The Unlikely Disciple

I recently finished reading this:

For anyone who doesn't know, the premise of The Unlikely Disciple is simple. A journalism major at Brown University decided to do a "study abroad" at Liberty University in order to explore the cultural gap created in America by the "God divide." No big deal. In this book, he chronicles stories from his life at Liberty, the people he met, the things he learned, and the ways his ideas were shaped.

The book is really very good and thought provoking-- but probably my biggest take away is the way that Kevin Roose's open-mindedness puts me to shame.

Let me explain. It would be easy to go into a place like Liberty ready to mock and be cynical and right all the time-- even (or maybe especially) for someone like me who already accepts the ludicrous idea that the Son of God was raised from the dead, loves me, and is leading my life. But Kevin goes into it looking to understand and bridge the divide. Really, that is to be commended.

He doesn't come away from the experience a conservative evangelical-- or really an evangelical at all-- but he does bring good insight to light on things he learned from his semester at "Bible boot camp."

At one point during his semester, Kevin scored an interview with Jerry Falwell and writes about how, political ideology aside, the man is actually quite likable. He reveals the other side of Falwell, the smiling man who brags on his grandkids and drinks a diet peach snapple everyday.

This scene gave me pause. How could this man be likable?? This man who used his influence to spread hate, homophobia, and a really terrible political agenda in the name of Jesus? How could there be anything to redeem this despicable man?!

But that's when I realized that if Jerry Falwell is a human, it is much harder to vilify him. It is easy for me to look at a man's sermons and political actions and allow hate to brew in my heart. But what about the fact that that man has a family? Or when he's not spewing anti-gay paranoia, he's playing practical jokes? That man is much harder to hate.

My problem, often, with the Christian Right is their refusal to see that God loves every person. People are valuable because God created them so. And probably, when people see that they will be more likely to turn to their creator than if they are simply scared of Hell.

But this scene made me realize that if God loves every person, then that includes Jerry Falwell. And as much as I disagree with everything he stands for, hating him will only lead to hard-hearted bitterness in my own life.

So here I am, someone who claims to worship a God who loves and values all, being put to shame by this author who looks only to have an open mind. Humility is sometimes hard to swallow.

Father, forgive me my inability to love. Allow me to see the places of my heart where my flesh takes over and continue to work them out. Give me the wisdom to discern between righteous anger and personal hate. Remind me again and again that I do not have everything figured out-- and give me an eternally teachable and discerning spirit. And above all, allow me to pray for those with whom I disagree, trusting that only you can change their hearts. Amen.

Here's to good, thought-provoking reads and an open mind.
Cheers.