One of the more outrageous statements
coming from certain sectors of American society runs something like this: “Jesus
would never offend people like ____ does / do.” For years – actually decades –
doormat Christians have accepted this hype, and shut their mouths when they
should have defended Truth.
Last Sunday, I was sidetracked as I
listened to an excellent sermon (sorry, Brother Paul!). The sermon focused on
the Gospel of Matthew, and as I checked out a reference that Pastor gave the
congregation, my eyes fell on these words: “Do you know that the Pharisees were
offended when they heard [the words of Jesus]?” (Matthew 15:12). In case you
are not familiar with this passage, these were words spoken by Christ’s own
disciples – to Jesus Himself! And I’ll bet that you are equally unfamiliar with
what Jesus the Messiah did next: He didn’t apologize. He didn’t slink back into
the shadows. He didn’t offer an explanation. Instead, he served up another
plate of Truth.
“Every plant that my heavenly Father
has not planted will be pulled up by the roots,” Jesus replied to His
then-politically-correct disciples. “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a
blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (verses 13-14). Pretty
harsh words from “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” – right?
In case you are not aware of this
fact, there are plenty of modern-day Pharisees around us. They insist that
their authority trumps Biblical, God-centered authority. They insist that “modern”
trends like same-sex civil unions and gender-confused children should be
elevated above Biblical marriage and parenting. They especially delight in the “evil-called-good”
syndrome when it comes to abortion and “good-called-evil” subterfuge regarding the
persecution of ordinary Christians like Barronelle Stutzman, the florist in
Washington State who refused to provide flowers for a gay “marriage.” God’s
Word warned us thousands of years ago: “Woe to those who call evil good and
good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter
for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). But modern-day Pharisees
staunchly defend such outrageous behavior, presumably because they believe they
are in charge of the dictionary.
What to do? How about following the
Lord Jesus’ example? Keep speaking the Truth in the face of these people’s
reprehensible conduct. Stand firm, as Jesus did. Yes, you may be crucified. But
Who arose the third day? It certainly wasn’t the Pharisees.
