By:Robert Serreyn

Question? Sir what is your assessment of the Gideons?

Answer:

According to Wikipedia Gideons International organization began in the fall of 1898 when two traveling salesmen, John H. Nicholson of Janesville, Wisconsin, and Samuel E. Hill of Beloit, Wisconsin, met when they shared a hotel room at the Central House Hotel in Boscobel, Wisconsin, where they discussed the formation of an association.

In May, 1899, the two met again in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where they decided the goal of their association would be to unite traveling salesmen for evangelism.

In July, 1899, Nicholson, Hill, and Will J. Knights met at the YMCA in Janesville, Two of them continued with the distribution of the Bibles.

In 1908 the Gideons began distributing free Bibles, the work that it is chiefly known for.

The first Bibles were placed in the rooms of the Superior Hotel in Superior, Montana.

I have NO IDEA if these men were saved or not, I CANNOT SAY only the Lord knows, the bases for the central NUCLEUS of the formation of this organization was to fulfill what they saw in their day was a LACK OF KNOWLEDGE of the Word of God and the gospel.

The Gideons International is comprised today of Membership that is limited to current or retired business or professional men aged 21 or older who are members in good standing of an evangelical or Protestant church.

My assessement of the Gideons International is that i find it PROBLEMATIC in their associations (membership) and DISREGARD of scripture to accomplish a central goal (to distribute bibles).

The Christian MUST REMEMBER our fellowship comes from UNITY IN DOCTRINE not a cause, a central goal, or being a business person in good standing in a church BUT DOCTRINE.

The Bible states in:

(Amos 3:3) Can two walk together, except they be agreed.

(Romans 16:17) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

(2 Corinthians 6:14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness.

The late Dr. Jerry Falwell SHOULD HAVE known better himself when in 1979 he organized what was known as the Moral Majority and he allowed essentially any and all who claimed to be of the christian faith (for the purpose to grow it in members and strength) with a SO CALLED Unified Central Goal to combat the liberal agenda of society, Despite all his efforts Dr. Falwell had to dissolve the organization in 1989 due to inner conflicts and cash flow issues.

In Conclusion:

I am NOT SAYING that distributing FREE bibles is not a worthy cause for it is and is GREATLY NEEDED even more so than it was back in 1899, but it SHOULD NOT come at the SACRIFICE OR COST OF DOCTRINE and sad to say the Gideons International HAS DONE JUST THAT.

(2 Corinthians 6:17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell, but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH