THE FALL OF AIR MCNAIR

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” --- Hebrews 13:4

The recent murder/suicide that took the life of former NFL-great Quarterback Steve McNair was shocking to say the least. Listen to both individual camps and you get the picture of model citizens, who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The 36-year-old McNair lived a high profile life as a star player, who gave back to the community and tried to be a role model, especially to his young fans. His 20-year-old “girlfriend” was by all accounts a nice lady from a nice family.

So how did they both end up dead on a couch with five bullet holes in their bodies?

Were they bad people? Definitely not! I believe the woman was a nice person from a good family and I know Steve McNair’s work as not only a football leader, but also a community leader. The police were certainly at a loss to explain it. They waited days to make the murder/suicide ruling simply because they saw no motive. The families were certainly at a loss for words from the utter shock, but when they did speak it was with nothing but platitudes for their lost loved one.

Was it just one of those random incidents that no one can explain? The problem with that explanation is that there was one blatant thing at work here and the reason for the tragedy --- SIN. McNair was a married man with four children. The world is blind to that reason because it has been programmed to be accepting of the fact that divorce is the inevitable conclusion to most marriages and cohabitation without marriage is not only accepted, but encouraged.

The problem, of course, is that is not God’s way.

When you mess with God’s way it is called sin and though there is forgiveness for those who believe and confess their errors, there are still consequences --- even for model citizens. I believe God anoints EVERY marriage to be a picture of the relationship Jesus has with His Bride, the church. The wiring necessary to do that goes haywire when that path is departed from. The emotions and jealousy it can conjure up can even make the most sane person pull the trigger on life.

I’m not here to either judge McNair (“…let he who is without sin cast the first stone…”) or to give him a free pass, only to shed light on the consequence of sin. The comforting thing to all believers in this is that if McNair was a believer simply caught in the snare of temptation that money and fame can bring, he is with the Lord today in His eternal glory --- Not because of his exploits on the field, not because of his work in community, but only because Christ died for our sins and McNair chose to believe in that. What grace our Lord affords ALL believers!

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” --- Romans 8:1-2

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” --- Romans 13:1-2

Recently, I was listening to the show, “Adventures in Odyssey” on the radio with my children. It’s a real fine series featuring spiritual messages as learned through the lives of running characters in a made-up town. This particular episode (probably from about 20 years ago) dealt with a boy whose father had died before the boy was born in the Vietnam War. Thanks to his mother, he had a real healthy memory of his father as a war hero that vicariously came out in the boy’s patriotism and eagerness to “celebrate” past wars of this country and their heroes. That is until he ran into a stick in the mud in the form of a teacher whose opposition to the war was so great that he considered those who fought in the war murderers. His mother’s reaction was typical of the error that all Christians have from time to time on this earth --- She thought she could protect her son from that hate by living in the idyllic town of Odyssey. But, as we all figure out, there’s no escaping the strong hand of our enemy while we’re here on this earth.

I bring this up, as we enter into our yearly celebration of our independence and freedom in this country, because I see the enemy building a stronghold on this subject that has only increased since this particular episode of “Adventures in Odyssey” first aired. Since Vietnam, the opposition to any and every war effort, save the short “Desert Storm” campaign, has met with stronger and stronger opposition and outrage --- A far cry from the way such campaigns as the World Wars brought this country together.

Now I’m not going to try to argue that any of these war efforts since the Vietnam War are nearly as noble as World War II, for example, because to me that argument is irrelevant. We’re a sinful nation run by sinful leaders of a sinful populous. Mistakes and ill-advised efforts have been and will continue to be forged. However, this fact must be separated from the fact that those who have received the high call of serving this country in the military during this time are every bit the hero as those who fought in every campaign this country has ever been involved in going back to the noblest of all --- Our War for Independence!

The deception the enemy has put out there on this front is so strong that now there is a growing sentiment that with our health care and economic crisis, veterans who have fought and been injured in these war efforts should be paying their own medical expenses. What an outrage!

I recently read an account by the son of a man depicted on the famous Iwo Jima Memorial of what happened to the six men depicted on the famous statue which pictured them laying an American flag on top of a hill on that island during a World War II battle. He talked about his own father and the others, who all became heroes in everyone else’s eyes, but he also talked about the tortures each of them went through as a result of their experience and sacrifice on behalf of this country’s freedom. Can you imagine what those who fought in Vietnam, who were making the same sacrifice, felt like when they got back with the same tortured memories but who were called murderers instead of heroes?

