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The “Insanity” of God

May 1, 2021

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Hello all,

Well, Dorothy and I just watched one of the really inspiring and courageous Christian movies of our day, which is based on a true story and the book, “The Insanity of God” by Nik Ripken (which we read when it first came out). It addresses the question, “Is Jesus Christ Worth It?” It may make you uncomfortable. Please take the 1 hour and 32 minutes to watch—as it will take you all over the world (in a flash) because it is so well done.

I believe it will enhance your thinking and your view of a life without Christ and how desperately the world needs Him. Simply click on the Watch Link below, enter your email and you’re good to go. It is sponsored by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). They are the same Legal Defense Group, in cooperation with the ACLJ that took my case against the City of Albuquerque in 1994, when they tried to stop my showing the Jesus Film in the Senior Centers and giving away Bibles. We “kicked their butts” on that one after it went to the Supreme Court. Take that devil!

Enjoy and then send me your comments. Please feel free to share it with others. Blessings.

Pastor Don

The “Insanity” of God

Dear Friends,

Recently, I had the privilege to interview Nik Ripken from The Insanity of God, a film that we have been able to offer for free streaming online. Nik’s testimony is incredible, and it is certainly a film that will challenge and embolden your faith.

In short, Nik and his wife lost one of their sons while serving on the mission field due to a severe asthma attack. He died in Nik’s arms on the way to the hospital. At nearly the same time, four of Nik’s ministry associates were murdered—martyred—for their faith.

You can imagine what Nik was going through. It would be easy to ask God “why?” It would be easy to leave the mission field and come home to the safety of America. No one would blame him, and people probably suggested it, too.

However, Nik’s response was to dive deeper into the mission field. He met with persecuted Christians—Christians who had suffered far more than he had. He needed to know: what would they say? How was their faith holding up? Did they ask God “why?”

The blessings that we Americans usually find ourselves thanking God for are things that make life on this earth easier: finances, health, houses, etc. It is not natural to think of suffering and persecution as “blessings.”

In the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5–7, a well-known Scripture passage, Jesus says:

Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Blessed are those who mourn.
Blessed are those who are persecuted.

How do we reconcile our thoughts about what a blessing consists of when we read these verses? How are suffering, mourning, and persecution blessings?

Nik shared some of his insights into these questions (and more) during this interview. I encourage you to listen to the interview and watch the movie if you have not had a chance to do so yet.

WATCH THE INSANITY OF GOD FREE ONLINE

His documentary, The Insanity of God, is one of the best I have ever seen. It is too easy to get comfortable in our everyday lives and forget that this world is opposed to the Gospel. While the lessons are difficult, they can help bring us closer to God and understand how we can experience His Divine love in the most trying circumstances.

It is too easy to get comfortable in our everyday lives and forget that this world is opposed to the Gospel.

I also encourage you to share Nik’s message with your church members, friends, and family. We know the enemy (Satan) is alive and well and seeks only to turn us away from God. He may attempt to do it through persecutions, but he also uses the temptations of this world to lead us astray. I am reminded of the words of the Apostle John in his first letter:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. —1 John 2:15–17 [ESV]

I have had the honor of traveling to many hostile and restricted nations and have met with hundreds of persecuted Christians. I have witnessed their pain and suffering, and even their struggles to forgive some of the most horrific tortures you could imagine. But, like Nik, I have also witnessed victorious faith that is difficult to comprehend.

I believe that in this life, we need to learn from the worldwide body of Christ. We do not know what our future holds, or what God may ask of us. What we do know is that we can learn from others, like Nik, and the Christians whose testimonies are featured in his film The Insanity of God.

“We should not be asking God ‘why,’ we should be asking Him ‘why not.'” —Nik Ripken

Take a few moments to watch with your family (using discretion for younger children) and witness a vibrant and triumphant faith in the midst of persecution and suffering!

Have a blessed Sunday.

Steve Cleary
CEO/Founder
RevelationMedia

WATCH MY INTERVIEW WITH NIK RIPKEN