Billy Graham “But you know the fear of death is gone when a person,…when I found Christ as my Lord and my Savior, the fear of death was taken away. And now I’m just as certain that when I die that I’m going into another world that’s just as real as this one. That it’s helped me to face life here and now….Well I envision Heaven. And I’m not going there because I’ve preached to a lot of people. I’m not going there because I’ve read the Bible. I’m not going there because I’m good. I’m going there because of what Christ did for me on the cross. I’m saved by the grace of God. Now the word grace carries with it the idea that I don’t deserve it. I can’t buy my way, I can’t work my way. I’m a sinner”.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I recall being in elementary school and one of our textbooks covering the concept of the theory of the evolution of man. Surely you too, have seen as I vaguely recall, the sketches of an ape as he gradually morphs into a human being. Whether I shook my head and chuckled out loud I can’t say for sure. What I do recall is how my instant and dismissive thought was just how ridiculous this sounded to me, even as a child. Yes, I grew up in a Christian home. Yes, I believed and still believe in creationism as taught in Genesis, the first book of the Bible.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
~~~Genesis 1:27 (ESV)~~~
A Matter of Faith is a well written movie, which entertains just this concept at the university level as a professor who teaches evolution is challenged by the father of one of his freshmen students. A debate is held for the purpose of creating dialogue, thus opening minds. During the debate the father hands his microphone over to a long ago fired professor who adamantly taught creationism only. “To me the most troubling aspect about this issue is that in our society today evolution is being taught in our schools and universities across this land as a matter of fact. But no one can scientifically prove evolution just as no one can scientifically prove that God created the world since none of us were present to witness it. Both these teachings then become a matter of faith. The evolutionist has nothing but vast periods of time, random chance events and the ever-changing ideas of man to base his world view upon, while the one who holds to creation has his beliefs firmly rooted in the truths contained in the Bible and a personal God who created everything….and my pride, I was the one who was at fault,….not in what I was teaching, but in how I went about it. I should have taught my students to look at both sides of the evidence, realizing that everyone, individually has to make their own choice. Either you are going to look at life through men’s ideas or God’s Word. So, if evolution, follow where that leads. If God, then serve the Lord. We can’t prove anything here tonight. We can only present theories. You can chance your eternity on the views of Freud and Darwin if you want. I’m putting my trust in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sin, was buried and rose again on the third day. I know some of you will call that stupidity. I am calling it humility. And I will trust and I will follow Christ and wait on the hope of eternal life that He offers. May you find that same hope.”
I recall being a young and very naïve college student attending a university where several of my professors most assuredly believed in the theory of evolution while openly dismissing my faith in God as being a bit foolish and simpleminded. And that’s okay. College should be a place where we are encouraged to develop our minds, to be challenged to think for ourselves. College should be a place where we are NOT taught what to think but HOW to think. So, by all means don’t allow pride to prevent the teaching of the theory of evolution, but also don’t allow pride to prevent the teaching of creationism.
Jesus Christ went to the cross for all of us, but it’s a choice each individual must make for themselves, whether to believe in creationism and ultimately choose to receive His forgiveness, or not. God doesn’t push Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection on anyone. It’s simply a matter of faith, which then becomes a matter of choice. Choose well.
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” Mark 16:16 (KJV).
While I was saved and baptized as a young teenager and loved the Lord, I was just busy getting on with my life, dreaming of the future, college, marriage and family,…I read my Bible, I attended church, prayed and naturally wove the topic of my faith into my conversations and life choices, I truly did believe, but…
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” Ephesians 6:4 (KJV).
During the summer after high school graduation I worked at the little local Carnegie Library. At noon I would walk a couple doors down and eat lunch with my grandparents. Thankfully they always made a point to challenge my thinking. This particular day I had made a bold statement about having my own faith and convictions. I remember his smile and her chuckle. And then my grandmother explaining how I had been living my parents’ faith and convictions. How, now entering the adult world and especially that of going away to college, my faith and convictions would be tested as I developed my own.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6 (KJV).
Leaving our little “Mayberry” and entering the world of academia, my college educated and God loving grandmother was obviously correct. It wasn’t that I doubted her and of course, I definitely trusted her, it was that I just didn’t have a clue, as she herself knew, and as I was beginning to understand.
