Do you see this woman and her very cute baby? She is worried that evangelicals won't want to see her documentary because of who she is.
She doesn't claim to be an evangelical Christian. But she does seem to be sympathetic to them. Note this quote:
“I believe in the culture war,” she said. “And you know what? If I have to take a side in the culture war I’ll take their side,” meaning the Christian conservatives. “Because if you give me the choice of Paris Hilton or Jesus, I’ll take Jesus.” (NYT online)
Her name is Alexandra Pelosi. Her mother is the speaker of the house. Ironically, in her movie that tours many famous Christians across the country (not always the best of Christians, but at least famous), her main tour guide was Ted Haggard, who, subsequently was removed from his job for drugs and sexual indiscretion. What to make of that? I don' t know.
But my question is this: in our increasingly polarized culture wars, as Christians, how can we hold to strong opinions, and still express love for people who don't hold our strong opinions, or worse, hate us for them?
In our day and age, to disagree with someone is to be an enemy, unfortunately. Everyone says that they can separate people from ideas, but very few people actually do it. Christians, though, are commanded to love and not return evil for evil to anyone. Often Christians are viciously attacked by critics, and most of the time unfairly. However, very often Christians fight back with cruelty and venom all their own.
I know you might not believe this, but, at this time in my life, and really for at least the last 10 years, I have not met, nor do I know anyone that I don't like. I know this is odd, because people who know me will say that I am opinionated and vocal (at times this is a strength, at times a fault). Vocal people can be, let's say, not everyone's favorite guy. But I find it very easy to like people, no matter who they are or how they behave. For this reason, I often find myself liking people who don't believe me when I say I like them.
I think that's how this Alexandra Pelosi feels. She is not an evangelical Christian, but she likes us. I resonate with that emotion. She is not trying to tear down, but to build bridges, relationally. I think I'll see her movie.
any thoughts on this somewhat rambling post?
6 comments:
to "like" or "accept" someone regardless of "who" or "what" they are is a valuable quality!
Jesus did "bridge" the cultural/social gap of the day...
he did not "accept" sinful acts or attitudes, but "liked" people. How freeing it must of been then to have an option other than the legalism of religion offered by Pharisees and Saducees. As for Alexandra Pelosi does she "like" Christian's or is she making a dramatic statement against the "Paris" extreme? Let us know how the movie is :)
you can read the article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/11/movies/11pelo.html
I think she likes Christians.
Imagine if anyone had the right to be annoyed with people, it was Jesus. He was perfect on the earth, and everyone else was wrong in a good percentage of their opinions and behaviors! Yet, He found a way to be kind when needed and spoke tough when needed. He really is the best human there ever was (or is!)
interesting...maybe she is "seeking". I think she will definitely accomplish her goal of furthering conversation - culture and religion!
Somehow Jesus was friends with drunkards and sinners, even though he disagreed with them. They probably knew it, but they still felt comfortable enough to hang out with him.
I'm not sure how he did it. He loved them anyway. But is it possible for Jesus to keep his mouth shut about sin? why didn't they get mad when he told them they were sinning? or did he? did they get mad? did they know he didn't agree with their lifestyle so he didn't have to tell them?
We don't have to be divided. We are letting people who profit from our division drive us apart.
We may have different political, religious, or social views, but we (for the most part) want the same things at the end of the day.
We want our families and other loved ones to be safe and happy. We want to know we can provide for our families.
We have to stop letting the dividers set the political and social agenda.
If our goal is the same, surely we can get along.
Each one of us sins in some way Mandygee. That doesn't make us unworthly of love.
Mandygee, I've often wondered the same thing! for all sins are against God, and if God is standing there, in the flesh, why does He not just zap humans dead all the time?
Mercy is so hard for us as humans to comprehend. We know what it is when we want it. We don't know what it is when someone hates us and wants to hurt us. When someone steals from us or tries to destroy us, our reaction emotionally is to want to strike back, and to destroy. We feel we have a right to such anger. Mercy is only mercy at that moment --the moment when one feels he has a right to vengeance. Mercy is loved by humans, but not natural to us.
But God is rich in Mercy. All sin offends HIm. All sin deserves His righteous anger. But He is patient and kind, and ultimately merciful. He pours His righteous anger out on His own Son, that He may have mercy on the sinners His Son rubbed shoulders with.
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