I recently received a chain email from someone who 'usually doesn't forward these things, but thought I would be blessed.' What the email included was facts about people who rejected christ and how their lives came to a horribly abrupt end. Those 'endings' included being shot to death, burnt alive, drowning in their own vomit, car accident and overdose... Yes...I was definitely blessed! It ends by telling you that if you love Jesus then you should forward this on to 8 people. Something I'm sure Jesus would have done had he had access to email...
I am not a fan of these emails. Frankly, I hate them...yes I said hate. They always seem to generalize the facts. In this case, they treat these sad stories as a 'turn or burn' example of someone's bent out of shape idea of evangelism. These are people who were the beloved of God. There’s always a bigger story than someone’s final rejection of Christ. I hope it’s something that can serve as a sad reminder of how dependant we really are instead of a joyful cry of how God zaps those who reject him.
The first story was about John Lennon. The email says,
"Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:
"Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him" (1966). Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
Yeah...God Zaps those who don't follow him doesn't he? I have a real problem with this type of conversation being spread through christian emailers. I also have a message for them...STOP IT!!!!! This is not full of love, but of condemnation. John 3:17 says that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." We are not to be condemning either. So STOP IT!!!
I’ve always been fond of John Lennon because, he was a seeker. More so than many so-called Christians today. He searched for that thing that constantly eluded him. If you want to read an interesting article about his struggle with Christianity visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/januaryweb-only/001-22.0.html It gives an interesting insight to this guy whose insecurities kept him from accepting the truth. Not to mention that his comments about being more famous than Jesus wasn't an egocentric statement, but rather a sad commentary about the decline of spirituality and religion in America.
Yes, there is always a back story...a bigger story than someone's horrific end. I tell you, if God zapped everyone who rejected him, how many of us would still be here?
Thanks for reading and by the way, if love Jesus, then please send this blog post to 8 people :)
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2 comments:
Scott,
It’s good to hear from you again. Glad to know you are doing well.
I must say that I agree with you for the most part. God does not sit in Heaven and wait for man to say something and then “zap” them when they say something that insults God. John Lennon made a statement that had some truth in it. The Beatles were very popular. Things that entertain us can be very popular. John was not calling for lives to be changed, he was not calling for repentance, and he was not calling for sacrifice.
The Bible says in Matthew 7:13-15 (New King James Version)
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
It’s easy to see why people so many more people are more popular than Jesus. They don’t ask for anything other than you like them.
Now as for God killing Lennon because he said that. I disagree with that as well. God is not threatened and intimidated by those who say things against Him. So lets look at what the Bible says about man and death.
Hebrews 9:27 (King James Version) 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Everyone dies and John Lennon is no different. God knew that Lennon was going to die and knew how. If anything it shows God’s grace that he let Lennon live till 1980 giving him chance after chance to repent and follow Jesus. God is good. We all deserve to be destroyed by God. I am a pastor of church and before I met Jesus I deserved to die and go to hell. Everyone does. EVERYONE. We should take no joy when a lost person dies. As a pastor my heart breaks when I do a funeral for a lost person. What comfort can be given to that family? We should be doing our best to tell them about Jesus. Why would a lost person say good things about God? It’s not within them.
Now, as for John seeking God…I’m not sure I agree with that. The Bible says in Romans 3:11 (New American Standard Bible)
11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
God calls man unto Himself. The Holy Spirit draws man. What a gracious God we have. We are lost without Him and yet we do not have to seek Him. He seeks us. And He sought after Lennon. As He seeks after everyone. God wishes that none would perish. If Jesus spoke about Heaven 24 times and spoke about Hell 56 times then doesn’t that show how much He loves man? Hell is real and He doesn’t delight in man going there, and neither should we.
Good blog Scotty.—NFCS
Jason Dunham
Pastor, FBC Hackberry, La.
John Lennon was a better man and much closer to being a Christian than all of you small minded idiots that believe this shit. I am glad to see a religious website that points out the truth about that tripe. Thank you, you have given me hope that not all of the current followers of Christ are stupid.
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