Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed. 2 Corinthians 6:3
Those of us who remember the late preacher Albert Ramsay well can recall a story he used to tell on himself during the days when he was in the beef business. There was a man he wanted to invite to the Gospel meetings, but, as he was going to invite the man, he recalled a business deal he had with that same man. Albert liked to drive a close bargain, and when he was buying an animal from this man, he had employed his bargaining powers to the full. Albert was sure this man would resent the way in which Albert had beat him down on his price. Before he could even think about inviting that man to hear the Gospel, Albert had to go to him first and apologize to him, paying him some of the money he had made on that deal. Unfortunately, not all of us have the same sensitivity that Albert Ramsay had about protecting the ministry from blame.
We look about our Gospel meetings at times and lament that so few attend. Most of the people who we invite never show up. How many of those who we invite simply don’t want to have anything to do with some of the folks who are there? How many of them have grudges against one or more of the Christians? How many of them have been put off by the behaviour of one or more of the Christians? How many of them don’t approve of the attitude of one or more of the Christians? While it is true that people who are invited to hear the Gospel have a responsibility to God for how they respond to that invitation, it is also true that Christians are responsible to God for not giving anyone offense that would reflect badly on the Gospel. This is a responsibility that we need to take very seriously, less we be blamed for preventing anyone from hearing the Gospel.
I have heard of (but thankfully have never seen) Assemblies where the rules of conduct are such that outsiders are discouraged from attending. Assemblies that place strict rules on the colour of suit that a man may wear, on the type of hat and dress that a woman may wear, and that require children to be dressed in a particular way actually discourage new Christians from ever wanting to be part of such a fellowship. This type of legalism – actually, any type of legalism – is blatantly unscriptural, giving offense that causes the ministry to be blamed.
Adding to the Word of God, and acting contrary to the Word of God, can both be the means of stumbling Christians and hindering sinners. Let us seek to protect the ministry from blame. – Jim MacIntosh