October 13, 1999
EDITORIAL:
Ventura ventures beyond sensibility
___"Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people's business."
___ --Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura
___Jesse "The Body" Ventura made me fighting mad when I read his statement about Christianity, which is to be published in the November issue of Playboy. Not mad enough to try to body slam the gigantic former World Wrestling Federation star, but plenty mad just the same. (And no, I did not go out and buy a copy of the magazine to "research" his interview. Part of it was published in Religion News Service.)
___A few days after his quote surfaced, the governor appeared on "Meet the Press." Anchor Tim Russert reminded Ventura that 65 percent of Minnesotans claim to be Christians. Then Russert asked the governor if he believes Jesus Christ is the Savior. Ventura paused for several seconds, as if to consider the theological or political dimensions of his answer, and responded, "Yeah."
___Ventura's statement is infuriating, of course. Consider its hypocritical irony: A professional wrestler calling anything else a sham is ludicrous. Scripted athletes--more like soap opera stars on steroids, in tights-- have no business impugning others' credibility. Moreover, professional wrestling hasn't produced brain surgeons, rocket scientists and philosophers of note. Imagine a man who's spent much of his adult life getting his head slammed into turnbuckles calling anyone else weak-minded. And a politician who gladly makes daily decisions on behalf of millions of constituents has little business criticizing anyone for minding someone else's business.
___Ventura's lambaste touches on three points that should be pondered.
___First, rather than exhibiting weak-mindedness, Christians simply acknowledge their weakness.The Bible teaches that all people are finite and fallible, estranged from God by our own sin. We realize we cannot reverse our sinful nature, much less save ourselves from our worst futures. So, we place our trust in Jesus, who defeated death by first accepting and succumbing to it and then snatching it from the grasp of Satan. Of course, this concept is a mental stumbling block to those who do not believe, but it is the ultimate victorious miracle of life to those who are faithful.
___Second, we do congregate in numbers, collections of Christians we call churches. We do indeed draw strength from one another and enjoy the company of fellow believers. However, we do not "need strength in numbers." We draw ultimate strength from only One. Our relationship with God through faith in Christ provides all the solace we really need. Of all people, Christians are most comfortable physically alone, because we understand we never are alone spiritually.
___Third, although Christians express concern for the spiritual welfare of others, this is not the same as sticking their noses "in other people's business." Would Ventura say that a person who rings a doorbell to tell occupants of a house that their home is on fire is sticking his nose in their business? Similarly, Christians do not meddle when they express appropriate concern for the spiritual well-being of others.
___As frustrating as Ventura's comments may be, Christians should be grateful he said them. They are uncomfortable. We disagree. But they provide a picture of how many people view Christianity today. We must learn from his perceptions in order to respond better to those who would not only disagree with our views but also discount our Christ.
___Unfortunately, Ventura and his kind base their perceptions upon observations. They believe Christianity is a sham because they have seen charlatans posing as Christians and even ministers. They believe Christians are weak-minded because they have known feeble, thoughtless Christians who cower in packs. They believe Christianity is intrusive because they have known Christians who arrogantly, piously and callously inject themselves into the lives of others.
___The first tragedy is not that Ventura and company believe as they do. It is that Christians have given them reason to believe that way. Their perceptions are not based on the gospel but upon faulty reflectors of the gospel.
___The only Bible others may ever read is the Scripture they see reflected in our lives. We must live with integrity, intelligence and compassion so they have reason to believe --and accept the true gospel of Christ.
___ --Marv Knox
Email the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
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