I call this writing, “Religion for Losers”
The title of this article is a description of Christianity by billionaire Ted Turner.
In the end of his life, he changed his view. He said that he regrets his fifty years of negativism toward Christianity. He apologized and said Christianity is a positive influence.
Why he turned against Christianity a lifetime ago is a sad story. When he was 15, his 12-year-old sister developed terminal lupus. He prayed for her for one hour every day for most of five years. Over those five years he saw her in pain and finally her death. His conclusion was that God her and so he quit God.
His is not an unusual story. We see it all the time. Someone prays for a heartfelt, specific outcome and God does not grant it. The praying person becomes frustrated with God and quits Him.
The quitting does not always manifest itself in a “religion for losers” mentality or an “I’ll never go to church again” attitude. Sometimes the quitter just quietly quits worshipping or maybe continues to frequent services, but settles into a duty bound, joyless religion.
There is such a thing as “religion for losers,” but it is not true Christianity. Religion for losers is a religion that does not feel the joy or power of God. Religion for losers often worships but counts the minutes until it is over. Religion for losers does not lead us to our knees in prayer.
When those with true faith pray, they do not always get what they ask for in exactly the way they asked. God is not a genie in a bottle and prayer is not like rubbing the lamp.
True faith knows that the Father knows best and is willing to leave it with him. True religion knows that when life tumbles in, when our hearts break, and when struggles surround us, God is faithful. (1 Cor 1:9)
You may not always understand Him, but God is always faithful.
Lonnie Davis