top of page
Writer's pictureBible Brian

Love is offensive


It's easy to tell a friend what they want to hear. "No, your bum doesn't look big in that." "Yes, I love your special recipe!" "Yes, you're an excellent singer and totally won't embarrass yourself if you audition for that TV show." But as well intentioned as it is, the saying "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" is complete and utter nonsense. Sometimes, the truth hurts, and we shouldn't just go around deliberately upsetting people. But ultimately, a nice lie is often far more painful and destructive, because ultimately, the truth has a way of coming out.


The examples I gave are all common, but relatively harmless. Not that there's no harm in them, but there are far worse lies you can tell. Lies which are unbelievably common in our culture. Lies which find their origin in the Garden of Eden: "You will not surely die", and "you shall be as God".


It seems these days the most offensive word in the English dictionary is "wrong". Your actions are morally wrong, your beliefs are factually wrong, if you say anything similar to this, you're a bigot. Unless you say it to a Christian, of course. Then it's totally cool. But if you say it to anyone else, you're being too judgmental, you're being some kind of "ist" or "phobe". It is a completely radical idea to say that "live your truth" is identical to saying "live a lie".


Imagine a world in which a significant portion of the human race believed gravity was a myth. The Empire State Building suddenly becomes a popular tourist attraction, complete with a diving board. Which would be more offensive: "Don't jump, you idiot!", or "Oh ok, live your truth, who am I to judge?" Even with the insult, the advice not to jump is the better statement, simply because if heeded, the result is better.


Now imagine you believe Christianity is true. You see someone sinning, and you know that will affect their relationship with God. If they don't believe in Him, it will even add to their ultimate judgement. And you have a chance to talk to them about it. Which is better? "You do you", or "repent and believe"?


Our culture tells us the former is the better option. It's more respectful, they claim. The latter is bigoted and intolerant. But if Christianity is true, there are two possibilities. 1. They repent, believe, and receive an inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven. 2. They continue in their sin and perish.


Just as you cannot get rid of gravity by rejecting belief in gravity and calling its believers nasty names, you also cannot get rid of God by rejecting God and calling Christians nasty names. You may call us bigoted, you may call us intolerant, but at the end of your life, you will meet Him. How much do you have to hate someone to know they are on a path to Hell, and without saying a word, let them stay on it? Or worse, encourage them to stay on it? My unbelieving friends, if a Christian is brave enough to tell you something they know will offend you, thank them, because even if you don't end up believing them, they believe them, and they love you enough to tell you. By contrast, those who encourage you to live a sinful life in rebellion to God are actively threatening your eternal life. How is that not hatred? There's a reason "go to Hell" is an insult. It should be just as offensive when cloaked in nice words like "tolerance".

23 views
bottom of page