I watched a Billy Graham Crusade from 1961 in Miami last night on tv. It was the first time that I've watched a Crusade on religious conversion.
It was totally amazing to listen to the guy stand up there and talk. At first I cringed at the fundamentalism as he invoked all kinds of fire and brimstone passages to emphasize the importance of conversion. However, as the Crusade went on, it made me think about my own conversion experience. Was it my own free will or the spirit of God that I accepted which made a difference? I thought I let go of my own ego to change the direction of my life, but what if it was the spirit of God that changed my life? What if the change actually came from a higher power?
I really hadn't contemplated the metaphysical control for my spirit before, mostly because I was never fully converted to a point where it mattered. I assumed that I had exercised my own free will to believe in a higher power. Now, looking back at the situation, I wonder if the higher power took control of the conversion. Maybe the conversion was the final vanquishing of my ego by a higher power once I asked for help.
Anyways, my usual contempt and disgust for fundamentalists like Billy Graham was replaced with mild curiosity and appreciation for the first time. I looked past his intolerance since the people in the audience came there on their own free will. Those people came forward to accept a small change in their lives they could not find on their own, just like I had done.
These are the people that must be protected by religious freedom in this country. They should not be intimidated by the anti religious group that thinks society can maintain hope and vision without God as a higher power. Are we supposed to find that hope and vision from people like Hillary Clinton or George Bush. I don't know about Hillary, but I am sure that George would find it comical if anyone looked to him for inspiration. He has enough trouble finding the right words in q & a sessions with the press.
Every part of the civil rights act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Why are there only amendments to protect race and sex, but not religious tolerance and respect. It is a fine line between saying that you may enter the kingdom of heaven when you become like a child vs. saying that you may not enter the kingdom of heaven unless you become like a child.
All we need is a little political correctness to avoid religious conversions for the people involved from becoming eternal damnations for the people not involved. There must be a universal awareness that there is an impact of the religious message for people inside of the church and outside of the church. There is no point in telling people that have already showed up to a Crusade they will go to hell unless they convert. All these people need is encouragement and instruction how to get down the aisle so the Lord can do his work once he is asked. As for the world outside of the Church, it is utterly blasphemous to tell these people that God does not accept them if they do not convert. You don't condemn people or exclude them through prejudgement. |
