Okay…I’m trying to understand a couple things that happened the other day.
I walked in a conference room at work. There were a group of folks gathered around a computer monitor. On the monitor was a YouTube clip from Talladega Nights, Will Farrell’s salute to NASCAR. There were 4, 5 or 6 folks watching the clip which was a scene where Farrell’s character, Ricky Bobby, is praying over a white trash dinner about to be served. He is praying to “Baby Jesus”. Shortly Ricky’s wife takes exception with his praying to Baby Jesus. Ricky’s partner pipes in about a partying Jesus.
There were several folks laughing heartily. One was nearly falling out of his chair. Let me be frank. I do not understand Will Ferrell’s popularity. In my universe he is the un-funniest man in America. That is the first thing I do not understand. Why is this man even working in show business.
I know for a fact that all of these folks but one would classify themselves as religious. A couple I would classify as seriously religious. Now I am an agnostic trending to the atheistic side of that equation. But as I watched the clip I was thinking of my mother who an evangelical Christian to the nth degree. I am without a doubt that she would have walked out of the room rather than watch such a sacrilegious scene. I’m nearly 60, and recently she was totally in my face when I said, “Jesus” in response to a piece of rudeness from one of my brothers (brothers really never grow up when it comes to relating to each other). That is the second thing I do not understand. How could a group of supposedly religious folks not be offended by this scene? If Jesus is as they teach, Lord and Savior, this was totally disrespectfully. Even as an agnostic, I was a little worried I might be struck by lightning just for being in the room.
To watch the clip on YouTube follow this link: Talladega Nights – Prayer to Baby Jesus
Con men never go broke over-estimating the intelligence of the mark?
1 John 1:8
The Message (MSG)
8-10If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.
Before I made a choice to be a Christian, I was worldly. Laughing and joking with the crowd. Sarcasm and bad jokes become ingrained in me and became a default setting. Crude jokes are used to show affection for a friend. Mainly in male circles.
After accepting Jesus I only grow spiritually when I am fed spiritual material.(In recovery we use the phrase, Junk in junk out.)Getting away from this process allows those default settings to become an option again. When I go that route I am convicted by the Holy Spirit that I have invited into my life. When I go to my Lord in prayer the sin in my life is the first thing I think of, it is not hidden between the two of us. I ask for forgiveness and the strength to not go there again. Scripture tells me after doing so, my sin’s are forgiven and never held against me again. Lamentations 3:40
New International Version (NIV)
40 Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the LORD.
Psalm 103:12
New International Version (NIV)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
To find healing from this type of behavior I first had to admit I participate in the behavior that brings me grief, then find like minded men to hold me accountable to not go there anymore.
James 5:16
New International Version (NIV)
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
With these men I have no secrets. This helps me keep my accounts short. I know me, and I know my weaknesses, I will fall again and again. Till the day I die.
1 Corinthians 10:12
New International Version (NIV)
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
David, the greatest thing you could of done for those folks is to say out loud. “Jesus” and walk away. The Holy Spirit will take over from there to restore their relationship with Christ.
Galatians 6:1
New International Version (NIV)
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Quotation:
I have been asked to tell you what Christians believe, and
I am going to begin by telling you one thing that Christians do
not need to believe. If you are a Christian you do not have to
believe that all the other religions are simply wrong all
through. If you are an atheist you do have to believe that the
main point in all the religions of the whole world is simply
one huge mistake. If you are a Christian, you are free to think
that all those religions, even the queerest ones, contain at
least some hint of the truth.
… C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), Mere Christianity, New York:
MacMillan, 1952, reprint, HarperCollins, 2001, p. 35