Good News People in a Bad News World
The negativity of our culture can be overwhelming at times, but Christians are called to be light. Light is about sharing the truth. Let’s focus on the light of truth we are to share.
Christianity teaches that we are the special, intentional creation of the one true loving God. We are made by Him in His image (Genesis 1:27). Whatever our race, educational or economic level, we are all profoundly valuable. Unfortunately, the world teaches us that we are the result of random chance over millions of years; we are simply accidents that somehow experience consciousness.
Many Christians back up the Scriptural teaching about the value of each person by helping the poor, fostering children and adopting the unwanted. Our congregation as well as other local churches distribute food every week to those in need. This year we reached over a million pounds given away since we began our food pantry. Approximately twenty volunteers give hours of their time every week to pull this off. My nephews and niece were adopted by my sister and her husband years ago from a Russian orphanage. I truly enjoy watching them thrive. I spent years working as a crisis counselor on the CARELINE preventing people who could not see their own value from taking their life by suicide. None of us can do everything, but we can each do something to value people.
Not only does Scripture teach that we are valuable but that we are loved. In evolutionary thinking we just exist by some fluke. In Christian theology we were made to be loved by God. Even after we sinned and rebelled against Him, God still loves us. In Romans 5:8 it states, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” This means despite making ourselves enemies of God, He chose to love us anyway. He chose to pay the highest price so that we could be forgiven and set free. The great summary statement of this love is found in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he sent His one and only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.” This means God not only delights in us but offers us a beautiful destiny in the new heavens and new earth.
Christian theology teaches that we each have a unique calling through which we bring glory to God. Specifically, the apostle Paul writes, “we are God’s handiwork (or masterpiece) created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). As King Solomon learned in his great experiment we call the book of Ecclesiastes: wealth, riches, and fame are meaningless but turning to God makes life worth living (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14). Atheists teach us that this life has no meaning, or we need to somehow create a meaning. In contrast, the Bible teaches us that our lives are packed with purpose.
Christianity offers value, love, purpose and a breathtaking destiny in a world that often offers meaningless despair. We offer good news in a world desperate for it. Let’s answer the call to be a good news people in a bad news world.
Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church
Christianity teaches that we are the special, intentional creation of the one true loving God. We are made by Him in His image (Genesis 1:27). Whatever our race, educational or economic level, we are all profoundly valuable. Unfortunately, the world teaches us that we are the result of random chance over millions of years; we are simply accidents that somehow experience consciousness.
Many Christians back up the Scriptural teaching about the value of each person by helping the poor, fostering children and adopting the unwanted. Our congregation as well as other local churches distribute food every week to those in need. This year we reached over a million pounds given away since we began our food pantry. Approximately twenty volunteers give hours of their time every week to pull this off. My nephews and niece were adopted by my sister and her husband years ago from a Russian orphanage. I truly enjoy watching them thrive. I spent years working as a crisis counselor on the CARELINE preventing people who could not see their own value from taking their life by suicide. None of us can do everything, but we can each do something to value people.
Not only does Scripture teach that we are valuable but that we are loved. In evolutionary thinking we just exist by some fluke. In Christian theology we were made to be loved by God. Even after we sinned and rebelled against Him, God still loves us. In Romans 5:8 it states, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” This means despite making ourselves enemies of God, He chose to love us anyway. He chose to pay the highest price so that we could be forgiven and set free. The great summary statement of this love is found in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he sent His one and only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.” This means God not only delights in us but offers us a beautiful destiny in the new heavens and new earth.
Christian theology teaches that we each have a unique calling through which we bring glory to God. Specifically, the apostle Paul writes, “we are God’s handiwork (or masterpiece) created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). As King Solomon learned in his great experiment we call the book of Ecclesiastes: wealth, riches, and fame are meaningless but turning to God makes life worth living (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14). Atheists teach us that this life has no meaning, or we need to somehow create a meaning. In contrast, the Bible teaches us that our lives are packed with purpose.
Christianity offers value, love, purpose and a breathtaking destiny in a world that often offers meaningless despair. We offer good news in a world desperate for it. Let’s answer the call to be a good news people in a bad news world.
Pastor Derek Dickinson
Journey Christian Church
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