Offending God and Man


For the past few days, the media been filled with reports about baseball players taking a stand against gay activism. A minor league team in York, Pennsylvania planned a “Pride Night” this past Thursday. However, a few of their players refused to wear uniforms with rainbow designs on their sleeves. As a result, team officials decided to forfeit the game.

Then there was the San Francisco Giants’ “Pride Night” game against the Chicago Cubs on June 12th. Most of the players wore caps with a rainbow-colored “SF” logo. One pitcher opted to wear a cap with the usual orange logo. Three others inscribed “Gen 9:12-16” next to the rainbow-colored logo. Pitcher Landen Roupp told reporters, “It's just about God’s covenant and a promise that He makes to us — His faithfulness and His mercy.” A Major League Baseball official stated that “…writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations.” Yet in 2020, MLB allowed pitcher mounds and jersey patches with messages supporting “Black Lives Matter.” I wish athletes would stop trying to push their political beliefs and just play ball.


Former Giants pitcher and current broadcaster Mike Krukow expressed concerns about players actions offending the LGBT community. Sadly, Mr. Krukow and others like him don’t have a problem offending Christians. I get so tired of the double standards some activists display. They talk about tolerance, but won’t tolerate God-fearing people adhering to Biblical standards. In Matthew 24:10, Jesus warned that in the last days “…many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”


At the same time, Christians shouldn’t purposely be offensive both to believers and nonbelievers. Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle.” In response to Peter questioning Jesus about paying the temple tax, the Lord said in Matthew 17:27 “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” When I encounter homosexuals while evangelizing, I avoid calling them derogatory names like “fags.” However, I refuse to celebrate their deviant lifestyle choices.


I’d be more concerned about offending God. When Peter tried to discourage Jesus from laying down His life, he was told in Matthew 16:23, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” 


Proverbs 6 lists seven things that the Lord hates:


17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.


Sin offends God. That’s why he gave us Jesus. Preaching what the Bible says will offend those who won’t repent. 


In the liner notes of his 1978 album “No Compromise”, singer Keith Green wrote, “In a day when believers seem to be trying to please both the world and the Lord (which is an impossible thing), when people are far more concerned about offending their friends than offending God, there is only one answer…Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him!”


“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” - Matthew 11:6

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