Offended by the Gospel

Think for a moment of our day in which we find ourselves. OFFENSE—may be the word of our culture.  The driving force of all consideration is not what is good, right or true but rather, what gives anyone offense. If you’re offended, then I am at fault and whatever it was that offended you, the new “civility” of the day demands I retract, I recant, I apologize. If I do not--in the modern vernacular—There will be hell to pay. The apostle Paul however never had much concern about offending anyone—except God alone. Pause and consider his words to the Christians of Galatia?

"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!"  (Galatians 1:6-9)

A quick reading probably serves us poorly in understanding the intensity of Paul’s flabbergastedness! When the disciples saw Jesus speak to the elements of His creation in the raging storm and the winds and seas listened and obeyed their Master, the disciples were “amazed.” It's the same word here. Paul wasn’t simply annoyed, disturbed or perturbed at what he found in the church of Galatia, he was stupefyingly dumbfounded. How is it even possible that anyone who had heard and seen the Gospel of Jesus so clearly as the Galatians had (3:1) could get it wrong? What’s worse, how could they get it so wrong that they took it upon themselves to concoct their own hybrid-gospel leading others away from The Way, The Truth and The Life?  Yes, Paul was beside himself with anger.

In our day of pulpit pap where we must not give offense for fear of losing someone out the door or being despised by one’s neighbor, Paul let it rip.

"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!"  (Galatians 1:8-9)

What’s the meaning of “accursed?” The word is “anathema.” It means to be consigned to the abode of the eternally dead.  In other words, let anyone—Paul includes himself—who perverts the Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ alone, “Go to Hell.”

Now consider the state of “gospel proclamation” in Christendom today…  Considering Paul’s inspired words, it should compel every Christ follower to sober introspection and where necessary—REPENTANCE.