A "Come To Jesus Talk"

The Blind Side is one of the rare movies I’ll actually pay to see in the theater, so this AFA headline piqued my interest – Sandra Bullock: A blessing to meet, portray a real Christian.

If you don’t know the story, it is a very heartwarming – and true – tale of the Tuohy family, who took in a young man who was more or less homeless and woefully undereducated and adopted him into the family. Thanks to their intervention and love, he got a good education and even became an athlete – he ended up in the NFL. The “kicker” is that they’re white and he’s black. So Sandra Bullock, who evidently has not had many good interactions with Christians, was encouraged to learn some of us really do try to live it, not just talk about it. All in all, a good article and a good reminder: people pay attention when you call yourself a Christian. When you put that “My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter” sticker on your car and then flip people off in a fit of road rage, you’re still being a witness to your faith.  You’re being a witness to how shallow and ineffective it is.  I really loved what Leigh Anne Tuohy said in the article:

“You don’t have to go out and bring a child into your home — that’s not what’s required,” says Tuohy. “But you can do something — everybody is capable of doing something. So whatever your something is, do it well. Make a difference.“

Yes, indeed. Words to live by. Heartwarming. A perfect reminder for the season.  Do something, do it well, and make a difference. I know some folks running an orphanage in Mexico who’d agree with that – and I know a lot more people here in New Orleans who support that orphanage.  We all can’t move to Mexico – but we can do something right where we are.

And then… the inevitable crash:

Oher’s mom says she enforces a behavior code when she watches her adopted son play for the Baltimore Ravens. “I had to have a little ‘come to Jesus’ talk with my section at [the] Ravens’ stadium,” she says. “I had to explain to everyone that, okay, we’re going to have a change of attitude. There is a two-drink limit, there is no cussing in this [section]. You don’t know who you’re sitting next to — I’m a player’s mom.”

I truly do hate the expression “a come to Jesus talk.” Because that kind of talk really doesn’t call anyone to Jesus. It ticks them off. Nor do players’ relatives enjoy any special authority over the other spectators. If I were a lost person who paid for my ticket, expecting to attend the game like any other adult – i.e. without someone trying to modify my perfectly legal behavior – I’d have been mad. And I’d have concluded what so many people conclude about Christians – we’re all about controlling them, not helping them.

Well – it’s a journey, after all.  God knows – literally! – how many times I’ve thought, said, and done worse.  Frustrating, though!