christianity is for losers

Relevant Magazine ^ | May (?) 2003 | Jeremy Klaszus

[Doomonyou]

Between moments of dispensing wisdom, it seems that historical religious leaders had also learned software programming. One day, a great contest was held to test their skills. After days and days of fierce competition, only two leaders remained for the last day's event: Jesus and Mohammed. The judge described the software application required for the final test, and gave the signal to start writing code. The two contestants feverishly typed away on their keyboards. Routines, classes, applets and applications flew by on their screens at incredible speeds. Windows, dialogs, and other intricate graphics began forming on their monitors. The clock showed that the contest would soon be finished, when suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed and the power went out. After a moment it came back on--just in time for the clock to announce that the last competition was over. The judge asked the two contestants to reveal their finished software. Mohammed angrily said that he'd lost it all in the power outage. The judge then turned to the other competitor. Jesus smiled, clicked a mouse and a dazzling application appeared on his screen. After just a few moments, the judge was clearly impressed and declared Jesus the victor, pointing out the unique characteristic that set the winner apart from all the other leaders:

Jesus saves.

[exmarine]

Christianity is for losers. I am a loser - a sure-fire loser if I, a wretched lawbreaker, enter eternity without the covering of the Savior - Jesus Christ. In fact, all human beings are losers because ALL have broken the 10 commandments, and God is a PERFECT JUDGE and does not grade on a curve. God cannot go against His nature, He must punish sin. However, God is merciful and therefore has provided the ONLY way out of certain judgment - He sent His Son, God the Son, to live the perfect life we cannot live, and pay the penalty for us as a substitutional atonement, and whoever trusts in Him will not be judged for their sins, but they will be imputed with HIS righteousness. How glorious is that? Bottom line: Those who think they are winners will lose in God's economy, but those who think they are winners will lose.

[ArGee]

I have to admit, I thrived on the small controversy that unfolded before me. I grinned when offended friends sent me e-mails. I quite enjoyed keeping people in the dark.

Well, Jeremy, the problem with Christianity is that far too many Pastors feel the way you do. They don't think their purpose is to share the truth, but to score points and aggrandize themselves. The Wrong Reverend John Shelby Spong says he likes questions better than answers. That's like saying the best way to grow a tree is to plant it in the dark, and it is a stupid idea.

Yes, Jeremy, you make a splash, but you do no service except to yourself. If you cared about other people, you would simply tell them the truth.

Christianity is for you.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

Oops, looks like you shouldn't have invited me here. I apparently picked out the wrong part of the article to comment on.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

Christianity strips away all the religious junk between you and God, it's just a bare faced relationship between the two.

Only if you forget the fact that Christianity is Jewish.

Shalom.

[Old Professer]

Well, there goes his share of the inheritance; nothing meek about this blowhard.

[agrace]

Beautiful! Like these -

2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

[stainlessbanner]

This article is good....no bad....or is it?

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

The title isn't "Christians are losers", it's "Christianity is for losers".

Like

"Medicine is for the sick"

not

"People who have used medicine are sick."

[First Amendment]

But true Christianity is for failures. People who screw up and know it.

There's a lot here - Eventually, everyone is a failure and if at no other time, has to realize it at the time of death, when all accomplishments, portfolio, beauty, relationships, possessions, and attachments are ripped away. One is left with one's consciousness - who do we love? Who do we place our heart with? God? If not, we're losers. So better to realize we're losers now, and that God is our only shelter, our only Friend, our only possession that won't get ripped away sooner or later.

PS - the root message of the Bhagavad Gita is this also!

[nightdriver]

"What they fail to see is that "not being good enough" is the very first prerequisite to being a Christian."

Very good theology.

[ovrtaxt]

Christianity strips away all the religious junk between you and God, it's just a bare faced relationship between the two.

Only if you forget the fact that Christianity is Jewish.

Yes, it's Judaism fulfilled. But you lost me. What does the Jewishness of Christianity have to do with it? Shalom. :)

[2nd Amendment]

Absolutely! I am a loser! Thankfully Jesus Christ has died for me and is preparing eternity in heaven for us "losers". Good luck on your road to hell, winners!

[wimpycat]

After reading the title, and while clicking to open the thread, I was preparing myself to crack some skulls! (Figuratively speaking, of course.)

But now I see what he was driving at. Very clever! It sure caught my attention, LOL!

[GSWarrior]

Thanks. You've brightened my day.

[Just mythoughts]

All true however, let's remember, it is written that He is returning to set things right and He is to be coming back for a harvest carrying a two edged sword. (His Word cuts like a two edged sword).

Some of those who claim to be "Christians" will be told "I never knew you" and some will pray for mountains to fall on themselves.

Alot of work still ahead for all, before that Judgment Day.

[Agamemnon]

To kick off a really good discussion, try to figure out the meaning of Matt 5:3 -- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The phrase "poor in Spirit" does not refer to an economic position or the state of mind of a person who happens to be penniless.

The phrase is a reference to self-willfulness. It is a description of one who is submitted to God and His will, much like a horse has it's "spirit" broken before it can become submissive to its rider.

[Quix]

For sure.

[Jorge]

Jorge, I know you are a good person period, regardless of our differences.

Actually I am not really a "good person", but since this is the first positive thing you've ever posted about me...I won't make an argument out of it. (grin)

But I can’t help thinking that the author is substituting “losers” for sinners and I don’t think her analogy means winners aren’t sinners. Am I wrong?

You are probably right, and it seems this is the author's intent.

But he/she also attempts to make a distinction between winners and losers..in a manner which I believe tends to obscure the fact that ALL are sinners and therefore are losers.

I disagree with the wording.

[wolfman]

I think a more accurate description is that Christians are the ones who realize that ALL humans are losers. There's nothing more dangerous than a fallible man thinking he is infallible.