The Audacity of Man in Playing God

Recently someone died who was well known and popular. I knew him a little and liked the man, but never saw any inclination toward spiritual things, or Christ in particular. I heard that he a few months before he died, he said, "I'm not a religious man."

And with that declaration he rid himself of the concern.

Temporarily.

I am saddened for the man, and pointing at him in particular is not my point. My point is this: We humans, especially in American culture and once granted an ounce of education, are so profoundly obnoxious in our intellect, so prideful, that apparently we (as a culture) think that what we think sets the course.

Apparently a man can declare, "I am not a religious man," and simply proceed to believe that his self-declaration actually makes the question of whether there is a God and who he is mute to him. In essence, that one makes himself God by declaring that it doesn't affect him whether there is a God.

This is the typical condition of lost man in America -- he indeed plays God. This is the ultimate audacity, the ultimate pride. We must be willing as born again people -- not better people, but simply those who have been granted and accepted the grace and mercy of Christ -- to lovingly challenge such people.

The man of whom I speak is celebrated and loved. He did many good things. He will be reveled as a good man at his memorial, and perhaps in a purely earthly context, he was.

But the moment he died something happened. There either was or was not a god (there is; I know Him). He either is or is not Jesus Christ (He is!). And he met him. And all before him didn't matter, and he now realizes the vast miscalculation of his intellect, the vast pride, and if he could tell the world otherwise, he would.