Some people recently left our church with no word of explanation and without giving anyone any opportunity to talk to them.  It turns out that they felt offended.  From my perspective, it looks like their offense was from unrealistic expectations.

We should never intentionally offend anyone, and when we find that we have offended them, we should readily apologize.  On the other hand, we should choose not to take offense.  To be offended means to live in displeasure, and that is an emotion that we choose.  We should choose not to have it.  If we live in a state of being offended, we will not live in the fulness of God’s blessing, because our sympathies will be focused on ourselves.  Being offended is a care that will not bless us, and it is one of those that we are to cast on the Lord.

My concern for people who leave a church because they are offended is that they will soon become offended in the new church where they go.

In my observation of people, I have found that some live with a confidence that enables them to have what seems like a better go at life, than do others.

Confidence begins with a postive sense of identity.  Who are you?  Are you who you were meant to be?  The fact is, we were made for Christ, according to John 1:3.  This being true, nothing short of a life in correct relationship with Him will ever bring the desired results.

Confidence requires a sense of security.  A child may be very afraid when alone in his room on a dark night, but when a parent enters the room, all his fears are replaced with great confidence that everything is alright.  We, who are Christians, live in the presence of God.  We realize that presence most vividly, when we have repented of all known sin in our life and have surrendered ourselves to His will.

We all have our opinions about the current political climate, and I surely have mine, but a pastor would do well to use a great deal of common sense in how much political opinion he vocalizes.  Some see it as proper boldness and telling it like it is, when a pastor denounces certain political practices, but the question that we must seek to answer is whether or not it is helpful to the cause of our calling.

Like most people, I have admired Billy Graham for as long as I can remember.  One thing I have learned through observing his ministry, is that he never criticizes a political personality.  He always majors on the gospel of Christ, and he leaves the politically charged issues to those who wish to live and die by that sword.  The end result is that he has no problem gaining audience with people of every political persuasion.

I have concluded that we preachers are Scripturally bound to speak to moral issues, even when the issue is a matter of political debate.  Some examples are abortion, gambling, homosexuality, and the like.  Simply saying what the Bible says about such issues will often align the preacher with one political side and against another.

Fault can easily be found with any of us, including any, and every, political personality.  It usually comes down to the lesser of two evils.  In the last presidential election, I heard one person say, “I’m going to hold my nose and vote.”  It really comes down to identifying our greatest problem; is it economic, or is it moral?  I think it is clearly moral.  It is a light thing for God to bless a people to get wealth, if they are willing  to be one nation under God and place their trust in Him.  I think the reason we are in the economic mess we are now in, is because we have been driven by greed, and we have forgotten God.