My friend sent me this clip from Bill Maher’s show that aired the other night. Bill is an ardent atheist and loves to attack religion of any kind, particularly Christianity, and with, I think, good reason. I have said it before: Atheists can teach us a thing or two about our faith. We need to hear these critiques. The question is, will we listen?
One of my favorite lines in this clip is when Bill says nonviolence is sort of a big deal for Jesus and to be a Christian while not following that is sort of like “joining Greenpeace and hating whales.” Another favorite:
Jesus has lines like ‘Do not repay evil with evil and do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you.’ Really. It’s in that book you hold up when you scream at gay people.
Watch the clip and ask yourself: Am I a Christ follower or a Christ fan? I am sure I am a bit of both.
*Edit: How long will it take before Christians begin pontificating about how short-sighted Bill’s critique of us is because, well, he just doesn’t have faith or is operating under a faulty hermeneutic? How far will the Church go to justify herself to her critics, explaining the fine theological nuances that we have put in place which rescue us from seeing ourselves in the mirror? And in so doing, we will have our reward, while the Bill Maher’s of the world continue to disbelieve (with good reason).*
Everybody has a different level of faith based on their understanding of the scripture. Many people see it as a literal word for word type of belief. But I believe it to have a much simpler and yet very profound meaning. When Jesus said he was going to “tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days”. They thought he was going to literally tear it down and rebuild it. But it was more of a restructure. God’s design is not our design. True Christian’s base life on faith and to do that have to have an open mind. Realizing that how we interpret things are simply, how we interpret things. If you want to know God’s plan for us, follow God. Not Bill Maher. Although he has valid points, there are always sceptics. If you believe there is no God, no Jesus and no heaven, then for you there will not be. We are stubborn small minded people in a complex world. We believe what suits our nature. Are you selfless or selfish. That will determine the depth of your belief.
I am not an atheist because I know there is God. I am Christian because I believe in Christ, not necessarily Jesus. I agree with you, Chad, that atheists can teach us a few things. I couldn’t celebrate Bin Ladens death either. I think we could all use a lesson in unity. It rains on the just and the unjust alike. When christians quit seeing judgment in every event and realize that when you hate someone you are heaping coals on your own head. Payback is hell. Ask Bin Laden.
Well I’m a follower of Jesus (Christian) and while I didn’t celebrate, I was inwardly satisfied. I was convicted as I listened to Bill.
[...] Read Chad’s bit. [...]
So … if you do not, or are not able to, follow every one of
Jesus’ teachings, than you’re not a Christian? … Really? To hear Bill Maher
tell it, Christians are supposed to commit the sin of omission, the sin of
doing nothing as evil rampages across the globe and innocent people are being
killed. Well, that’s not being Christian. That’s enabling evil. It was ridiculous
to suggest that we’re not Christians unless we follow Christ’s teachings to the
letter, all day every day. Newsflash: if that’s the standard of being Christian
then no one is. We all fall short, many on a daily basis. We are human, we are born
sinners, and none of us are perfect. There was only One perfect man to ever
walk the planet, and it is His teachings that real Christians try their best to
follow. Real Christians understand our own unique moral burden of navigating
the sometimes harrowing moral choices, as human beings, we face in trying to do
the right thing. Personally I do not condone the celebrating of Bin Ladans
death, but am not sad about it either. This person, in my opinion, was a hypocritical
pure evil person pretending to be following his religion while, apparently,
sitting in his little hideaway with his 3 or 4 wives watching porn all day
(according to the latest news stories). Do I celebrate his death, nope … am I
sad that this pure evil no longer exists? … Nope again. Am I perfect, nope. Am
I a Christian, definitely – without a shadow of a doubt. Even if I fall short …
I do my best and ask for forgiveness when I fail … and that’s about all a Real
Christian can do.
While I can appreciate Bill calling self righteousness out on the carpet, he also misses the point of grace and healthy boundaries. The US government is not a Christian person therefore should not be held to offering our nation’s other cheek to Terrorists to smite again and again.
