Second Chance

I had the opportunity to see Michael W.'s new movie Second Chance today. He acquitted himself pretty well as an actor--but the movie was weak.

It is not in wide release and probably never will be. I enjoyed seeing the Nashville scenes and Lindsley Ave. Church of Christ, and some from Otter who were more or less extras in the film.

No, it will never win an Oscar, but it will perhaps stimulate some discussion among Christians about where our work really is. Is it in the church or in the streets?
Is it among us or among "them?" Is it clean, smooth-handed work, or do we have to get down and dirty? The answer probably lies in the middle of each question. Our 21st century is so unlike the era in which Christ lived that comparison is not possible--except in terms of where sin lies. We have to wend our own way among our own idols, complexities, and interpretations and do the best we can. As Mother Teresa said, "If you can't feed many people, just feed one...one...one." Our inability to focus on the one (while really feeling good about saving the world) has always been one of our besetting sins.

We sent missionaries to Europe after World War II while condemning our own neighbors to hell because they did not interpret the Bible the way we did. Our forefathers in the South collected funds in their churches during the Civil War to "help the people in Africa" while they were destroying their own slaves. We feel good when we give to the AIDs causes but we do not do what we can to help those down the street who are dying of AIDs. We would rather buy a goat or cow for those starving in other continents than work in a soup kitchen here or hand out sandwiches under the bridges downtown. I am condemning myself too. God, it is really hard to know what to do with our affluent culture. One...one...one.