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By Rev. Ojo Stephen Gbadegesin
Jesus doesn't promise Christianity free of offense. The major reason why we have many irreconcilable differences, even among believers in Christ is offense. This also largely account for why people leave one church for another. I've counseled countless people who left their previous churches because they felt the pastors were using them to preach. The fact is that if pastors are so careful not to mention anything that looks similar to what they have privately counseled people about before, there will be nothing left to preach about. In most instances, most pastors don't use people to preach, it's just a coincidence. I know there are some who do. If your pastor mentions something similar to what you're not doing right, why don't you take it as God speaking through him to you.
It is partly this fears that turn otherwise good pastors to soothsayers, who only say good things all the times for their followers to feel good, high, motivated and satisfied. A friend once visited a church to worship, and the preacher began to prophesy to him on how God is happy with him and Will bless him abundantly. This was a friend, who was involved in divers dirty deals. He was shocked that God didn't see all the atrocities he was involved in, he became relieved when pastor asked him to sow a seed to perfect the work, he now understood that money was the one prophesying, not God.
Those who followed Jesus while he was on earth must be commended, many of us would have been offended after just few weeks and turned back. Imagine Jesus saying in the presence of his disciples that " I have not seen this type of faith, not in Israel!, going by the relationship of the Jews and Gentiles around them, Jesus was simply saying that "these Gentiles ( Centurion and Canaanite woman) were spirituality better than His chosen apostles! How many times did he rebuke them " o ye of little faith, how long will I tolerate you". How many of us can follow such unpredictable leader!
At a time the Bible says " and many of his disciples went back, and never followed him again"!. The disciples who even wanted to help, the reply of Jesus would have sent many of us out of church. " Do you also want to go"? Even after Peter had said " Lord, to whom shall we go, only you have the word of eternal life, Jesus still responded " Have I not chosen you the twelve, yet one of you is a devil! What is as serious as that to a church board, especially when no name was mentioned, it means it could be anyone. Yet, the disciples were not offended.
John was declared by Jesus as the greatest of all born of women in the Old Testament. He was the same man whose birth was heralded by the same Angel as that of Jesus. He recognized Jesus in the womb, and was himself filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. He was a great preacher, who raised up the dead nation of Israel. He baptized Jesus, heard the Father's voice, and saw the Holy Spirit descended as dove. He was the one who introduced Jesus as " the Lamb of God" He boldly declared " He must increase, while I decrease ". However when the time came for John to decrease, he became offended in Christ. " How can this man hear that I'm held by Herod unjustly, and He cares not?, is he not even my blood relation, church aside!
Imagine John sending his disciples with such embarrassing message, " ask him if He is the Christ or we should wait for another " Don't blame John, are we not doing the same? Jesus replied," tell him all you've seen, that I don't deliver John, doesn't mean I don't deliver others. I work according to my divine assignment, not sentiments, after all, he is my blood brother. Blessed is that man, who will not be offended in me. Friends, things may not be as you want yet, your answers may delay in coming, your present church may not be the best in your estimation, perhaps, your friend's church seems better, Don't be offended. In your marriage, don't be offended. In your office, don't be offended, in your ministry, don't be offended. Blessed is that man, who will not give up, and become offended.
Jesus doesn't promise Christianity free of offense. The major reason why we have many irreconcilable differences, even among believers in Christ is offense. This also largely account for why people leave one church for another. I've counseled countless people who left their previous churches because they felt the pastors were using them to preach. The fact is that if pastors are so careful not to mention anything that looks similar to what they have privately counseled people about before, there will be nothing left to preach about. In most instances, most pastors don't use people to preach, it's just a coincidence. I know there are some who do. If your pastor mentions something similar to what you're not doing right, why don't you take it as God speaking through him to you.
It is partly this fears that turn otherwise good pastors to soothsayers, who only say good things all the times for their followers to feel good, high, motivated and satisfied. A friend once visited a church to worship, and the preacher began to prophesy to him on how God is happy with him and Will bless him abundantly. This was a friend, who was involved in divers dirty deals. He was shocked that God didn't see all the atrocities he was involved in, he became relieved when pastor asked him to sow a seed to perfect the work, he now understood that money was the one prophesying, not God.
Those who followed Jesus while he was on earth must be commended, many of us would have been offended after just few weeks and turned back. Imagine Jesus saying in the presence of his disciples that " I have not seen this type of faith, not in Israel!, going by the relationship of the Jews and Gentiles around them, Jesus was simply saying that "these Gentiles ( Centurion and Canaanite woman) were spirituality better than His chosen apostles! How many times did he rebuke them " o ye of little faith, how long will I tolerate you". How many of us can follow such unpredictable leader!
At a time the Bible says " and many of his disciples went back, and never followed him again"!. The disciples who even wanted to help, the reply of Jesus would have sent many of us out of church. " Do you also want to go"? Even after Peter had said " Lord, to whom shall we go, only you have the word of eternal life, Jesus still responded " Have I not chosen you the twelve, yet one of you is a devil! What is as serious as that to a church board, especially when no name was mentioned, it means it could be anyone. Yet, the disciples were not offended.
John was declared by Jesus as the greatest of all born of women in the Old Testament. He was the same man whose birth was heralded by the same Angel as that of Jesus. He recognized Jesus in the womb, and was himself filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. He was a great preacher, who raised up the dead nation of Israel. He baptized Jesus, heard the Father's voice, and saw the Holy Spirit descended as dove. He was the one who introduced Jesus as " the Lamb of God" He boldly declared " He must increase, while I decrease ". However when the time came for John to decrease, he became offended in Christ. " How can this man hear that I'm held by Herod unjustly, and He cares not?, is he not even my blood relation, church aside!
Imagine John sending his disciples with such embarrassing message, " ask him if He is the Christ or we should wait for another " Don't blame John, are we not doing the same? Jesus replied," tell him all you've seen, that I don't deliver John, doesn't mean I don't deliver others. I work according to my divine assignment, not sentiments, after all, he is my blood brother. Blessed is that man, who will not be offended in me. Friends, things may not be as you want yet, your answers may delay in coming, your present church may not be the best in your estimation, perhaps, your friend's church seems better, Don't be offended. In your marriage, don't be offended. In your office, don't be offended, in your ministry, don't be offended. Blessed is that man, who will not give up, and become offended.
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