We're going to meditate for 15 or 20 minutes now on the first two beatitudes.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven and blessed are those who mourn for

they shall be comforted. Back in 1978 I spoke at a little teeny conference in Aspen, Colorado to some

intervarsity students and some people that came in off the street and at the end of

that I can remember so clearly one student asked.

It's a very common question.

Isn't Christianity a crutch for people who can't make it on their own?

My answer is very simple.

You could give the same answer.

I said, yes.

That's all.

I can't remember what he said.

So let me just pick up the conversation and reconstruct it the way I would carry it on today if he were here.

My next question would be, why do you consider it a criticism of Christianity when you call

it a crutch?

I mean most people don't look at crutches and say that's bad.

That's a bad thing.

They don't... So why if Christianity is one of those would you say bad?

Now I think his answer would probably be something like this.

Well, if Christianity is a crutch, then it implies that the only people

that's good for is cripples. And that would be offensive to people who don't think that they're cripples.

Jesus said, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

...