After the service on Sunday, one man shared with me an alarming thing he discovered about himself as he watched the exchange between Gov. Huckabee and Bill Maher. He told me, “My problem is I’m not so sure I want a guy like Bill Maher saved.” It was a powerful moment of self-realization for this man to understand the reality of where he is in relation to God’s heart for this world.
No matter where we are in our journey as Christians, it’s always good to take note of the state of our hearts. We need to ask ourselves two important questions, “Are we broken for this world?” and “How broken are we?” Those are good starting places for us as we delve into this series.
For today’s discussion, share your thoughts on any or all of these three questions:
1) Do you have a heart to see the Bill Mahers of this world come to know Christ?
2) Are the Bill Mahers of this world beyond finding Christ?
3) How would you reach someone like Bill Maher?
And if you’re interested in seeing the full exchange between Bill Maher and Gov. Huckabee, here it is:
14 responses so far ↓
Diana R // December 1, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I think people like Bill Maher are closer to finding Jesus than others who take an apathetic stance. Bill is passionate and intelligent. God can win his heart; he did mine and I wasn’t much different.
Diana R // December 1, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I also wanted to comment that if I was speaking to Bill I would have mentioned that God did not create a broken world. He allowed us to “break it.” With the short amount of time that Gov. H had to speak, he did very well. Bill has all the “classic” arguments.
Steve H // December 1, 2008 at 6:23 pm
One thing I’ve often found interesting is that more often than not when a group of people begin researching ways to discredit the authenticity of God’s Word they end up accepting Him as their personal savior. I think that the Bill’s of this world are definitely worth reaching and that it’s time for the harvest. The enemy knows it, and knows that people are searching for the truth in Christ. I’ve started noticing the spiritual battle around us and feel there is a sense of urgency to get on board with God’s plan, or get left in the back of the line. My biggest obstacle is overcoming fear and stepping out in faith to do God’s work, and leave my own agenda behind.
revelatorart // December 1, 2008 at 8:30 pm
ya know that’s a real good heart attitude observation…there are some people who rub us wrong or who are “very bad” in our eyes and if we get real with our hearts, many times we do find that we sort of have a Jonah attitude about them…especially if those people “hit a nerve” with us (okay God, rain down your fireballs from heaven and destroy them). what do we do with these kinds of feelings, these kinds of attitudes (since our real anger is at the blatant persecution and blasphemy of God Himself). Our battle shouldn’t be against flesh and blood (but manytimes we make it this)…God help us to not be like the Pharisees…help us not to become judgmental, bitter, angry, and beligerant towards the people who hurt us or don’t like us or we don’t like them. I agree with DianaR, many times those people are actually much like Paul…and they find themselves on the road to Damascus.
LT // December 2, 2008 at 12:24 am
what a great time as we enter the Christmas season to reflect on how we would respond to the very people that God ‘gave’ his son for…
I anticipate this study being not only a ‘heart’ check up for each who participate – but also the potential to deepen our relationship with the King and we learn to walk in step with his purposes and plans with much grace and mercy.
scram // December 2, 2008 at 1:22 am
I am concerned that the body of Christ has been so legalistic that many hurting people have been hurt and have slipped through the cracks because some people are so concerned with the rules that the very Grace and Mercy that saved us has been put second to the law. I truely believe that as we grow as Christians, it is so easy to slip into our works and comparing how far along we are, sometimes expecting others to be as far along and not respecting the journey they are taking with the Lord. God works on us all individually he does not want us to be cookie cutter Christians. Forcing our beliefs on people is as bad as rape. God doesn’t even do that. I am praying for the patience and heart of God, that I will really see people the way he does.
Stace // December 2, 2008 at 3:29 am
I have to say, I do have a heart to see the people like Bill Maher be saved – and I feel like God has given me a heart for them through my own sister. She is of a similar attitude as Bill Maher and I love her so much; she just refuses to hear anything about Christianity and has even told me she “doesn’t believe in that crap.” She has all the classic arguments as well. I have been praying a lot for her and just loving her, since talking to her about it has been off limits lately… meaning that it is met with resentment, anger, and getting hung up on. When you demonstrate unconditional love and kindness to someone through your actions even when they “persecute” you, they don’t understand this. It’s that upside-down kingdom we all keep talking about… and it really gets to them. It might take some time, but I think God uses that to cause them to ask questions that can only be answered by His Word and His Truth. God bless all of you.
Matt Gambrell // December 2, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Sorry, I posted this under the Welcome so I pasted under Allowing Got to Break our Hearts:
I think for me….I am like Gov. Huckabee. I really like Bill Maher. When I see he is on a talk show I do my best to watch it.
I think the reason I like Bill is he is right about a lot of things. In the video he asks, why is there suffering in this world. He is implying that God sits by idly while hunger, death and suffering happens.
I believe that we are James…we being “the body of Christ.” In being the body we are the hands, feet and light of God. We are the vessels through which he shines to those in any form of darkness…whether that be hunger, disease, depression, addictions, etc. I think what Bill is really asking is where is the hands of God when this stuff is happening. I think the answer is the hands of God are the believers on earth. So guys Where are we?
That being said…I am proud to be a part of a beautiful community and pastoral staff that are reaching out and being the hands of God. I just know in my own wicked heart I can still grow and make a bigger hand print.
Peace and Blessings to all of you…I love you all very much.
Matt Gambrell
Marcus Beresford // December 2, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Bill Asks Why
Bill asks why God allows suffering.
This is often the seemingly legitimate complaint of the aetheist. I have noticed that they find it hard to accept any answer. The answer requires some explanation and in my experience, like Bill, they don’t want to think about it, perhaps because it is the painful truth.
What makes us different from the reat of creation is that we are God’s children, made in His image. God is love and as any parent wants to experience love from us. This cannot be forced, it must be voluntary, which means we have to chose to love Him, just as he chooses absolutely to love us. God has free will and so do we because we are in His image .
Adam and Eve chose to accept Satan’s lie, oppose God and come under Satan’s Dominion. God had nothing to do with it, if he interferes He takes away our free choice. We would become just the same as the rest of His creation.
The fact that He did not interfere is His grace to us, giving us a path of redemption, a path in which He could come down in the flesh as a man , Jesus, the second Adam, to restore our failure, and redeem us all. Even Jesus, as a man, had to choose God when he was tempted in the wilderness and in the garden of Gethsemane he again chose God’s way and accepted the cup.
God leaves the decision to accept and follow Jesus upto us.
Furthermore it would mean that God accepted evil and sin as His creation, which it is not. If he did that he would set up Satan as another God for all eternity. There would be no way to eliminate the evil of Satan’s world.
While God does not interfere it does not mean that He does not care or feel our suffering. On the contrary He fels every hurt to all mankind, He feels the suffering so intensely of every single person who has ever lived. Far from being a God of glory, He is lonely, suffering and grieving. That we do not feel it is because we are separated from God’s heart. He knows this and forgives us all, so please forgive James
Esau Kessler // December 2, 2008 at 4:47 pm
What great character and sincerity from Mike Huckabee.
Thank you for sharing this.
I always was irritated with Bill Maher, he seemed to pick on those who didn’t believe like him and was pompous about it.
When I heard about his new movie Riligulous, I thought “here we go, more venom.” but then it occurred to me that he might just find something different than what he expected. I am sure he found both.
I think I used to be the kind of religious person he expected because I had a lack of respect for those who did not believe like I did.
Things have changed.
Anonymous // December 2, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I have a co-worker that is really searching. At the same time she is searching she is really venomous to believers around her. She does not want to accept God as her answer. In praying for her God has asked me to be quiet, seems weird but ok… So I am quiet. I do not defend myself against her attacks, I simply listen. It hurts sometimes and I go home crying sometimes. One day I asked God if I STILL had to be quiet. His answer was ” I don’t want her to see you, I want her to see Me.” Well that answer was enough to keep my mouth shut for like 2 weeks.
Lucas // December 2, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I bet in private Bill Maher is not so congenial. Funny how Maher was unfamiliar with the true evangelical spirit (didn’t know Huckabee had that) that is out dealing with the Mahers of the world on a daily basis.
So many people live in a bubble (and I’m not talking about Christians). I’m not sorry to burst their bubble. (wink)
Marcus Beresford // December 4, 2008 at 6:10 pm
1) Do you have a heart to see the Bill Mahers of this world come to know Christ?
Judge not lest ye be judged.
Why do people become like him? Many reasons, ofeten through being hurt, sometimes through tragedy – “How can God allow this to happen?” We cannot judge them and inside each of them is the original mind that seeks God. Bill Maher, Karl Marx, Lenin, Ted Turner, Carl Sagan are all God’s children and my brothers. Therefore 2) all humankind can find Christ, even the Bill Mahers and the Mafia chiefs, the drug lords and the human traffickers.
3) How would you reach someone like Bill Maher? Prayers of repentance and forgiveness, humility, serving with true love, patience.
Liana // December 6, 2008 at 12:12 am
Of course I would love to see Bill Maher come to Christ! At least he stands for what he believes — he’s passionate about it. So was Saul, before he became Paul. We should all pray for Bill Maher to find his road to Damascus — what a powerhouse he would be! God would rather see all of us either hot or cold — grappling with the tough questions. At least we’d be grappling! In that place, He is more than ready to deal with us. What’s difficult are the ones who are not thinking at all — or worse, those who know the truth, but live as though it’s make-believe. I myself fall into that category at times. There may be just as much of a mission field among Christians — who remember the great commission but have forgotton the great commandment. Love your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we love God with all our heart, our heart begins to beat like His — and we naturally love people. And the second great commandment then falls in line — love your neighbor as yourself. That pretty much sums it up. With these in place, the great commission simply follows — but with power. If we truly kept the two greatest commandments, would there be a need to forgive James?
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