In an article published November 30, 2022 by The Daily Signal, the author tells of a street preacher in England who faced charges for threatening, abusive, and insulting speech.
Whatever did this man say?
He told a lesbian couple “in genuine concern for the women” that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
Here’s what a prosecutor said about that: “There are references in the Bible which are simply no longer appropriate in modern society and which would be offensive if stated in public.”
It’s an old game plan of the devil. Shut up the preaching of the truth. Why? Because the gospel is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
In Acts 4:18, Peter and John were told “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” They kept preaching.
In Acts 5, Peter and the other apostles were beaten and commanded to not speak in the name of Jesus. But “they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42).
The gospel has often not been “appropriate” to many people. It exposes the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and it calls on men to repent. The gospel clashes with the wisdom of the world. The proud of this age declare, “We’re different now. This is a modern society. We’re more loving and tolerant now.” The gospel says God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. (1 Corinthians 1:20).
The preaching and teaching of the gospel is always appropriate for all men for every age, both the lost and the saved. “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
And the preaching and teaching of the gospel is exactly what every man needs. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Let us desire to hear the gospel, even when it stings.
-Larry Jones