While in Ephesus, Paul and his companions were responsible for quite a stir. The silver smiths, who made a living fashioning images of the goddess Artemis (AKA Diana), started a riot claiming they had defamed their beloved goddess (see Acts 19:23-31).
The city clerk, assuring them that Paul's group had neither defiled their temple nor blasphemed their goddess, finally was able to disperse the crowd, warning them of the charge of rioting they were open to.
What had Paul and his companions done that caused such a backlash? They preached the Gospel and ignored the practice of idolatry in their daily lives. It wasn't that Paul's words were directed at their idolatry, it was that his words and deeds didn't support their beliefs. Paul's great sin was to not join in with them and support the worship of idols in general and Dianna in particular.
You can offend a drunk by simply choosing to drink club soda instead of having a "real drink" with him. Taking a firm stand for the traditional definition of marriage, even while agreeing that homosexuals should have the right of civil partnerships, can cause you to draw a lot of angst today. Proclaiming your personal faith in Jesus as the Son of God can get you labeled as a narrow-minded religious bigot. It is not enough to tolerate other beliefs, we are expected to accept and validate beliefs we don't hold.
You don't have to try to offend someone to be offensive. Anytime you take an unwavering position on just about anything, you can expect backlash. This is particularly true when dealing with sacred cows. Our culture tends to worship sexuality, lack of personal restraint and immediate gratification. If you advocate sexual purity, personal responsibility and sacrifice, you can expect to evoke an angry response.
So, despite the offense of some, hold to your beliefs. Jus' Sayn.
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