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4-March-2004 WELCOME to Mark's Ark, the world's only online Christian humor column to
***** I have not yet seen the movie "The Passion of the Christ." I find the news coverage of this movie extremely interesting. It is clear that many are dumbfounded that such a movie would succeed in the marketplace. Consider the following quote I saw on MSNBC.com on February 25, the day the film opened to the public. This quote was not from an editorial. "In recent days, the movie's producers have manufactured a frenzied buzz around the opening by arranging myriad screenings in U.S. cities for church groups." I happen to attend a church that held an advanced screening in a local theater. We even viewed promotional snippets in church on a few Sundays. However, I can say with full confidence that although there is excitement in our congregation related to this movie, the only "frenzied buzz" I have seen lately is in the media itself. Some people apparently think that if Mel Gibson poked his head in the door to our sanctuary and yelled, "I made a movie about Jesus!" that we would all immediately flutter like moths to go watch whatever he put on the screen. Why will I go see this movie? Because by all reports it is very well done, and it focuses on what I am convinced are the most important twelve hours (plus three days) ever. Twelve hours (plus three days) that each of us must either accept or reject. If I will happily pay to watch Jim Carrey walk funny and make goofy faces, why WOULDN'T I go see this movie? ***** Have you ever had one of those conversations in your own head in which your mind leads you in an unexpected direction? Please tell me I'm not the only one. I was driving someplace, and suddenly got to thinking about faith, and about how I wish I had more. For example, one of my favorite stories in the Bible is the one about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (a.k.a. Rack, Shack, and Benny to you "Veggie Tales" fans). The short version of the story is that these three guys worked for King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. The King had a statue built and decreed that when the music played, it was time for everybody to do "The Chicken Dance." No, that was a wedding I went to one time. The King actually decreed that when the music played everybody was to fall down and worship the statue or be thrown into a furnace. Rack, Shack, and Benny refused to worship anything or anyone but God. Here's the part of the story I love. To paraphrase, they told the King, "God can save us from you, but even if He won't, we don't care. We're sticking with Him." Now that's faith. My mind then jumped to another story of faith. In the Book of Mark there is the story of a synagogue ruler named Jairus. Jairus begged Jesus to come and heal his daughter, who was dying. When they arrived at the house some men came out and reported that the girl had died. Jesus ignored them and told Jairus not to fear, just to believe. Then Jesus went inside and healed her. The fact that this father would leave the side of his dying daughter to seek out Jesus is another example of great faith. Thinking about these examples, I reflexively began making excuses. "God," I thought, "all the examples you gave us in the Bible about faith are great, but these people literally got what they asked for. What about the times at church when we've prayed for a sick infant who ultimately didn't survive? Why couldn't you have done a guy like me a favor and given an example of someone who DIDN'T get what he asked for? That would have been a helpful example, don't you think?" That's when two things struck me. Here is what Jesus prayed: "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but
Here was the result: "And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said 'Father, into thy hands I
God, I believe. Help my unbelief. **********
Copyright (c) 2004 by Mark Alan Stuart. All rights reserved
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