These days in the West we are not supposed to offend anyone’s sensibilities. So, we socially ‘tip-toe’ around, not expressing what we really think. Although the censure of the offended may be much less tolerant of the views of the offender, and much more severe than the original offence!
Paul said that there is one offence that may never be removed from human society: the offence of the cross (Gal 5:11; 1Cor 1:18a; 23). The death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the salvation of every human being means that every human being is sinful and lost, and must be saved by the grace of Christ alone.
In other words, the message of the cross offends everyone! The morally upright take offence at the idea that they are not good people; the liberals take offence that God would judge anyone as not acceptable as they are. Yet, the cross of Christ says that those who know that they are sinful are made truly holy, and those who know that they are not acceptable as they are, are truly included, by the superabundant grace of Christ.
Only if the offence remains are we guaranteed salvation and fullness of life. When we ‘get that’, we will not only accept the offence of the cross, we will love it! As Paul said, “may I never boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Gal 6:14).
Grace, and grace again, Jonathan.