Snakes and Doves
Madeleine L'Engle, the author of "A Wrinkle in Time", said, "We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."
I agree - we should show people Jesus first and foremost. But - how do you answer a culture that shouts 'facts' that go directly against God's Word while not "discrediting what they believe"...? We are to speak 'truth in love', but we can't always control how that 'message in love' will be received. We've clearly seen how people doing things in genuine love have been accused of 'hate'.
There was a reason that much of the time Jesus spoke in parables. There are those who want to hear the truth, and those who outright reject truth. How do we stand firm without coming across as negative...? We certainly don't want to just win an argument - because that won't win people to Jesus. But, we are still called to boldly speak...
I. Hard truths
Some truths have always been offensive. And that changes depending on the views and morality of the changing culture. The challenge is how to stay true to God's Word and express it in such a way as to draw people towards Jesus rather than turn them off from anything spiritual or religious.
I want to look at an extended passage of scripture where Jesus spoke a hard spiritual truth - and did it in such a way that actually turned some people away from following Him. And as Jesus is God in the flesh - as Jesus is perfect - even though many Church growth experts might disagree with Jesus' method, obviously it was the right thing for His intended purposes. So let's look at John 6:51-6 (NIV)...
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (52) Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (53) Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (54) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
(55) For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. (56) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. (57) Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. (58) This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." (59) He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
(60) On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" (61) Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? (62) What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! (63) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. (64) Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.
(65) He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." (66) From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
Jesus knew that people would leave Him after He said these things. Why did He teach them in this way...? First, let's go back and get a little context for understanding. Jesus had recently fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish. People had started following Him for the miracles and for what they might get - a free meal. The Jewish people talked about manna - the bread that God gave the people when they were wandering in the desert. And Jesus then transitioned to how He was the true bread of life.
And then, Jesus taught in a way that was not overly appealing to the people. And understandably so... The phrases 'eat my flesh' and 'drink my blood' and 'feed on me' don't sound suitable for a religious discourse but more like something out of a vampire movie. And then, when Jesus got a little push back from an upset crowd - rather than take back His words - He basically...
A. Doubled down
Not only did Jesus not pull back when He saw the crowd getting bothered - He went on to repeat the 'offensive' phases multiple times. He was very aware they were upset - but rather than comfort them, let's read His somewhat harsh response once again...
John 6:53-58 (NIV)
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (54) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (55) For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. (56) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
(57) Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. (58) This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."
Jesus was teaching a spiritual truth to a crowd of people with varying levels of spiritual depth. Some people understood and some people were extremely bothered and left. There were even accusations going around that early Christians were involved in cannibalistic ceremonies or witchcraft. And after Jesus later instituted the Last Supper - this teaching is what led some to develop the doctrine of 'transubstantiation' where they believe the communion bread and wine are transformed into the literal body and blood of Christ.
But in context - Jesus was teaching something different. In their culture - to eat and to drink, among the Jews, was also an expression of sharing in or partaking of the privileges of friendship. Jesus was explaining - albeit in a rather graphic way - just how dependent the Son was on the Father, and how dependent we need to be on Him! You can't live long without food. You can't survive without blood! Jesus was explaining that they couldn't have real life without Him!
Without Jesus as their source of life - their sustenance - they couldn't receive grace, or forgiveness, or redemption, or justification, or peace, or eternal life! Just as they had to eat and drink on a daily basis to sustain their physical bodies - they needed to 'consume' Christ daily as their source of spiritual sustenance for real life!
But, we noticeably see that Jesus wasn't overly...
B. Concerned with offending
After Jesus repeatedly said 'eat my flesh' and 'drink my blood', I'm guessing that some of those close disciples may have been thinking - 'Couldn't there have been perhaps a slightly better way to express those truths...? Maybe without offending so many...?' But Jesus had a higher purpose than simply gathering a crowd. Let's go back to our text in John 6:60-65 (NIV)...
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" (61) Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? (62) What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! (63) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
(64) Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. (65) He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."
Jesus said what He meant and was most concerned with speaking spiritual truths. And people had to have 'spiritual ears' to listen and understand. But some were more interested in questioning hard truth rather than humbly seeking to understand and accept hard truth. Jesus was most interested in speaking to those who wanted to learn.
So, what can we learn from this passage? I'm not overly worried today about being accused of cannibalism - so how do we apply this passage to...
II. Our words?
'So the preacher's saying I can say what I want and shouldn't worry about offending anyone!' - No, not saying that at all. We've all seen 'Christians' who publicly shout very 'un-Christ-like' things in anger and condemnation. I'm not advocating shouting, "Sinners will burn!"on a street corner.