It brings to mind another who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, but was reviled by those He came to save. When Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13),” it squarely fits what each and every veteran of this country has done on our behalf to preserve our freedom. To me, each and everyone are both a friend and a hero --- Especially those who literally laid down their lives!

THE NEW (OLD) REAL THING

“Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” --- John 4:13-14

One of the biggest marketing blunders in recent history was the introduction of “New” Coke --- Or was it?

Under the pressure of a dwindling (but still HUGE) market share, Coca-Cola executives decided to change the formula for its famous soft drink to try to stem the momentum its chief competitor, Pepsi, seemed to have.

It was an apparent disaster! Nobody really thought it was better and loyal Coke drinkers were furious.

But this is where the executives turned it around and made the strategy seem brilliant. Rather than sticking to a plan that wasn’t working, they went to Plan B, which was actually just scrapping the whole “New” Coke plan and returning to the old formula. They made the old formula new by calling it Coca-Cola Classic and not only did it bring back the original classic to those who missed it, it also helped introduce a whole new generation to it. For example, I had never discerned a difference between Coke and Pepsi, but when the “Classic” Coke came back, I realized that was the taste in cola that I far preferred.

What if the modern-day church did the same thing?

I believe that under the pressure of other growing religions, like Islam, the church has decided to “market” itself by creating a “New” Jesus. This “New” Jesus comes from a “perceived” need for a new, more relevant Jesus to fight back these growing religions that reject Jesus as their Savior.

This “New” Jesus is “tolerant” of modern-day, alternative lifestyles and gives us a break from being holy due to the pressures of a post-modern society. He’s also a little too busy to care for everyone out there, so the church needs to fill in that gap by creating all sorts of works-related programs that may or may not be led by the Holy Spirit. Worst of all, there are multiple paths to the salvation most people, believers and not, want assurance of.

In reality, this “New” Jesus is as phony and unappealing as the “New” Coke was to the old “Classic” formula lovers. The real Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and there is just one narrow path to salvation:

“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved...For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” --- Romans 10:9 and 13

I believe that all those who hold court in the pulpits of today’s modern church can turn it around simply by doing the same thing Coke executives did 25 years ago --- Preaching the old Biblical Jesus. The creation of this “new” Jesus has made the real Jesus that much more attractive and “Classic”.

I would submit that a real revival could follow when people realize that Jesus WAS, IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE the real Thing!  

Currently The Perfect Stranger By Pamela Brumley see related

THE PERFECT STRANGER

“…For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” --- John 3:17

One of the dilemmas that modern Christian movies face is the fact that they generally, “The Passion of the Christ” withstanding, lack the funding necessary to give them “the look” that modern film goers are used to. Many efforts I see lose their effectiveness because they try to imitate effects that are difficult to duplicate without spending the cash to do it right. Like a cheap paper towel that doesn’t absorb properly, these movies lose their audience and ultimately their attempt to evangelize.

The films that work are the ones that make no effort to imitate the modern film look. The effect is often-times cheesy, but if done well can be attractive on that level to the movie viewer and therefore be effective in getting the message across. A series that works well on that level is “The Perfect Stranger” series that includes the original movie, a sequel and several television episodes. These shows, with limited scenes often-times filmed with only two cameras, feature a character with a modern-day problem meeting up with a character playing a modern-day Jesus. There is little or no action (the original feature film was just basically a dinner conversation between the lead character and Jesus), but the script is dynamite.

The Jesus character is made to be warm, funny, engaging and most importantly, relevant --- Much as one would expect Jesus to be if He really came down to earth at this time. In His conversation, He neither condemns nor offends the people perpetrating modern deceptions out there against Him. He simply gives thought provoking arguments that poke huge holes in those deceptions.

While I believe the series works well evangelizing the “intellectual” non-believer, I also believe it has a sharp, but once again non-condemning, rebuke against modern-day evangelists, like you and I. An example is the way the problem-plagued characters carry a common perception of the modern-day church. They see these “church” people coming off as hypocritical and condemning, which I’m afraid we oftentimes come off as. We have a tendency to “belittle” or act condescending against those who don’t share our views. Though we are called to give answers when we are questioned about our faith, we are usually just called by the Spirit to share Jesus’ light and love with the unsaved world --- Something we don’t do when we act in that manner.

