Passion Extra: Can Onions Really Unite Us?
Thanks to Mark of Fried Green al-Qaedas for this story of how God works in REALLY mysterious ways.
The column begins with Reporter Matt calling Pastor Jamie and quizzing him on The Passion; Matt doesn't want to know about Biblical accuracy, gore, or number of times the film uses the foulest of the foul words, but "What affects will the film have on Bridgeton?" And since that IS the $64,000 question, Pastor Jamie prayed about it, and God told him the following:
1. The movie will cause Bridgeton children to clean up their potty mouths or face crippling fines from the FCC.
See, while Howard Stern blames the Janet Jackson booby for getting his show booted from several radio stations, it was really Jesus's fault -- with some help from Mel.
I, however, don't believe Stern is justified in blaming Jackson; it's not her fault. If Stern is looking to place the blame, I think he should blame Jesus, he who sets the standard of truth. As people all over the country are responding to this film, there seems to be an awareness of spiritual truth that we haven't seen in our culture for a long time. God is on the move!
Today's active God is often getting shock jocks fired one minute, putting Martha Stewart's ass in jail the next, and then framing David Crosby for gun and drug possession just seconds later! He's fit, healthy, and on the move! But He always has time to tell George Bush a story before tucking him into bed at night.
2. The film will help bring Bridgeton's various Christians together in hatred of the Jews. Okay, scratch that last bit -- I meant, "together in a love of action movies and onions."
Who else could God use to do such a miracle in our society, but a popular entertainer? In an entertainment culture, that's what it will take. Mel Gibson has done something that the Pope or Billy Graham never could have pulled off.
Yes, Mel has done Lethal Weapon 4 -- while both the Pope and Billy auditioned for film, neither was deemed sexy enough to play the starring role.
And it will take a top notch action movie to bring the Protestants and the idolatrous Catholics together again in the same theater -- thank God Mel has Mad Max 4 coming up. Officials from all faiths say that if it's any good, it will be a miracle.
I felt impressed of the Lord to take new steps to promote unity of late. One day last week, I stopped by the soup kitchen at St. Teresa's R.C. Church. I met a guy named Pete who helps to run the operation. After a lengthy discussion about the ministry, I asked him if there was anything my congregation could do to help. Pete said, "Well, we could use a 50-pound bag of onions once a month." I thought, "Is it really that simple to unite with other Christians for kingdom purposes?" Can onions really unite us?
Or will they just give us bad breath, and cause others to keep their distance? Only God knows for sure.
3. The Passion will cause Bridgeton to kill that guy who interefered with the baseball at the Cubs game. And then the town will turn to voodoo and black magic in an effort to lift curses, remove warts, and find love.
You may have seen in the news recently that Chicago fans held a rally to explode the "cursed" ball and hopefully "break the jinx" that they believe to be held on them. As I watched those faithful fans, I wondered what our churches would be like if we had that much passion, that much fervor for doing what God has called us to do?
I guess we could try conducting services in the ball park, serving sacramental beer and peanuts, and scrapping the sermon in favor of having the Cubs playing Satan for the penant; maybe that would stir up some fire in their souls.
I now believe this is the main question the Christian community awaits us to answer is, "Will Christ's passion become our passion?" Thanks, Matt. You've got the heartbeat of God.
And will we all catch the fever for the flavor of the a Pringles? And Reporter Matt, God wants his heartbeat back. Thanks.
5:39:11 AM
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