As I was flipping through the channels after dinner, I was intrigued by the title of a special on CNN: "What Would Jesus Really Do?" The host, CNN contributor Roland Martin, asks theologians how they thought Jesus would respond to current political events. The first question I caught was directed to both a Republican and a Democrat and then "countered" by Martin himself.
The question was this: "How would Jesus vote on the Iraq war?"
The answers from both sides of the aisle were predictable, but Martin's answer was the one that actually disturbed me the most. "Jesus had enough power – He would just bring peace to the situation."
Interesting. Does Martin remember what was going on when Jesus was here on the earth? Rome was occupying His homeland and He did not bring peace to the region. In fact, He spoke very little about the situation and said nothing about His desire to change it. God directed His people to go to war many times throughout the entire Old Testament. There are just wars and unjust wars. To make a blanket statement like that was far too simplistic and incomplete.
As I watched the rest of the show I found myself frustrated by the entire concept and the question that drove the hour. I finally had to mute the show during its last segment when Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping choir took center stage.
After I read Martin's editorial, I realized that he has a true and abiding faith and passion for Jesus Christ as his Savior. He believes in many of the same things that I do. Unfortunately, the CNN segment leaned far too heavily on buzzwords, one-dimensional arguments and trite commentary culminating in yet another reason for the world to poke fun at Christianity. Tack the name "Jesus" on something to get the "Christians" to watch, and then prop up your guests' political diatribes with porous theology you can drive a truck through. Shame on me – I should have seen that coming. Essentially, it was a "tale told by idiots full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
Come to think of it, the answers weren't the only things that were a letdown. The questions themselves were equally absurd. Of all the things I want the world to know about my Redeemer, "How would Jesus vote?" is not very high on the list.
Sigh. Jesus would have lunged for the clicker before the first commercial break.
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