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AFA JournalTIM'S COLUMNTruth deeper than sincerityTim WildmonVice President, AFA AFA Journal, January 2002 edition A few years back I would get together with a few friends for lunch at a local Mexican restaurant once a month or so. We would yak it up and have some serious fun. Many of my friends were associate pastors or youth ministers, and our lunches were a break from some of the more weighty issues on their jobs. We would talk about sports, religion and politics, and swap the latest jokes we'd heard. We didn't intend to have a name for our group. But one day someone remarked, tongue in cheek, about some subject, "Well, it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you're sincere about it." It was an insider's catch phrase that stuck. From then on we referred to ourselves as "The Sincerity Club." "Yes, I would like two tacos and some nacho chips, please," one of us would order. The other behind him would say for all to hear, "Yes, but are you sincere about that order?" Then we would all laugh as the first member fired back, "Yes, I am very sincere. But I am just as sincere about the Pepsi I need to sincerely wash down the tacos and nachos." Hilarious, weren't we? We thought so. But the young lady at the counter would just pause, give us a blank stare, and hand us an order number. "Next please," she would say. Then someone would say something like that again. We would howl. She would just stare, missing the humor of our bantering. But the point of our joking back and forth was two?fold. One was to see who could be the most creative with the use of the phrase "sincere about it." The other was to mock the ridiculous nature of the idea that it doesn't matter what one believes, as long as it's sincere. A lot of people fall for that, you know. It sounds so tolerant, so reasonable, so American. But, in truth, it's so bogus. And I am sincere about that. What you believe does matter, especially what you believe about God, because that belief determines what you believe about morality and life in general. Ironically, someone can be sincere about his beliefs and still be an absolute despot. You may be saying to yourself, "How can Tim be so judgmental?" Let me ask you a question, sincerely. Would you agree that Osama bin Laden is sincere about his belief in Islamic fundamentalism? Would you agree that he is sincere about his hatred for America and for Americans? By virtue of his talk and his actions, no one can deny that Osama bin Laden is a very devout and sincere evil man. Folks, despite what we've been told by the popular culture and media elite the last 25 years, all religious and philosophical roads don't lead to God. Some lead to Satan. At least that is what Jesus Christ said. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," is what He is recorded as saying in the Gospel of John 14:6. Of course, you have to trust in the validity of the Bible to accept this quote, as I do. The point is, Jesus did not believe in all religions being equal. He taught that His way was the only way. He was exclusive. He was narrow. He was sincere. Below is a promotion for the five Worldview Weekend conferences American Family Association will be a part of these next few months. I will be participating in most of the conferences. These conferences are five-star events in terms of the quality. They are designed to teach Christians why what we believe matters. It matters to God and it should matter to us. The excellent line-up of speakers will focus their presentations on what it means to have a Biblical worldview. If you can attend one of these Worldview Weekend Conferences, you will thank me for telling you about it. We need to get serious about our faith. We need to understand the differences between a biblical belief system, or worldview, and the belief systems of humanism, relativism, paganism, new age, Islam and others. Then we will appreciate how and why Christianity is superior to all other religions, worldviews or belief systems. UPCOMING WORLDVIEW WEEKEND CONFERENCES Nationally known speakers teach the importance of developing a biblical worldview. Co-sponsored by AFA, WallBuilders and Summit Ministries. Upcoming Spring 2002 conferences: February 22-23 * Charlotte, NC * David Barton, Dr. Frank Harber, Bill Jack and Dr. Norman Giesler April 5-6 * Milwaukee, WI * Brannon Howse, Kerby Anderson, Dr. Marshall Foster, Dr. Woodrow Kroll, Ray Comfort, Dr. Ron Carlson April 12-13 * Houston, TX * David Barton, Derby Anderson, Gov. Mike Huckabee (invited), Dr. Marshall Foster April 19-20 * Jackson, MS * Dr. David Jeremiah, Marquis Laughlin, Dr. Frank Harber, David Noebel and Dr. Ron Carlson April 26-27 * Richmond, VA * Josh McDowell, Janet and Craig Parshall, Os Guiness, Kerby Anderson Free Brochure: 1-888-325-4543 More info: www.worldviewweekend.org |
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