The Way We Behave

It is interesting to see the difference in the way people behave. Last week I watched a little of the Nightline debate between Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort of Way of the Master ministries, and Brian Sapien and "Kelly," from the Blasphemy Challenge movement. Nightline really didn't devote a huge amount of time toward the actual debate. Instead, it has become one of the most viewed segments ever, on their website.

The gist of the debate was viewable on air, and the tone of the two sides was decidedly different. Even those atheists in the audience when it came to the question and answer session seemed angry at the least, and even antagonistic, especially when Evolution was questioned. It is interesting that Brian Sapien had Ray Comfort's talking points given to him before the debate, yet he acted as if much of it was a surprise to him. He even called Kirk Cameron a dirty, insulting name during the debate, and seemed to be disgusted with his two opponents. "Kelly," the young woman who chooses to keep her last name out of the public domain, was a bit of a lightweight during the debate, and really brought very little to it, at least what I saw.

What was actually more interesting to me was watching Kirk, Ray and their friend Todd Friel talking with Brian Sapien on the curb, after the debate was over.Out on the street, you could see that Kirk and Ray were cordial, and reasonable, but that Brian still seemed to be playing an adversarial role. Even though Kirk was behaving in a completely amiable way, Brian would have none of it. There was just no give and take. In a radio conversation recorded at that same curb setting, Brian Sapiens vitriol finally emerged, and he began to rail against Todd and even call him a liar several times.

Why are so many atheists so very angry? I have known plenty of atheists and agnostics. One man that I knew quite well, once said some very horrid things about Jesus. I never before, or have since, heard very many utterances about the Savior that could compare to such awful blasphemy, and I have heard some pretty bad stuff. It seems to be specifically Jesus whom atheists are so angry about, and anyone who expresses a soul connection with Him.

Jerry Falwell passed away a couple of days ago, and it didn't take long for his detractors to start talking about him in a negative way. Christopher Hutchins for one, was particularly ugly about Reverend Falwell's passing. Why so angry? Over the last thirty odd years, Jerry Falwell spoke out about conservative Christian values, and he took a lot of heat for it. People hated him. I knew that he made public mistakes, but I liked the guy, and when people were going on about his hatefulness, I never saw him but that he behaved compassionately and politely to people.

He made some blunders as we all do, but his were high profile blunders because of his notoriety. He once sued porn publisher Larry Flint and lost, but speaking of his passing, Larry Flint said, "My mother always told me that no matter how much you dislike a person, when you meet them face to face you will find characteristics about them that you like. Jerry Falwell was a perfect example of that. I hated everything he stood for, but after meeting him in person, years after the trial, Jerry Falwell and I became good friends. He would visit me in California and we would debate together on college campuses. I always appreciated his sincerity even though I knew what he was selling and he knew what I was selling."

I remember Rev. Falwell saying something along the lines that he cared a great deal for Larry Flint, and that he would very much like to be his pastor someday. Larry Flint could do a lot worse than to have a man like that for his pastor. One wonders at just how much time and love it takes to turn an atheist around, even to a point of mere friendship, and that is the material point. "Love your enemies." "Love those who despitefully use you." This is simple, but how simple is it to put into practice?

Larry Flint certainly used Jerry Falwell in a despiteful way, yet Jerry Falwell's character triumphed over the man's heart. It is Jesus that Larry Flint saw, time after time when they had their meetings, both public and private. This is our job. I have had some agnostic and atheist friends who have said things that have made me very inwardly angry, but God will not let me express what I really feel when they behave that way. Instead, He calls me to behave His way. Have I ever blown it? I am not sure if I have or not. I am certainly less than perfect, but I do know this, I am not angry with atheists or agnostics because of their position. I pity them, because they are so angry or deceived or both.

They are those among whom we are supposed to present the gospel. What they do with it, is up to them. Meanwhile, God's goodness and our kindnesses to them, are the order of this day, or any day.