Gospel Offense and Christian Kindness

We’re in a season in history when it’s popular, and true as ever, to talk about the offense of the gospel. God’s Word tells us that the good news of Christ will be a “stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense” to the world.

Paul says the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but the power of God to those who are being saved (1 Corinthians 1:18).

And to the Galatians and Timothy, he also describes the “offense of the cross” and the degree to which the world will be bothered by the death and resurrection of our Lord—so much so that the church of Christ will face persecution.

Jesus, too, warns that his followers will be hated for his name’s sake (Matthew 10:22). That’s how offensive the gospel is.

Many Christians embrace that. Too many take joy in being “offensive,” allegedly for the sake of the gospel.

It’s a tough spot to be in. Our message is offensive, but we still want to be a fragrant offering. We want the world to recognize us by our love. We want outsiders to respect us. The Bible calls for that also.

Jackie Hill Perry, the ascendant Christian rapper and poet, has felt the whiplash of clinging to the gospel and sharing it with a secular world.

I don’t ever go into these conversations or these spaces believing that everybody would agree with me. That would make me delusional. Scripture has already told me that the gospel is offensive. The gospel is foolish. Darkness blinds the minds of unbelievers. So I go into these spaces knowing that I’m speaking to blind people. But I also go with the encouragement that preaching the offensive gospel is the means that God uses to unblind eyes.

She’s right. Speaking the gospel in a world opposed to it is a message of sight to the blind. Sometimes the blind will take kindly to such a hopeful message. Other times, such talk of visions and color and beauty and truth will ring hallow and stir up annoyance or worse.

We are absolutely meant to preach the gospel—regardless of the reception of the world. God uses such obedience to draw people to himself.

But, that said, we must also remember the call to Christian mercy, discernment, compassion, and patience. The fruit of the Spirit do not prompt offense; they display meekness, gentleness, and self-control. Against these things there is no law.

Gospel offense is not an excuse for Christian insensitivity.

Gospel offense calls us into a deeper measure of Christian kindness.

We cannot escape the offense of the gospel. Sin is real. The cross is brutal. Repentance is required.

And yet, we must not neglect the graciousness of our Lord to us, and the kind we are called to exhibit as well. As RC Sproul said, we must not add to the offense of the gospel.

If the world rejects the gospel and the Christian life, let it be because those things are necessarily offensive to the world, not because we, the messengers are needlessly offensive to the world.