5 Apr 2012
I Peter 2:7-8
I Peter 2:7: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Jesus (the real Jesus) is highly offensive to the world. He truly is a “stone of stumbling” and a “rock of offence.” Jesus Himself made it clear that the world hated Him, and told His disciples that it would hate them as well. However, to those who believe on Him He is very precious indeed.
This is why it is such a bad idea to change the gospel in order to make it more appealing to the world: the world will never love what God has to offer. Our goal is not to make Jesus acceptable to them but instead to preach the Word, in season and out of season. We must not alter the words of God in order to make them more appealing. Once we decide (as many have done) that we are going to tell the world what it wants to hear, then the salt of the earth has lost its saltiness and has become good for nothing.
Standing on the truth and preaching it may be very costly; in fact, it may cost us everything. But it must be done.