I don’t even want to watch the clip… Maher’s smugness is the kind of thing that makes me want to throw stuff whenever I see any kind of clip of him, so I think I’ll spare myself.
What I’m wondering is… where are the people who just love to tell people whom they think are beneath them how they should behave when their own ”people” act horribly? I didn’t dance when I learned the news of Bin Laden (because I don’t think death brings back life), but in reading some of the news stories about it the next day, I saw pacifist-Christians get yelped at by atheists who were “glad to not have such silly beliefs” – that would DARE suggest they practice pacifism.
What’s more? Upon reading that Billy Graham was hospitalized, I saw comment after comment after comment of people
dancing on his not-yet-dug grave and howling for his blood, saying things like “I wish I could be there when he finds out his Gawd is fake and his life was a lie!” I mean, this kind of behavior over a man who, as far as we know, hasn’t killed a SINGLE person, let alone Bin Laden’s thousands.
I’d like to see Maher call out some of the rowdier members of his own house before daring to tell any of us how to be. Then again, he’d probably have the typicall whine I see from smug-types of “But we aren’t following anyone/aren’t following a code like YOU’RE supposed to be!”
How about this? One should follow the code of being a decent human being, always, despite one’s faith or lack thereof. Also, eyes, specks, planks.
Thank you for posting this. I hadn’t seen it.
There you go being logical again, Shadsie!
You’re absolutely right, of course.
As much as I think Maher is unfair in his critique against Christians, some of the poll numbers back him up. This article http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/11/my-take-poll-on-bin-ladens-death-reveals-a-disposable-jesus/ points out that only 47% of White Evangelicals actually believe in the golden rule and beyond on that, only 53% of Americans believe in it at all. So much for a “Christian nation.” I think the real issue is that even “progressive” Christians are mostly reactionary to all of this stuff. Instead of being proactive in the work of peace, most of us put our Starbucks drink down long enough to write a blog post or post a fake MLK quote to Facebook when we heard of bin Laden’s death. So, yes, if Maher was being fair he would lift up Christians when they did great things to change the world, however, at the moment he has all the ammo he needs to be a jerk.
I’ve been writing an experimental story series on a new blog I got just for it. (Yeah, I have some rantings there), but I got the thing for writing. It is an activity that I am addicted to and since I can’t seem to get any literary agents to pay attention to my *entire novels* I figured I might as well put something online out in the ether – and what better than this half-formed idea that I just want to write varied little short stories to? I write fantasy. I like setting things in other worlds, creating fictional societies. In the world I’m working on now, one of the societies has a central religion that’s all about “gimmie!” – a religion based on materialism. The culture has a few hints of the way hardcore atheists treat people (disdain for people who believe in “superstitious” things), but also a dose of Prosperity Gospel (the only time any “believer” ever prays, it’s for personal wealth). This country is also in the active process of taking over their world. Absolutely inspired by the current spiritual climate of America.
(Though my fiction-country does have a slightly more genocidal bent with some peoples and a hefty dose of racism of the kind we’re trying to leave behind, just to be fair)…
First outline-part of it is here. http://sparrowmilk.blogspot.com/2011/03/static-lands-saga-1-worldsetting.html All the actual stories are labeled under “Static-Lands Saga.” It’s just, I don’t know, the link you provided reminded of “Yeah, I know why I’m writing what I’m writing right now!”
Among my “has various religions” race/nation, maybe I ought to create one where the people carry around a little idol of their legendary spiritual leader for inspiration to do the right thing, then when they want to be hypocrites, they shove the little statue behind their backs and whistle… hmmm…
If Christians don’t act more more consistently with the teachings of Jesus than atheists, Christianity is reduced to a mere “get out of hell free” card, or worse, reduced to a system where actions are irrelevant and faith in correct doctrine is all that is required. This is the famous “Christians aren’t better than anyone else, just forgiven” bumper sticker view.
It is indeed ironic — and convicting — that secular countries like Canada and France do a far better job of following the teachings of Christ than a so-called Christian nation like the U.S. The flesh and blood that sustains this nation is not the body and blood of Christ poured out for us, but money and military power.
