Preaching the Word

1 Thessalonians 2:1-4
(1) For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.
(2) But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
(3) For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,
(4) but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

Paul makes his audience clear. We can talk about the "audience of One" until we're blue in the face, but do we really mean it? Are we preaching to please God or to please man?

This isn't to say that every message must be in people's faces. I don't think Paul went around screaming at people. However, he didn't change his message to be nice. He wasn't worried about preaching a message that would make people happy. He wanted to please God with His message.

I've recently had a fresh conversation with the friend I reconnected with back in December. I don't think I've convinced him of the truth of Christianity, but I do think I've represented it faithfully. What pains me is that he, a humanist, has a better grasp on biblical truth than many Christians. I think it's because he's not afraid of logic. Meanwhile, many Christians are because of the cultural implications. This conversation regarded the biblical stance on homosexuality. Sadly, he has a friend who has not been discipled very well.