (Rom 5:6-10). So people we share Christ with may think we’re they enemy saying Jesus is the only way, but in a burning building, people would rejoice that there was even any way out of the flames. They wouldn’t care if there was only one exit. They would be glad that there was any exit.

Conviction of Sin

The Spirit of God opens our minds and hearts to understand the Bible. The Spirit of God and the Word of God work together to open our eyes to see and our ears to hear and to receive the Gospel, and suddenly, we are convicted of sins. The Word shows us we desperately need God’s mercy and grace and flee to the cross. The Law shows us we can’t save ourselves by works, but only by the perfect work of the spotless Lamb of God. The Word of God shows us our disease and coming consequences without Christ (sin and eternal hell) but offers the cure and eternal security (by faith in Christ and forgiveness).

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, however if that’s not happened yet, right now, you are in real mortal danger of the judgment of God. Like all unsaved people, you are one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent, which makes today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2). Oh my friend, I plead with you right now…as you read this, repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ. Do this now, for if not, you will face God’s judgment after death (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), either of which could happen in the blinking of an eye.

Here is some related reading for you: What is a Seared Conscience?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: bible, Offend, Offensive, Word, Word of God