gospel for asia

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Quotes (387)

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How can we preach the Gospel to a man with an empty stomach?

A man’s stomach has nothing to do with his heart’s condition of being a rebel against the holy God. A rich American on Fifth Avenue in New York City or a poor beggar on the streets of Bombay are both rebels against God Almighty, according to the Bible. The result of this lie is the fact that, during the past 100 years, the majority of mission money has been invested in social work. I am not saying we should not care for the poor and needy. The issue I am taking to task is losing our primary focus of preaching the Gospel.

– K.P. Yohannan

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Quotes (368)

yahannan.jpg The so-called humanist gospel—which isn’t really the “good news” at all—is called by many names. Some argue for it in familiar biblical and theological terms; some call it the “social gospel” or the “holistic gospel,” but the label is not important. You can tell the humanist gospel because it refuses to admit that the basic problem of humanity is not physical, but spiritual. The humanist won’t tell you sin is the root cause of all human suffering.

– K.P. Yohannan

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Quotes (297)

yahannan.jpg Modern man unconsciously holds highest the humanistic ideals of happiness, freedom, and economic, cultural, and social progress for all mankind. This secular view says there is no God, heaven or Hell; there is just one chance at life, so do what makes you most happy. It also teaches that “since all men are brothers,” we should work for that which contributes toward the welfare of all men. This teaching–so attractive on the surface–has entered our churches in many ways, creating a man-centered and man-made gospel based on changing the outside and social status of man by meeting his physical needs. The cost is his eternal soul.

– K.P. Yohannan

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Quotes (264)

yahannan.jpg Both in India and in my travels around Western countries, I constantly uncovered a preoccupation with so-called “ministry” activities operated by Christian workers, financed by church monies, but with little else to distinguish them as Christian. . . . Social concern is a natural fruit of the Gospel. But to put it first is to put the cart before the horse; and from experience, we have seen it fail in India for more than 200 years. Yet while I realized the intrinsic nature of the Gospel involved [in] caring for the poor, I knew the priority was giving them the Gospel. Meeting their needs was a means to share the love of Christ so they would be saved for eternity.

– K.P. Yohannan

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Quotes (253)

yahannan.jpg Christian magazines, TV shows and church services often put the spotlight on famous athletes, beauty queens, businessmen and politicians who “make it in the world and have Jesus too!” . . . The typical media testimony goes something like this:

“I was sick and broke, a total failure. Then I met Jesus. Now everything is fine; my business is booming, and I am a great success.”

It sounds wonderful. Be a Christian and get that bigger house and a boat and vacation in the Holy Land. But if that were really God’s way, it would put some Christians living in communist countries and in the Two-Thirds World in a pretty bad light. Their testimonies often go like this:

“I was happy. I had everything–prestige, recognition, a good job, and a happy wife and children. Then I gave my life to Jesus Christ . Now I am in prison, having lost my family, wealth, reputation, job and health. Here I live, lonely, deserted by friends. I cannot see the face of my wife and dear children. My crime is that I love Jesus.”

– K. P. Yohannan