The Most Offensive Thing One Can Preach

Many people find themselves offended when the preacher or teachers speaks on a topic that is in direct opposition of the audiences theological or traditional position. For instance, people become angry when you challenge the idea of the "sinners prayer" or the "altar call."  But these two in themselves are minor in comparison to other subjects of interest.

The real go-getters include the gospel, spiritual gifts and tithing.

THE GOSPEL: I can say the gospel of God's Grace is not found in the four gospels, and there is an immediate collision.

"How can you say that?!!" "No one has ever said that to me! "

Question: What does the Bible say?

Luke 18:31-34
Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.    For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:    And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.  And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

They didn't even know about the cross; they were not preaching the cross as the gospel. We do (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

SPIRITUAL GIFTS: I can say that God has efficiently started the body of Christ and that He has preserved His perfect Word, and people will agree immediately. But when I pose the question, "If God has preserved His Word and we know how to operate because of that, what is the purpose of spiritual gifts?", there is a gut wrenching panic attack that takes place.

Question: What does the Bible say?

1 Corinthians 13:8-11
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Timothy 5:23
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.(Why is Timothy sick??? No healing?)

God used the "spiritual gifts" for a time to establish and complete His instruction to the church and for a sign to unbeliever and doubting believers, but past that, gifts were and are no longer needed.

TITHING: I can say we should be cheerful givers,  and most believers, even if begrudgingly, would concur. But the moment I say that tithing is obsolete in the dispensation of grace, you would think I was Frankenstein hiding in a windmill from an angry mob of farmers. Why?

Dropping tithing, besides being dispensationally corect, does a few things:

1.) It takes away some of the emotional swing church leaders have over the congregation.

2.) It brings out the true colors in the individual believers; when people find out that giving is no longer mandatory,  all to often they stop giving altogether.

3.)(This is the Big ONE) It takes away the salary of the "paid employee" Who does all the work. What fulltime pastor is interested in getting a job? What part time pastor wants to endeavor into other career options?

It's sad that the giving stops in many cases, but what is even sadder is the ambition of pastors to put their church attendees under the law.

Question: What does the Bible say?

2 Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (You are DEAD TO THE LAW!)

GOSPEL,  GIFTS, AND TITHING are all heavy hitters,  but here's the heaviest every man must answer:

Galatians 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Are you so interested in sticking with tradition and habit that you are literally willing to ignore the truths of God's Word?

Romans 3:4
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar..  

So what's the most offensive thing one can preach?

Answer: The Bible's authority trumps that of tradition and denominationalism.