Collision: Reviewed (First)

Last night I watched “Collision” for the first (and second) time. I enjoyed it immensely! I wrote two pages of notes per viewing, in reflection I have written about eight more. I cried once, danced to the soundtrack, and laughed multiple times.

Truth be told, I was not amazed at the way in which Doug Wilson carried his arguments. I was not astounded with any wins or losses on either side. What struck me as the most important factor in watching this film was to witness Doug Wilson intellectually engaging with Christopher Hitchens in a "life-on-life" scenario.

Wilson seemed to have engaged in these conversations with Hitchens in order to "be all things to all men that some might be saved." And he did this excellently. I – now – greatly admire and respect Doug Wilson. (Before, I neither cared for him nor disliked him. I thought nothing of him. Now I respect him, greatly.)

All Christians must watch this in order to see that we CANNOT fall away from the truth!
Be separate!
KNOW the Bible!
Study theology!
Study philosophy!
Study politics!
Study history!
Enjoy literature!
Enjoy art, theatre, music!
Go OUT AMONG THE PEOPLE!!!
Have discussions!

It is not our duty to SAVE the souls, but to PREACH so they might HEAR.

The problem with Christians:

When the people who have the knowledge argue, they argue as if they are fighting and could save the soul through the argument.
[I liken it to giving someone a scalpel and telling them about the procedures and then pulling them into the O.R. to perform the open-heart surgery. It’s not going to go well. It’s the same with the people in the church. People have the scalpel (God’s Word), they have heard how they should use it, they have heard that they are the only ones with this truth and need to use it, and then they go to use it and all they are doing is cutting the person up because they have not heard or seen or practiced actually using it to turn the person to health.]

When the people want to make the non-believers feel better, they change the doctrine of the Scriptures. (I would say this is up there in the #1 stumbling blocks for evolutionists, etc. Don’t be inclusive! The Bible is NOT inclusive! R.C. Sproul notes that the church has become, “Embedded in proud mediocrity.” What will happen then, folks?! Jesus will SPEW us out of His mouth! Nice is not better.)

When people tout the Bible as the truth, and then they don’t live life accordingly. (HYPOCRITES!)

If you are going to say it: LIVE IT!
If you are going to discuss it: do it with POWER, with SHARPNESS and APTITUDE, but do it in LOVE. Do it as you are living LIFE. Do it as a natural part of your relationship and interaction with the unsaved community. LOVE THEM!!!!!
If you want to engage them in their own world: make sure you are clinging to the word of God. Make sure that you have a strong fellowship within your church body. Make sure that you know the Word! Know things that they actually do! Engage them in conversations about THEIR LIFE and actually be INTERESTED!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you want to make them feel better: bake them a cake; don’t change the Bible!

Hitchens said, “[Wilson] appears to really believe it…I know where I stand with him.” Hitchens noted that Wilson didn’t try to agree with him on anything for the sake of argument. Wilson declared them to be different because of the truths of God’s word. They were both arguing passionately, but with care and respect for one another.
Praise the Lord that Hitchens could respect the education and argumentation of a Christian!
Praise the Lord that Wilson stepped into such a RELATIONSHIP with Christopher Hitchens.
Praise the Lord that the truth has been declared and that Hitchens will have NO excuse when he stands before the seat of judgment.

Now, are we ready to do such a thing with our peers in our communities?