In a recent message I recounted the scene near the end of Schindler's List, where Oscar Schindler is given a ring made from the gold fillings of the Jews he saved. As he tries it on he realizes that with more money and risk-taking he might have saved more. "This car -- 10 more lives -- this gold pin 3 more lives."
What a powerful reminder of the value of one life.
I am convinced that Randy Pope, Senior Pastor of Perimeter Church in Atlanta is right when he says that most Christians do not really believe that all of heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents and that if the story of the Prodigal Son was retold in another form most church folks would doubt it was from the Bible.
Randy also says that in light of Luke 15 -- the stories of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin and Lost Son -- followers of Jesus ought to be so passionate about reaching lost people that we would leave a church if it wasn't effectively doing just that. Instead hundreds of professing Christians leave local churches each week because they resent the fact that they are not "deep enough" to feed them. Few if any people these days leave a church over lack of outreach.
I am convinced that Randy Pope, Senior Pastor of Perimeter Church in Atlanta is right when he says that most Christians do not really believe that all of heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents and that if the story of the Prodigal Son was retold in another form most church folks would doubt it was from the Bible.
Randy also says that in light of Luke 15 -- the stories of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin and Lost Son -- followers of Jesus ought to be so passionate about reaching lost people that we would leave a church if it wasn't effectively doing just that. Instead hundreds of professing Christians leave local churches each week because they resent the fact that they are not "deep enough" to feed them. Few if any people these days leave a church over lack of outreach.
I think both Randy and Oscar are right!
GHT
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