I just recently read a blog  written by my hometown pastor, a man I greatly respect and admire. Here is the link if you wish to read http://simplemindedpreacher.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/what-are-we-afraid-of/#more-540

Now what was said in this blog was very simple and right to the point, not very many words, but the response it it got was tremendous. Now I have not read all of the comments on this blog, but with the few that I read, I got a general idea of the dissenting and consenting opinions. What was typed in the blog wasn’t super profound, it was just the heart of a simple man. But what struck me was the truth of it all, and unfortunately truth always hits nerves. That brings me to my point, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is offensive. There is no way around it. Why does the world hate Christians? I mean, the world says they tolerate all religions….except Christianity. Why is this? I mean, the face that Christianity has in the world now days wouldn’t seem to illicit such a response. Christians are now being viewed as conformers, and tolerators (is that a word?). That in and of itself is truly sad, but another topic. The reason I see for the hate, is because of Jesus. Jesus goes against everything the world stands for. If we call ourselves followers of Christ, we too should go against what the world stands for, hence we will be offensive. No way around it. What the particular pastor posted on the blog, didn’t seem to go against Christianity, rather it was for a return to pure Christianity, to non-conformatism (another word I made up).  I totally agree. Churches spring up left and right because they don’t want to conform to the concept of “Consumer Christianity” and as a result, they fall right into it, because they begin to dislike the other facets of Christianity. Helloooo!!!! We are all Christians here!!! Should we not, instead of arguing over what doctrine is correct, what is wrong, love each other, and ultimately encourage each other in Jesus Christ? Should we not, instead of ostracizing those who don’t conform to our views, include them, knowing that Christ loves them as well? If we truly speak Christianity as what it is, and should be, people will be offended, not because our church doesn’t agree with their viewpoints, but because what Jesus taught doesn’t align with their viewpoints. We need to return to Jesus, and quit bickering about how churches should be run, and as was stated in one post on the blog, what we like and don’t like. Does it really matter if we like how another church does things? Is that going to get us into heaven? Is it going to get a non-believer into heaven? No, and I say it again No. The only thing that gets a person into Heaven is Jesus Christ, and He alone. What my pastor was stating, in a way was soo profound. He was in essence, just pleading for a return to Jesus. And I too plead with with him. Because if we are going to be offensive, it shouldn’t be what our church believes, it should be about Jesus Christ.

3Jesus 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. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just 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. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit^[e] and they are life. 64Yet 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. 65He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

John 6:53-66 (www.biblegatway.com)