Jesus is controversial. If we think that we can avoid
offending people with the truth, we are deceiving ourselves. Not that we write
to offend, but if our goal is to present Jesus, our readers will ultimately be
faced with a very uncomfortable decision. That
is the only way to freedom.
Consider a Roman Arch. Amidst ruins from earthquakes, flooding, and erosion, the arches still stand. The key to their stability is the
keystone or capstone. The Romans first built a wooden frame to support
their arches until they inserted the very last stone. Once they fit the keystone into place at the peak, the builders removed the frame and the arch
stood on its own. However, until that rock was lifted to its rightful place, it
was merely a rock the builders tripped over on the construction site.
Speaking of the resurrected Christ, Peter says, “Now to you
who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The
stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and, a stone that causes
men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall’” (1Peter 2:7).
Until we recognize Jesus as Lord of our lives, we will keep
falling and stumbling over Him.
Jesus speaks of Himself in Luke 20:17 when He says, “Everyone
who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will
be crushed.” We are offended and bruised when we fall on the Rock of
Jesus’ conviction. We don’t like to see ourselves as sinners, but it is this
broken spirit that causes us to reach to Jesus for salvation. Better that we
are broken to pieces on Jesus then that He crushes us. He doesn’t leave us
broken, but gathers us safely under His protective arch of love and
forgiveness.
Our writing will offend our readers as God convicts them of sin through His Holy Spirit, but in the end they will be set free. This
is not to suggest that we intend to
offend with our words. Rather we should speak the truth in love and allow God
to speak to each reader as He sees best.
An arch is perfectly balanced on each side and yet one side
is always in the sun while the other is shaded. Whether our words are
lighthearted and sunny or a darker shade of grace, we need the balance of each
other. We need both sides to lift His name on high.
Let us continue writing as God has called, as we exalt the
matchless name of Jesus. And let us
trust Him to do His saving work in the hearts of our readers.
“He is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the
capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11,12).
Pamela Mytroen
