"The most basic fact for Christians is this: People have value because Christ has died for them. People whoever they are, whether they have responded to Christ or not - Christ died for everyone (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) - are treasured by God. From the moment of Christ's death, everyone, everyone, has value. The problem rests with us. We often want to establish hurdles that others must jump before we will grant them value. They must think the way we do, act the way we do, vote the way we do, land on our issues the way we want them to - and the list could go on and on. No, each person's value has already been established by Christ's death for them, not by their response to that death. So we do not need to inquire whether persons are fellow Christians before we know that they deserve to be treated with respect. They are valuable because Christ has died for them." - J.Paul Sempley

I was so extremely moved by this quote when Rob gave it at 3/2 service that I had to ask him about it.  I am so rarely at a loss for words, but for some reason, the way this Christain truth has been expressed by this person -- well, the Holy Spirit must have "been behind" the words!  It makes me feel so very comforted, to have it acknowledged like this, that God surely does see every one of us human beings as having equal value -- none less, none more -- and that this value has been established, as he says, [caps are mine]:  "by Christ's death for them, NOT BY THEIR RESPONSE TO THAT DEATH."  This is just beautiful.  Who, pray tell, is this J Paul Sempley:  a theologian, a pastor?  THANKS!