Billy Graham’s Rebel Grandson Says Christianity Is for Losers

"Ted Turner was exactly right. Christianity IS for losers...."

CHICAGO, May 4, 2010— The former rebel grandson of the most well-known pastor of the 20^th century provides his fresh take on one of the Bible's most famous rebels - Jonah.  While every day seems to start with another headline story of a celebrity, athlete or politician's indiscretion, Pastor Tullian Tchividjian reminds readers through this ancient story that God relentlessly pursues and forgives the famous, the infamous and the not-so-famous. 

Tchividjian, grandson of Billy Graham and former drug using, high school dropout, is now pastor of one of America's best-known churches - Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) led by the late Dr. D. James Kennedy for 48 years.

"The story of Jonah, one of the Bible's biggest runaways, is one I can relate to.  I ran away from God in every direction possible as a teenager convinced that my way was better.  But as is ultimately true in all our stories, God got the last word," said Tchividjian.

God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels

"Ted Turner was exactly right.  Christianity IS for losers....All of us need to be continually rescued by God...And one expression of God's amazing grace is that He pursues our rescue even though we cannot do one thing for Him.  God doesn't need you and me to increase His value and esteem."  (Pages 88 and 103)

"The gospel is for the defeated, not the dominant. It's for those who realize they're unable to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders-those who've figured out that they're not gods." (Page 103)

"...Jonah was God's project. God comes after Jonah not because he needs Jonah, but because Jonah needs God." (Page 89)

God's Redemption

"God's capacity to forgive is greater than our capacity to sin." (Page 105)

"[God] knew Jonah would run; so why did he ask Jonah to go in the first place?" (Page 89)

"The storm isn't [a] punishment; it's an intervention, brought on by God's affection rather than his anger."  (Page 52)

Published by Crossway and scheduled for release in May 2010, Surprised by Grace - God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels creatively illustrates that, from 1000 BC to today, God loves, transforms and uses rebels.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: 

Tullian Tchividjian, author of Surprised by Grace and senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

INTERACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES:

Follow Tullian Tchividjian's blog or follow him on Twitter

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