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” James 4:8 (KJV).
As I initially felt engulfed by all that this new world had to offer, I stayed true to my parents’ faith and convictions. I felt engulfed because I had left the protected and safe world where I honestly had never really dealt with dishonesty, where all the adults could be trusted and truly did care about my well being. While I would end up having college professors who were Christians, I also experienced like a deer in the headlights, professors who introduced me to a very foreign way of thinking. One atheist professor’s agenda was to destroy my faith in God. Yes, I was a (naive) Josh Wheaton being angrily challenged by my own Professor Radisson.
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV).
Did I waffle? Yes. Did I doubt my faith in God? No, but I did waffle a bit. How? I did question my wholesome upbringing by becoming curious about decisions my college friends were making, seemingly oblivious to the consequences for their actions. I mean, I was an adult now. Wasn’t I mature enough and wise enough to dabble in some of the same choices as my free-er thinking college friends?
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” 1 John 2:15-17 (KJV).
I did feel a mixture of emotions, guilt, shame, even regret for some of my own choices. I couldn’t understand what the difference was between others and their choices and me and my choices. How did they seem to not bear the weight of their own choices? Why weren’t they losing sleep and losing themselves?
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” Romans 8:1 (KJV).
It would be years of feeling guilt, regret, self-condemnation and shame as I felt the burden of carrying the responsibility of my poor decisions. I just couldn’t seem to give myself grace. Did I doubt what Jesus had done for me?
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 (KJV).
I remember the moment the truth became crystal clear. It was not that I had abandoned my faith during my college days, despite for what I felt condemnation. I was wrong! It was not condemnation, but conviction I felt!! God had never left me, He had been there with me all along. He had gently whispered into my ears the truth, guiding it down into my heart. Freedom is a wonderful thing. I am loved by Him for who I am and not my poor choices. I am loved by Him because I am me.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:28 (ESV).
While this incredible adaptation of the crucifixion of Christ was released in 2004, it took me until today to finally brace myself for what I would be viewing. I was familiar with Mel Gibson and had seen Jim Caviezel portray the De La Salle high school football coach, Bob Ladouceur, in the 2014 film “When the Game Stands Tall”. I must say I was impressed with Jim Caviezel’s quiet reserve which came through his character, his quiet reserve which is rooted in his faith. I had no doubt his faith would once again show forth through his quiet reserve as he portrayed Jesus Christ in “The Passion of the Christ”.
As a child, growing up in a Christian home and receiving my first Bible at the age of eight, I was very familiar with the crucifixion story and believed it without question. That being my premise, it would take me many years to read the scriptures surrounding His crucifixion, unable to internalize His physical and emotional suffering as well as grasp the cruelty and hatred of those involved. Thankfully, His resurrection followed His crucifixion, or I still would not be able to go there. I have since watched other crucifixion films, all well done. This crucifixion film would be no different, or would it?
Since the movie’s release I have occasionally watched interviews of Mel Gibson, but especially of Jim Caviezel. Jim Caviezel, again with his quiet reserve, shares bits and pieces of his experience portraying Christ during His last twelve hours. I desperately wanted to see this film, knew as a Christian I needed to see this film, but didn’t want to see this film due to the graphically realistic brutality I correctly knew simply couldn’t be edited out. And I knew I needed to allow myself to get emotionally involved. It’s the very least I could do, seeing what Christ did for me. It’s not about me and myself, my selfish emotions, but about Him and what He lovingly and sacrificially did for me, and for you.
Yes, this two hour movie begins and ends with much bloodshed. And Jim Caviezel is beyond recognizable at certain points. As a mother I felt myself holding my own adult son as Mary held hers, helpless yet now fully understanding the fulfillment of what it meant to be chosen to bear the Christ child. Watching this film, I found myself wondering just how anyone could remain coherent, even alive at all, throughout this nearly twelve hours of barbaric brutality. And then I heard myself saying, but He wasn’t just a man, He is the son of God. And I again am able to return to the heart of what it means to be a Christian, what it means to love and to forgive, to be forgiven. And I am redeemed, thankfully, I am redeemed.
As C. S. Lewis was quoted “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important”. Revelations 3:15-16 (KJV) “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth”.