Here's what I need to remember - Jesus was not overly concerned with offending when sharing the truth because, #1 His motivations were perfect and #2 He knew exactly what was in people's hearts and their motivations. I'm not Jesus, so I have to be careful with my words. My motivations will not always be as pure and loving as His, and I don't always know what's in people's minds. But there is something that's helpful that we find in examining Matthew 13:34 (NIV)...
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.
Notice the word 'crowd' here, the King James translates it as 'multitude'. But then compare this verse to Mark 4:34 (NIV)...
He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
Jesus spoke differently depending on the audience and His goal - sometimes gentle and loving, other times bold and harsh. Jesus chose His words depending on His audience - and their hearts, whether they wanted to hear truth or not - and what they needed to hear.
In today's culture, 'truth' has taken a beating. You may have heard about the controversies surrounding the comedian Dave Chapelle? I'm not really a big fan, his language is 'off putting' to me - but people want to 'cancel him' for some truths with which I actually agree... And he said this, referring to his freedom of artistic expression, "The more you say I can't say something, the more urgent it is for me to say it."
Now of course, my goals are much different than an entertainer, but there is some truth there. The more people want to stop religious speech or public prayer or expressing Godly values - the more urgent it is for us to say and do it! People need to hear God's truth! We need to share...
A. More hard truths
The 'audience' I'm addressing here is the Church. You're here because you want to hear the truth. And my words would be different depending on whether I was trying to graciously persuade an unbeliever or trying to instruct or correct a believer.
That being said, I want to be clear, and I do not say these words with any judgment - the Bible says that marriage is between one man and one woman. Anything else is not marriage and goes against God's design. That's the sort of truth for which people are called 'hateful' or 'bigoted' today. Sex is intended for marriage alone - anything else is against God's Will. Human life is sacred, created in God's image and killing an unborn child is wrong - abortion is wrong.
God created man and woman - 2 genders, and we don't get to choose which we are... Men cannot give birth... Nowhere in scripture will you find anything that will support the belief that God created some people gay - that they were born that way. In fact, homosexuality is clearly condemned in scripture...
"Why do you have to be so mean...? Why are you singling out some people and condemning them...?" I'm not - I'm simply speaking hard truths - Biblical truths, that many do not want to hear anymore. We live in a society that doesn't always allow truth. Our Churches need to be places where truth is lovingly and boldly spoken - whether it's popular or not. And it's not about hate - but not telling the truth actually hurts people more.
Jesus said He is The way, The life and The Truth - if people don't hear the truth, if they never hear Jesus - how will they find their way to the Father? If I know a person is unaware they're walking right towards the edge of a cliff - it would be mean if I didn't tell them. All people need to come to Jesus!!! I'm not trying to tell them 'they're wrong 'and 'I'm right'. I'm not trying to win an argument. My opinion means nothing! God's Word means everything! It means everything! - Whether it offends or not...
But in order for us to be able to boldly speak the truth in such a way as to draw people to Jesus rather than push them away - we need to make sure that we are first...
B. Faithful
- Faithful to God's Word. No one is perfect, but no one wants to be lectured by a hypocrite... I'm not perfect and I'm trying not to be a hypocrite. But God's Word IS TRUE - whether I'm always a good messenger or not. But if we're faithful to Him and His Word - He can then use us to reach others. My goal isn't to be 'self righteous', but useful despite my failings. But in order to be useful to God's Kingdom - we have to be faithful and speak truth. Let's go back one last time to the end of our earlier scripture passage, but then continue on a few verses in John 6:66-69 (NIV)...
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (67) "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. (68) Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (69) We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Jesus is The Holy One of God! - "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved!"
Most people, even unspiritual people, can bear a generic mention of God. "God bless you!" "An act of God." "You're doing God's work." But there's something different about the name of Jesus. Most frequently, when we hear His name outside of these walls - it's used as a profanity. But because of Jesus' claim to be The Son of God - The way to Heaven - the name Jesus is divisive and offensive to many.
When was the last time you spoke the name of Jesus outside of these walls? We need to speak Jesus to others! Yes, it might bring about someone pulling away from you or finding offense - but how will they find the Father if we never boldly share The Son? That's why I ask you to talk to someone about Jesus this week...
So What?
Jesus told His disciples to be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves in their dealings with others. That sometimes means speaking loudly and boldly, even at the risk of offending. Other times, it may mean choosing your words very carefully... But it all must be done for the goal of leading others to Jesus. We need to show people the Light!
We're not to callously offend just for the sake of offense - but we must boldly speak the truth - despite the fact that some will be offended. But - if we are not daily consuming the Word of God, spending time with Him in prayer - we won't know when to speak boldly and when to guard our words. We need to rely on God's Holy Spirit for wisdom to know the difference! And if your motives are purely out of love to draw people to Jesus - let God worry about their response to the truth. But you speak truth!