Which is more important: 1) What we think about ourselves, 2) What others think about us, or 3) What God thinks about us? 4) What people we respect/admire think about us? 5) What is socially and politically “correct?” Don’t give the Sunday School answer… be honest with yourself!
Truth be told, we are driven by other’s opinions much more than we’d like to admit. Otherwise why would kids only want a certain brand of clothes, cologne, or certain type of car or hair-doo? Why would we prefer a certain kind of car… or live in a certain area… or work long hours… or refuse to disagree with someone verbally even though we believe they are wrong?
Let me give you one that hits close to home for many preachers… It is more important that they not rock the boat when they preach than to proclaim God’s Word faithfully. Job security is more important to them than speaking the truth. Ask any preacher this question and see if he hesitates any with an answer: “If you were independently wealthy, how would you change your message for Sunday?” The same goes for your co-worker (Or yourself?): If you were independently wealthy, how would your life change? Now consider…
Colossians 1:10 [W]alk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him…
Galatians 1:10 Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:3 [O]ur 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 [W]e ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God…
Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?
Christians are not to be offensive in their speech or conduct, however… their speech and conduct will be an offense in so far as they are faithful to honor God before men. If there is someone… or group… that it is more important to please than God, then I suggest considering closely the Scripture above again.