Your boss walks in tomorrow morning and tells
you that since you’ve been doing such a great job, you’re getting a big, fat,
huge, raise.
You open the mailbox and
find an unexpected check.
You answer the doorbell and
Publishers Clearing House hands you an over-sized check with lots and
lots of zeros and your name on the top.
You’re in sales and you
make the biggest sale of your career and break the company’s sales record
Your son’s football career
soars and he’s drafted into the NFL
You’re a preacher and
your empty pews fill with people.
If this happened, would you
be sad or mad or glad?
What if it happened to
another person; when you heard about it, would you be mad or glad or sad?
What if that other person
was a Christian? A preacher? A celebrity? Would that change how you feel?
Does being a Christian, make a person evil if they prosper? Do Celebrities & Christianity not mix?
Are Kayne West and Justin
Bieber, more evil since they’ve confessed Jesus as Lord of their life?
Literally millions of
people have heard the gospel of Jesus due to their conversion. Many have
followed their lead, and have made commitments or re-commitments to Christ.
That’s more, much more,
than I can say for myself.
What about Tim Tebow? Is
he less of a man, an athlete, because he’s a Christian?
Do you remember when he wore John 3:16 on his
eye black? The following 24 hrs. that verse was the highest-ranked Google
search generating 94 million searches.
Just think; ninety-four-million people
read: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
It gets better. Three years later, to the day, Tim and his Denver Broncos beat
the Steelers in the playoffs. During that game he threw
for 316 yards; his yards per completion were 31.6; yards per rush were 3.16,
the ratings for the night were 31.6; and the time of possession was 31.06. During that game ninety-one million people Googled John 3:16. It was the number
one trending thing on every social media platform.
I’d say that’s more than mere
coincidence and straight through the goalposts of Divine Providence.
What about the preacher? How should he feel if his empty pews fill with people?
Is Joel Osteen a
hypocrite because people by the thousands flock to hear him speak?
You may have heard Kanye
West at Pastor Joel Osteen’s, Lakewood Church, where over 40,000
people attend services each week and millions watch by television worldwide.
More gospel seeds were
planted that one Sunday afternoon, than I’ve planted my entire life.
Now, I understand there’s
more to it than just a one-time show. Being a Christian takes discipleship and
discipline and relationship building.
But it’s undeniable that media’s
influence is huge in today’s world.
And yet, I’ve heard people,
Christian people, mock. Complain. Criticize. Call them hypocrites.
I don’t know their
hearts. I don’t know their motives. Neither do you.
Only God knows.
But one thing I know for
sure and certain; because it's already been settled in the Perfect
Law of Liberty.
What then?
notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is
preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Philippians 1:18 (KJV)
The Living Bible says it
like this:
But whatever their motive
for doing it, the fact remains that the Good News about Christ is being
preached, and I am glad. Phil 1:18 TLB
So, then, what’s it going
to be? sad or mad or glad?
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