“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient. Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do. I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-8 NLT
Christians are often ashamed of the gospel of Christ. This is because it is not a timid gospel, but it is a bold one. It is challenging in that upends human wisdom and conventional understandings. Instead of judgment for the sake of judgment, it is for the sake of reconciliation. A death brings life. The innocent give their life. The list goes on and on. Those who defend it will never feel comfortable fitting it with what is comfortable. The Gospel grows in uncomfortability. For many this will come across as needlessly offensive because the status quo will be needfully challenged. Paul notes that this uncomfortability is a litmus test for proper interaction with the gospel. He is not ashamed of it. Human pride must be put to shame by allowing people to become uncomfortable in the face of who God is. This is the only type of interaction with God that truly brings about the hope that the Gospel provides. Too many Christians would rather neuter the message of the gospel to remain appealing to their fellow man, but this is not a biblical approach. Though we should not seek discomfort for the sake of discomfort, the mere idea that someone walks away from an interaction uncomfortable, doesn’t negate God’s gospel. It may prove its presence and efficacy.
JOSH McGARY. COM 