Scandalous Behavior

Paul Lamey at lameworldview made some critical remarks regarding popular preacher Joel Osteen. Joel’s ministry seems to mirror many in the church today who are constantly trying to make the Gospel more relevant, user friendly, or attractive. There are several Biblical reasons this is wrong and Paul and others have made those points.

However, it got me to thinking about one thing that I have not heard discussed. That is the scandalous nature of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus often ran afoul of the religious leaders of His day at times calling down curses upon them and calling them names. He associated with the local riffraff and crime elements. He claimed that He was God. He even appeared to have recommended cannibalism (John 6:53).

Were it not for his miracles, we would label Him a dangerous lunatic. However, even the miracles were not enough to keep the people around as some of the strange things He said ran off many of the people who some because of the healings, free bread, and fish.

How are we to take the teaching of such a man, the message of the cross, the resurrection, etc and pretty them up so as to be inoffensive, particularly, if we are dealing with those steeped in the modern and post modern disbelief in the miraculous? The answer is that we cannot. The Bible says that the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing.

In the end, we must recognize that God has not only given us the message, but the methods of spreading the Gospel. They do not involve slick marketing and production values they involve prayer and the preaching of the Word.

Tomorrow: Are we scandalous enough?