Though technically unrealistic --- we know Jesus will not actually come down again until He comes in judgment --- the movie and series does a wonderful job of drawing the picture of the humanity Jesus had when He actually walked the earth. The gentle, loving way He handles the inquiries of His subjects in the series is a wonderful Christ-like example of the way we should relate and evangelize non-believers. One of the funny cheesy effects used in the movie is that every once in awhile they show the Jesus character, who shows up in modern neat clothes and a modern-day clean-cut look, with long hair and full beard and wearing Biblical-times clothing. It’s amusing and doesn’t get in the way of the message --- in fact, it’s a reminder of the film’s intent to put the actual Biblical Jesus into a modern situation.

There’s one other inexpensive special effect that works in very powerful way: When He leans His arms up and reveals His wrists that have been covered by His modern garb, they have huge scars on them --- a reminder of the suffering He did on the cross for you and I. Regardless of the talk, that’s the walk that Jesus did to assure all believers a place in His kingdom and to remind us that someone out there really loves us.

The original movie ends with the conclusion of the dinner and Jesus leaving the woman wanting more of Him, simply because He shared His love. That’s where once again it diverts away from the usual “Hollywood formula” --- Instead of heading to the nearest bedroom, Jesus leaves the woman with a verse from the Bible:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” --- Revelation 3:20

Which leads to a TRUE “happily ever after” --- Eternal life in His kingdom!

WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR EXCEPT…

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” --- Matthew 6:34

I remember when I was young I had great fear for quite a long period of time that my neighborhood was going to be bombed by enemy aircraft. Did I live in London, England during World War II? --- No, I lived in suburbia USA during the 1970’s. However, I had watched the movie Tora, Tora, Tora, which reenacted the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and it instilled that fear. I also went through a period where I thought I was going to be snatched from my secure home and kidnapped. Why? --- Because I had seen a movie that dramatized the Lindbergh baby kidnapping from the 1930’s.

Today, fear grips this nation as cases of swine flu are being discovered. Much as with the fears of my youth, I believe the fear far outweighs the reality of the risk. Also, like the root of my fear, I believe this fear is coming from people watching television --- in this case media reports about this so-called “panidemic” (whatever that means). The glut of 24/7 media outlets need stories to fill its time and viewers to sell advertising. Though maybe not consciously, I believe they give the people what they want and will keep giving it to them until people have had enough --- The result is over-hype on stories that don’t necessarily warrant it.

At this point let me put this fear into proper perspective. There has been a grand total of ONE death in this country due to the swine flu --- Not one thousand, not one hundred --- just 1! How many people have died on the nation’s highways in the last week? --- Probably thousands (as an example, there have been 3 deaths in the county I live in). But are people gripped with fear about driving to work or driving to errands? --- Of course not. As I peruse the statistics I see that scattered schools have been cancelled in many states including my home state, Wisconsin --- Yet not one case of swine flu has been confirmed as of yet in this state. Also, I see that ALL high school athletic events have been cancelled in Texas and Alabama --- This is hard to fathom as I think back to all the snowy and icy nights that people battled on the highway driving to Wisconsin High School basketball games this past winter.

I’m not trying to lessen the seriousness of the situation, only to put it in perspective. The fact that anyone has died or gotten sick and that there is a real risk of the sickness spreading should cause concern. But that’s where I believe people need to turn to God and turn off their television sets. Bringing our concerns to God in prayer can, does and will bring real results and it also brings a comfort and peace that sometimes goes beyond human understanding.

Action may be necessary as events warrant it, but God Himself demonstrated how reaction to fear itself is one of the worst things to base our actions on. Several times in the Old Testament God won battles on behalf of his outmanned and outgunned people simply by spreading fear and panic in the enemy camp.

Of course the promise of eternal life and the victory over death that Jesus won on the cross really makes the fear of anything a ridiculous proposition. It’s with this security, though, that we can be a light and witness to those gripped with fear simply by moving on with our lives as it comes on a daily basis!