Offence

Index - Posting 02 May 2007 Vol. 4.0

So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them …And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:51-52 NIV

It was a delight to be back in the pulpit on Sunday. I followed the Lectionary readings and took as my main text Acts 13:44-52 (Amplified) paraphrased here.

But when the Jews saw the crowds, filled with envy and jealousy they contradicted what was said by Paul and talked abusively, reviling and slandering him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out plainly and boldly… But the Jews stirred up the…town, and instigated persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their boundaries. But the apostles shook off the dust from their feet against them… And the disciples were continually filled throughout their souls with joy and the Holy Spirit.

I began by drawing a similarity between the destructive earthquake that occurred recently in Southern England and the constructive one that I had experienced over the last couple of weeks. My spiritual earthquake had enabled a sorting out and a separating from secondary things in my life. What matter had been buried beneath the rubble, moved to one side or forgotten, had came to the surface. This bringing forth into the open had brought a greater spiritual clarity and an increased closeness to God.

I preached on the dangers of ministers being on pedestals, either placed there by themselves or by their congregations. How a small rock, that later became a mighty mountain, toppled a magnificent idol in Daniel 2:31-35 because it’s feet were made of vulnerable clay. I spoke of being offended and giving offence and how none of us were perfect and immune from either. I looked at the injunction in Matthew 18:21-22.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

I spoke about forgiveness and the responsibility of the forgiven in changing behaviour. If one has to forgive someone’s behaviour constantly, one would hope that by the 49th time that person may perhaps begin to think that there may be something wrong with their behaviour that constantly required forgiveness? Is not self understanding part of our spiritual walk and work with God? And how, insults or abuses, experienced in church, should be recognised. There is a place for protest in our Christian walk and witness - they shook the dust from their feet in protest. It was not an empty gesture. It was a protest in the culture of their day and sometimes that is just what we need to do, shake the dust off our feet as our protest and continue on our way, filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

I made an addition to the often quoted text from Galatians 3:28.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, clergy or church member for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

I ended with a reminder from one of Bob Marley’s songs - the stone that the builders refused became the chief corner stone. For whilst we may be small fish in the large pond of our denomination, church, fellowship or house group, this tiny piece of stone is still a corner stone. We are corner stones, supporting others on top of us and holding in place those around us. By being where we are - others can also be where they are. If we are removed, everyone above us, around us, below us falls out of place. As corner stones it is so important that we, like Paul and Barnabas, do not allow others to steal our joy by succumbing to the daily bombardment of offences that we are all subjected too. Like the little rock that brought the idol down, we can become mighty mountains. Huge boulders in Christ, gaining strength and resilience to offensiveness. In Christ we have our joy and can go boldly on our way.

So this is what the Sovereign lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. Isaiah 28:16 NIV

May the Holy Spirit of God continue to be your cornerstone, holding you in place and ensuring you will not fall.

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