A Moment With Your Minister ...
As I begin composition of this column, my thoughts are upon the family of God here at Bethel. This then causes me to say the same thing Paul said when he wrote to the saints at Thessalonica: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ...” (1 Thess. 1:2-3).
Oh how marvelous to contemplate the fact that, if all of us will remain faithful in our service to the Lord Jesus Christ, heaven will be ours to enjoy when this life is over. This is the type of positive thinking that I have been trying to instill in every heart during our current Wednesday evening Bible classes. Indeed, God gives us the victory through His Son Jesus Christ and as Paul did exclaim: “..in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).
We know this and therefore marvel at those who reject God’s word of truth and who refer to Christianity as something designed for losers. One such remark served as the launching pad for the following article that was penned by John Gipson. I am reprinting it for your consideration. May God’s blessings be upon you throughout this week as you labor for Him.
Carl
“Christianity Is For Losers”
“Christianity is for losers,” said Ted Turner, according to the September, 1998, issue of Reader’s Digest. I suppose he means that he has been extremely successful financially and is therefore a winner. And, being a winner means he doesn’t need Christ.
In one way I’m willing to concede that Mr. Turner has a point. Christianity is for losers – for those who have lost their way, alienated themselves from God, their fellowman, and have failed to live at their best. (A group that includes Mr. Turner, and everyone else who has reached the age of accountability). Some may “play like” they have no sin, but it’s just a game, “since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”(Romans 3:23). As far as I can tell, the scriptures declare that all of us fall into the category of being losers. And even if we didn’t have the Bible to tell us so, an honest appraisal of one’s life would lead to the same conclusion.
Christ came into the world for the benefit of losers. He expressly stated, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”(Luke 5:32).
I suppose if one could prove he were righteous, absolutely righteous, he would have no need of a Savior. The problem? “None is righteous; no, not one” (Romans 3:10). So we are back at our starting point: We are all losers!
The beauty of Christianity is that it can take us losers and make us winners! Cleansed of all past sins, we begin again with a new heart and a new spirit within us.
I’m thankful Christianity is for losers!
JOHN GIPSON
As I begin composition of this column, my thoughts are upon the family of God here at Bethel. This then causes me to say the same thing Paul said when he wrote to the saints at Thessalonica: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ...” (1 Thess. 1:2-3).
Oh how marvelous to contemplate the fact that, if all of us will remain faithful in our service to the Lord Jesus Christ, heaven will be ours to enjoy when this life is over. This is the type of positive thinking that I have been trying to instill in every heart during our current Wednesday evening Bible classes. Indeed, God gives us the victory through His Son Jesus Christ and as Paul did exclaim: “..in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).
We know this and therefore marvel at those who reject God’s word of truth and who refer to Christianity as something designed for losers. One such remark served as the launching pad for the following article that was penned by John Gipson. I am reprinting it for your consideration. May God’s blessings be upon you throughout this week as you labor for Him.
Carl
“Christianity Is For Losers”
“Christianity is for losers,” said Ted Turner, according to the September, 1998, issue of Reader’s Digest. I suppose he means that he has been extremely successful financially and is therefore a winner. And, being a winner means he doesn’t need Christ.
In one way I’m willing to concede that Mr. Turner has a point. Christianity is for losers – for those who have lost their way, alienated themselves from God, their fellowman, and have failed to live at their best. (A group that includes Mr. Turner, and everyone else who has reached the age of accountability). Some may “play like” they have no sin, but it’s just a game, “since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”(Romans 3:23). As far as I can tell, the scriptures declare that all of us fall into the category of being losers. And even if we didn’t have the Bible to tell us so, an honest appraisal of one’s life would lead to the same conclusion.
Christ came into the world for the benefit of losers. He expressly stated, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”(Luke 5:32).
I suppose if one could prove he were righteous, absolutely righteous, he would have no need of a Savior. The problem? “None is righteous; no, not one” (Romans 3:10). So we are back at our starting point: We are all losers!
The beauty of Christianity is that it can take us losers and make us winners! Cleansed of all past sins, we begin again with a new heart and a new spirit within us.
I’m thankful Christianity is for losers!
JOHN GIPSON