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Published: May 6, 2020, 3:19 p.m.

\u201cIf the spiritual awakening you are talking about happens would that mean everyone would have to believe in Jesus and would everyone have to follow the same beliefs?\u201d

The questions were more rhetorical than they were authentic inquiry.

My affirmative answer was quickly followed by his\xa0statement, \u201cThat is communism.\u201d

My surprise at his statement was heightened by the knowledge this person claimed to be a Christian. How could they have such a stunning offense of Jesus Christ?

That is rapidly becoming the line of demarcation inside the Christianity community.

Evangelical and Pentecostal movements are no exception.\xa0They too are experiencing the pressure of a culture marinated in tolerance and relativism.

Great offense is taken at the very idea of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible.

This is not new.

The crowds were offended at the new prophet out of Galilee claiming to be the Son of God. Although they were amazed at the miraculous healings and appreciated the food He provided, his teaching greatly trouble them.

He made himself equal with God. \u201cI am the bread come down from Heaven,\u201d He said.

They could not see past His humanity.

\u201cIsn\u2019t this the son of Joseph and Mary,\u201d they asked? "Where does he come off saying God is His Father?"

They had watched him grow up. There was no way He had come down from Heaven. He was born and raised right there in Nazareth among them. They knew all of His relatives.

The Offense of Jesus Christ

Just as the people of Galilee, many today struggle with Jesus divinity.

How can God be in the flesh? It is the mystery of the ages, \u201cChrist in you, the hope of glory\u201d (Colossians 1:26-27). \u201cFor in Him dwells all the fullness of the godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power\u201d (Colossians 2:9-10).

The people wanted His miracles and they wanted the food He provided, but they could not accept His true identity.

Does that sound familiar?

The complaints about the presidential inauguration from inside \u201cthe beltway\u201d and from the national media declared it was too Christian.