The Most Offensive Verse in the Bible

I first heard this wonderfully provocative thought when Doug Wilson referenced it during his concluding remarks in his debate with Andrew Sullivan on gay marriage.  (I loved Doug’s addendum about “rolling our own” and then smoking it.) Intrigued, I tracked down the original source. It is from a blog entry by Dan Phillips on Pyromaniacs.

I was going to comment on it, but thought “what’s the point?” Phillips just nails it. I would encourage all my fellow Christians to read and absorb this observation and make it a part of your apologetical tool kit. When it comes to a first principle it doesn’t get much better than this.

 

When Piers or Larry or Tavis or Rosie or Ellen or The View or whoever tried probing me about homosexuality, or wifely submission, or any other area where God has spoken (to the world’s consternation), I think I’d decline the worm altogether. I think instead, I’d say something like,

“You know, when you ask me about X, you’re obviously picking a topic that is deeply offensive to non-Christians — but it’s far from the most offensive thing I believe. You’re just nibbling at the edge of one of the relatively minor leaves on the Tree of Offense. Let me do you a favor, and just take you right down to the root. Let me take you tothe most offensive thing I believe.

“The most offensive thing I believe is Genesis 1: 1 and everything it implies.

“That is, I believe in a sovereign Creator who is Lord and Definer of all. Everything in the universe — the planet, the laws of physics, the laws of morality, you, me — everything was created by Another, was designed by Another, was given value and definition by Another. God is Creator and Lord, and so He is ultimate. That means we are created and subjects, and therefore derivative and dependent.

“Therefore, we are not free to create meaning or value. We have only two options. We can discover the true value assigned by the Creator and revealed in His Word, the Bible; or we can rebel against that meaning.

“Any time you bring up questions about any of these issues, you do so from one of two stances. You either do it as someone advocating and enabling rebellion against the Creator’s design, or as someone seeking submissive understanding of that design. You do it as servant or rebel. There is no third option.

“So yeah, insofar as I’m consistent with my core beliefs, everything I think about sexuality, relationships, morals, the whole nine yards,all of it is derived from what the Creator says. If I deviate from that, I’m wrong.

“To anyone involved in the doomed, damned you-shall-be-as-God project, that is the most offensive truth in the world, and it is the most offensive belief I hold.

“But if I can say one more thing, the first noun in that verse —beginning — immediately points us forward. It points to the end. And the end is all about Jesus Christ. That takes us to the topic of God’s world-tilting Gospel, and that’s what we really need to talk about.”

I mean, why quibble about minor offenses, when we know how to take them right to the mother lode of all offense — that God is God, and we are not?

4,681 Comments

  1. Diplomi_tcOl on September 10, 2025 at 7:28 pm

    диплом купить в реестре диплом купить в реестре .

  2. Cazreal on September 10, 2025 at 1:40 pm

    Купить диплом ВУЗа поспособствуем. Купить диплом специалиста Ростов на Дону – diplomybox.com/kupit-diplom-spetsialista-rostov-na-donu

  3. 1win_tjPt on September 10, 2025 at 10:55 am

    1win бонус казино http://1win12001.ru/

  4. Diplomi_qlSi on September 10, 2025 at 9:40 am

    купить диплом без занесения в реестр купить диплом без занесения в реестр .

  5. Cazrmcf on September 10, 2025 at 7:18 am

    Приобрести диплом ВУЗа мы поможем. Купить диплом бакалавра во Владивостоке – diplomybox.com/kupit-diplom-bakalavra-vo-vladivostoke

  6. Diplomi_nwMl on September 10, 2025 at 5:44 am

    купить диплом занесенный в реестр http://educ-ua15.ru .

  7. Diplomi_yaOa on September 10, 2025 at 2:09 am

    Купить диплом техникума в Николаев http://educ-ua8.ru – Купить диплом техникума в Николаев .

  8. Diplomi_onpt on September 10, 2025 at 2:08 am

    купить диплом о среднем специальном образовании купить диплом о среднем специальном образовании .

  9. Diplomi_xnMl on September 10, 2025 at 1:48 am

    купить диплом о среднем специальном образовании с занесением в реестр купить диплом о среднем специальном образовании с занесением в реестр .

  10. Diplomi_fbPt on September 10, 2025 at 1:45 am

    купить диплом о профессиональном образовании купить диплом о профессиональном образовании .

  11. Bistro priobresti diplom o visshem obrazovanii!_siPn on September 10, 2025 at 1:19 am

    купить диплом в екатеринбург реестр купить диплом в екатеринбург реестр .

  12. Diplomi_mlst on September 9, 2025 at 11:29 pm

    купить проведенный диплом Украина http://educ-ua14.ru/ .

  13. natyajnie potolki_ltMi on September 9, 2025 at 11:05 pm

    натяжной потолок цена за м2 натяжной потолок цена за м2 .

  14. kondicioneri s ystanovkoi_ltEi on September 9, 2025 at 10:35 pm

    кондиционер купить цена кондиционер купить цена .

  15. natyajnie potolki_lbMi on September 9, 2025 at 6:21 pm

    где купить натяжной потолок где купить натяжной потолок .

  16. Sazrxme on September 9, 2025 at 3:03 pm

    Купить диплом под заказ возможно используя официальный сайт компании. workinternational-df.com/employer/diploms-ukraine

  17. natyajnie potolki_uuMi on September 9, 2025 at 8:08 am

    глянцевый натяжной потолок глянцевый натяжной потолок .

  18. kondicioneri s ystanovkoi_nhEi on September 9, 2025 at 8:06 am

    установка кондиционера под ключ установка кондиционера под ключ .

  19. mostbet_jvOa on September 9, 2025 at 3:18 am

    мочтбет http://mostbet4172.ru

  20. Diplomi_hhkr on September 9, 2025 at 12:48 am

    высшее образование купить диплом с занесением высшее образование купить диплом с занесением .

  21. Diplomi_elSi on September 8, 2025 at 10:17 pm

    купить диплом без реестра купить диплом без реестра .

  22. Diplomi_ymOl on September 8, 2025 at 3:32 pm

    купить диплом проведенный купить диплом проведенный .

  23. Diplomi_snPt on September 8, 2025 at 2:37 pm

    купить аттестат за 9 класс украина educ-ua2.ru .

  24. mostbet_fhSt on September 8, 2025 at 11:07 am

    mostbet o’ynash skachat http://mostbet4171.ru

  25. Diplomi_pxKn on September 8, 2025 at 8:08 am

    строительный техникум купить диплом строительный техникум купить диплом .

  26. Diplomi_abpi on September 8, 2025 at 6:08 am

    купить диплом техникума отзывы купить диплом техникума отзывы .

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply