The Stench of the Gospel

 



 Introduction

In a previous article, we showed how Christians can be viewed as troublemakers. In this one, we’ll see how some view the gospel as unpleasant to the ears.

When I first became a Christian, naturally, I tried to share the gospel with others, especially my co-workers. I remember one incident in which a group of them were sitting at a break table and one of the older members was telling a story. She said, something to the effect, of a deceased relative was sitting at the foot of her bed and smiling.

After she finished, I tried to tell her it that it wasn’t true, citing scripture. At that very moment, the entire table cleared as they weren’t interested in what I had to say. It was as if the words, coming out of my mouth, carried a foul odor; a stench, if you will.

 

Sweet Smell or Foul Odor

In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth he writes, For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). Paul likens the gospel to the burning of incense in the temple. When you do the commandments of God (Jn. 14:15), it is a sweet-smelling aroma.

The congregation was still divided primarily over Paul’s apostleship. There were some who didn’t recognize him as a true apostle but more as a “preacher for hire”. That’s why he didn’t take money from them to do the work but, rather, received from others. He used the phrase, “I robbed other churches…” (2 Cor. 11:8).

His words would be both an sweet-smelling aroma to those who believed the gospel, and a foul odor to those who rejected the message. It’s almost like a paradox that one message can create both results.

 

They prefer the Darkness

Jesus said, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19) Those who don’t want to hear the truth prefer to live their lives in a worldly manner; the light of the gospel would shine on their wickedness and show people who they really are. Therefore, they can’t stand when someone quotes scripture to them as it has a foul stench to their ears.

That why Paul wrote, And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. (Ephesians 5:11) Those of the world prefer the darkness and, to them, the gospel is wrong. They know it’s the truth, but they don’t want to be told that. They’d rather wallow in their daily lives of unrighteous behavior than to have someone upset their “balance of normalcy”.

 

Conclusion

If you abide in Christ (Jn. 8:31-32), it is a pleasant odor to God and it should be a sweet-smelling aroma to you. However, if you reject His Word (Lk. 10:16) it will be a horrible stench to God and to you. Even rejecting one little part of the gospel can become a stench to you. Embrace all of God’s word!

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