A man I know recently said this to me:

"I'm not going back to that church, because that preacher gets up there and tells the congregation what is right and what is wrong. How can he stand up there and tell me what I can and can't do? He's not perfect and I'm sure he has plenty of issues of his own. I'm not going to sit there and listen to that."

Now, I never try to hide my Christianity, but I don't go around bashing people over the head with my Bible either. Sometimes it is wise to speak and sometimes it is wise to keep your mouth closed. When the Holy Spirit nudges me to say something, it's like an itch that won't go away until I scratch it. So after a few seconds silence, my response was this:

"I don't know anything about the church you go to, but in my church, it's not 'thus sayeth Pastor so-n-so'. It's 'thus sayeth the Word of God'. Anyone can have an opinion about anything, but what does the scripture say? My advice is to read your Bible and see if your lifestyle matches up with what God says."

He just looked at me like a deer in the headlights. I felt like he was trying to justify his lifestyle by pointing the finger at the person who stepped on his toes. I do not think his pastor was spouting off opinions, but speaking in truth and it rubbed this guy the wrong way. Needless to say, the conversation was over. He didn't hear what he wanted from his pastor and he certainly wasn't going to get a sugar-coated piece of ear candy from me. He knows in his heart of hearts where he stands with God. Trying to convince yourself that you are in the right and justify your sin will profit you absolutely nothing.

God's Word holds the Truth. Please, do not take my word for it... read it for yourself.

Take care and be blessed in Jesus name!