So, I've offended you, have I?

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In Galatians, Paul speaks hard truths to the Church, and in verse sixteen of chapter four, he says this: "Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (NASB). Speaking truth to those who should be able to recognize it when they hear it is hard enough, as evidenced by Galatians and other books Paul wrote to churches he helped to establish during his missionary journeys; however, speaking truth to those who don't have spiritual ears to hear without them getting upset is impossible. They have no "ken" to borrow an old Scots word. The ability to perceive God's truth is just not there! Yet we act as if we expect them to understand. It is insanity!

As Christians in today's culture, we can sometimes feel we are walking a tightrope if we try to balance truth with not offending. Don't get me wrong, giving offense is not the goal, but pleasing God is, and sometimes that means letting go of the attempt to balance something that is unbalanceable. God has this world in His hands, even when it seems scary from our perspective, and when He calls us to speak truth, we must do so, even at our own cost. I would rather the world be my enemy than God! It will only last a little while, but eternity--that's a long time!

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