Can Christianity be offensive?

Like I said in my last post, many Mormons I’ve talked to have said they don’t want to say other faiths aren’t Christian. I will respond to three reasons I’ve heard.

“We don’t say other faiths aren’t Christian because we’re not prophets. We’re not God. We don’t have the authority to say other religions don’t follow God.”

It doesn’t matter. The LDS church believes its doctrine is God’s doctrine, right? The members believe they’re following the correct interpretation of the Bible, right? If the church is right, then religions that contradict their doctrines are contradicting God’s doctrines.

“We don’t want to offend people by saying they aren’t Christian.”

In Matthew 15, Jesus rebuked some Pharisees. The disciples asked Him about it.

“12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?"

13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted.”

Jesus didn’t have a problem with pointing out where people were wrong, even if telling them was offensive.

In Galatians 1, Paul rebuked false teachers.

“8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”

Paul said people who taught other religions should be cursed. He even repeated himself to emphasize the point. Why are people today so reluctant to say other religions are wrong? Verse 10 is also important to this discussion.

“10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

When you refrain from telling someone they’re not following Christ, are you seeking the favor or men, or of God?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying people should be offensive with their faith. I know many people have gone way over the line in expressing their beliefs.

There is absolutely nothing to justify that sign. But just because some people have been that offensive, it doesn’t mean religious people should shy away from any kind of offense. The purpose of any ministry should never be offending others. The gospel and God’s truth should always be the focus.