Many will say “Lord, Lord” and not be recognized by Jesus. Conversely, many sheep will be surprised to find themselves in Christ’s flock.
Esther:
…The Jews assembled to defend themselves and rid themselves of their enemies, and kill 75,000 of those who hated them…this was done of the thirteenth day…and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.
Malachi:
You will skip like calves from the stall, and you will tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet.
Oh, I forgot…that’s the Old Testament God.
One God – but lifetimes of reflection.
One God – but lifetimes of reflection.
If we’re in a relationship with the Living God, living in and thru us, then we should let His will be done thru us. It’s when WE are doing for God that we become defensive to folks like Bill. Bill alone is responsible for his Godless comments. I prefer to stand in the shadow of the cross.
I didn’t celebrate Bin laden’s death (though I was relieved), but far too often I am a fan and not a follower.
[...] the nTH degree but, is, IMHO, not entirely without merit. You can listen to the whole spiel here: You’re Not Christ’s Followers, Just Fans | Dancing on Saturday At one point he says he is not a Christian, just like most Christians. __________________ When [...]
I like what Ghandi said. “I like your Christ but I do not like your Christians, They are so unlike your Christ” When I went to bible college ,my professor told me “Most so called Christians wouldn’t recognize Jesus if He came in wearing a Red baseball cap. Sadly, according to The Book , This is exactly what Jesus Himself found last time he visited the planet. So he hung out with outcast and prostitutes and tax collectors. Christianity is a verb in my opinion. Not an institution. Jesus died for the sins of the world. Not the church. To be born again is to be born of a woman. Not some event that happens one day. I believe the antichrist is a lamb in sheeps clothing. Something pretending to be God. Going to a building three times a week may mean you have good intentions but Jesus was what we refer to as a socialist. He cared about people period. He took one little boy’s lunch and fed the multitudes with no regard for their citizenship or behavior past or present. He also instructed that if you have two coats and someone else does not have one… So as you can see my point. By the way, He did come to fulfill the old Testament. He said love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as you love yourself, in this you have fulfilled ALL of the commandments. If you follow the old Testament, You are Jewish. I think Bill Mahr is observing the many people professing to be Christians who believe that some event where someone pronounced them as “saved” as though it were an exclusive club.If you are a Christian, then follow Christ. If you want to follow Christ then learn about Him. Read the book yourself. Imitate Him. And above all do not believe you are chosen to be safe because of one event and that now YOU are in that forgiven club.We are all forgiven. That blood either worked or it didn’t. Also the New testament says that these signs WILL(not might) follow them that believe. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover(Not sometimes) I don’t know of any place that any of that scripture is happening. The so called “Church” is sadly off the mark. Especially those who believe they are above others sayin they are not perfect,just forgiven.The bible also says there is only one thing stronger than the word of God, sadly it is the traditions of men. “The traditions of men make the word of God none effect. Perhaps that is why we do not see the power.
You are right, Jesus came to fulfil the Old Testament, so if you want to live by it you better be sacrificing sheep or goats and it is the Jewish faith that lives by the old Testament. So are you Jewish or a professing Christian ?
In reply to where are the people who just love to tell people whom they think are beneath them… They are sadly in church somewhere. Christians are the ones called to a higher standard and if the power of God was in church like it talks about in the bible people would have no reason to say such things and they would Flock there. The so called church needs to examine themselves. Your post completely contradicts itself planks, specks,eyes.
America is not a Christian Nation. It is a freedom of religion nation. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were Atheist. All views are welcome here. It is in the constitution.
Good, Then God can cross this one off to judge. You represent the tenets of christianity so well and all you have to do is ask forgiveness. Real Christians? Is that as opposed to , what, pretend christians? I have some rocks for sale, since you have asked forgiveness, now you are without sin, you get to throw the first one! Cool!
[...] Bill Maher said as much following the murder of Osama bin Laden and the ensuing cheers by many Christians by highlighting the many ways we claim allegiance to Jesus even as we completely ignore his clear commands. (You’re Not Christ’s Followers, Just Fans) [...]