"Where there is no offense, there is no effect." Adrian Rogers
"I came not to this world to bring peace, but a sword." Jesus.
Basically, Dr. Rogers and Jesus are saying that the Gospel message is gonna divide folks and leave some along the wide road as others head down the narrow way. Accordingly, to expect that Christian preachers proclaiming the Word will not offend, is ludicrous. The Holy Spirit will quicken (bring to life) that which is dead in sin.
Ever had your leg go to sleep? Hands get so cold they were numb? When circulation returns to your leg, and warmth returns to your hands, there is pain. When the Gospel penetrates the darkness within us, the Light exposes the depravity of our souls, and we are stricken with heartache and moved to repentance.
Yet, all too often we hear...do not preach this, or teach that, or say this, or say that. It will offend someone. I don't think the Lord was too worried about who he was offending when He destroyed Sodom and turned Lot's wife into a pillar of salt. Nor was Jesus too concerned with offending the Pharisees when He cleansed the temple and told them they'd made it into a den of thieves.
May we all grasp in our hearts the enormity of the need to share the Gospel with boldness, clarity and love. selahV
