October 24, 2011
In Error
Tim Allen, of ‘Home Improvement’, recently did and interview with Parade
Magazine. Tim is quoted as saying, “On
a philosophical level, I’m very religious. I call myself an intellectual
Christian. I’ve been seeking answers and information about Christianity, as
well as Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism…” I’m not sure I’d pride myself in
being an intellectual Christian if I didn’t know any better than to say I was
looking for Christianity somewhere other than the Bible. So often we get skewed
ideas because we fail to heed Jesus’ warning, “You are in error because
you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” (Matt 22:29
NIV)
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----I have to admit being like Tim Allen. I also seek answers and information about Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism. I believe things exist absolutely and ideologies developed historically. Whether I like them or not, they are a part of where I live. Not only will not understanding problematic things fail to make them go away, it diminishes understanding of solutions as well.
-----I didn’t believe Jesus was the Christ just because somebody told me. I did accepted its high probability and desirability as a place for my faith and fundamental world view by having just been told of it. But “high probability and desirability” were not enough for me. Especially considering the fact that the probability of something’s being true generally seems to rise proportionately with one’s desire that it be true. And I have always desired Jesus to be true more than anything else. Yet, in as much as the Jew, the Islam, and the Hindu all highly desire the targets of their belief to be true, it is no wonder they also consider their being true to be highly probable. So if I were going to discover that my faith was rightly placed in Christ, I needed to discover what differentiates Christianity from Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism historically and ideologically.
-----If I took Tim’s words at face value, his search to find Christianity is over in that he is a Christian (according to his words,) therefore he has found the target of his faith. From that I would speculate (and you know speculation is worth a little but not a lot) that his search for answers and information about Christianity is to proceed knowing it better. This is how I say I’m like Tim. But if I even speculated about the purpose of his search for answers and information about Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism, I think I would be twisting the sense in which he meant them. Like you, I rather detected a scent of “consideration of their truth as well” in the words he chose and the pattern he made of them. That sense is bolstered by the anti-Christian arm twisting of the crowd he must work amongst, and their misguided assumption that you must at least somewhat pander to your audience. This is where I stop being like Tim so I won’t be the same as what he seems to be saying.
-----Long ago the answers and information provided by my search into Judaism (which hasn’t ended because they are God’s chosen people and other reasons about the Bible, the truth, and what is coming,) Islam, Hinduism, and other religions became a backdrop of sharp contrast for Jesus Christ and His Word to stand against. I no longer search for answers and information about their truthfulness because I have discovered their fallacy. Yet I want to know of these more because they are still a part of the real world in which we live. They are a part of history, and His story is told through all its actors and scenes. Whether they are right or wrong, good or bad, each has a place upon the stage. Then knowing its place and message in history, my ability to give account for the faith I have grows just a bit.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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