Danny Eason

I look back over my life and see a lot of things I should not have done.
I look back over my marriage and see many areas where I failed so miserably.
I look back over my parenting and I regret the times I could have been a better dad.
I look back over my pastorate and see a lot of things I should not have allowed to happen.

And I tremble.

I tremble under the mercy of a God who does not give me what I deserve.
I tremble under the grace of a God who grants me what I do not.
I tremble when I think of His love that overcomes all of my faults. His strength that overcomes my weaknesses. His wisdom that overcomes my ignorance.

I tremble even more, when He reminds me that it is us He has chosen to carry His love to a world. To proclaim His truths to a nation. To lead His church to their knees.

I tremble greater still at all the work that is left to be done.

The church was heading in a dangerous direction. Casting aside love and mercy in exchange for judgment and wrath. With a message of condemnation we walked out into the world, proclaiming what may have been true, but lacking all the love of God. We spoke against the sin of men with a self righteous attitude that turned people away from our message instead of causing them to incline an ear to listen.

Then things changed.
We improved our approach.
We saw the disgrace that our methods brought upon the cause of Christ.

A generation moved to remedy the situation with a boldness and love that was beyond all others.

But somewhere in the correction, we over-corrected. In trying to swerve back onto the road, we jumped the median and headed straight for the opposite ditch. And now it is the fellow Christian that we speak to without love and mercy. Now it is our brother that we harshly discipline without the love of Christ.

Now we mock and we ridicule.

We tweet judgment. We blog satire.

And none of it glorifies God.

We over-corrected.

Your thoughts?

I’m known to be a very blunt person. It’s something I constantly try to work on. I usually just say what needs to be said. It may be tactless. It may even be rude. But it’s transparent. It’s honest. It’s real. Often my bluntness ends up offending people. People I never meant to hurt, then I must eat my words and apologize! Never a fun thing.

I’m left wondering though, is there an acceptable line of offense? Or is there a line drawn somewhere, an invisible line that says, “You are free to do or say anything, but don’t cross this line.” Too often, I cross it. I’m a line pusher. (and at good buffets a line jumper.)

The Gospel of Christ is a radical message. Matter of fact it is often times an offensive one. It offends our nature. It offends our pride. It offends us. My question is, in sharing the gospel what line of offense is acceptable? Do we portray the message in a way that no one is offended? Or do we just share it however, whether it offends or not? As the church moves forward, does it watch out for the feelings of man or does it just move? Does it give regard to the opinions and religion of others or does it just proclaim truth? Pure, unadulterated truth.

What do you think?