The truth is that Jesus was as annoying as He was anointed. It is bread and butter Christianity, sugarcoated Christianity that seeks to make Jesus look like a Sweet Cartoon Character from Disneyland.
If Jesus were alive today He'd probably be the most hated and misunderstood Man on Earth. Many of you reading this would hate Him with perfect hatred. How do I know this? Because that's exactly what happened when He was here.
Even though Christianity today loves to paint Jesus as meek, easygoing and simple, He was meek (quite alright) but very annoying. Jesus didn't have a Popular Message. He wasn't a Mainstreamer. He wasn't Orthodox. He wasn't Trendy. He wasn't Politically Correct. And most importantly, He held no regards for the Religious Hierarchy of His Time. The same hierarchy God had set up! He was the Epitome of Controversy.
Jesus has many titles in the Bible but two stand out. And they are not very popular titles. How convenient. In 1 Corinthians 1:23, He is called "a Stumblingblock to the Jews" and "Foolishness to Greeks". In 1 Peter 2:8, He is titled "a Rock of Offence". These are very instructive titles.
The Jews were a Religious People chosen by God Himself, but when Jesus came preaching they began to stumble because they were used to seeing God in a particular way and mold. This is the portrait of the 21st Century Church.
The Gentiles (Greeks, Romans) were Philosophers, Mathematicians and Scientists who were schooled in Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. But when Jesus came teaching they thought He was speaking folly. His philosophy was new and strange to the Greek worldview. This is the portrait of Contemporary Atheism.
Jews hated Him. Greeks hated Him. He was offensive to both. Both found Him annoying. The result was His crucifixion.
The world just couldn't handle Jesus and His truths. He didn't fit into anybody's camp. The Religious Elites despised Him and in ONE DAY even the Multitudes He fed 'unfriended' Him (using contemporary online language).
Surely, if Jesus were on Facebook today He would confuse a lot of people. Many would be divided about what to make of Him. Many would call Him 'a rabble rouser', 'a troublemaker', 'an attention seeker', 'a phoney', 'a fraud' etc. And the slurs would come from ALL SIDES because He didn't fit into any camp. He was an Outlier.
Ours is not a popular message. It is 'foolishness'. It is a 'stumblingblock'. It is an offence.
If every time your Pastor, 'Daddy' or 'GO' preaches in Church you always leave feeling good, blessed and motivated, He has NOT preached Christ to you! He sermonized but didn't preach Christ to you. This is one way to know that your Church preaches Christ- Are you ready? Sure? OK...
* Something in you MUST be offended by the Message! Something in you that you love must be corrected.
As sinful and fallible human beings, any truth that doesn't rile you up or offend you for a moment is a fat LIE. A flattery. A jamboree. Jesus is a rock of offence. The kind of offence you need to become better. This is the Commission of Christianity. We are not called to make people feel good; to be likeable. We are called to preach Christ the Rock of Offence.
In Yoruba tradition, it is often said that when two brothers come out of the same room angry with each other, truth has prevailed.
I'm here to offend you into greatness.
#truthissacred.
Selah.
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