Feel-Good Pluralism dribbles the ball off their foot

This is a great video and one I will probably return to watch on occasion. It is from an episode of “E.R.”  The dying man is looking for answers to that which plagues his conscience. However, instead he is given answers by a hospital chaplain that cater to his flesh. The clichés that make up water cooler discussions and many Sunday am sermons do not carry the day when someone is staring down the barrel of divine wrath and wrestling with a ravished conscience.

There is an answer to his specific question, and by the grace of God we know it and may lovingly, fervently, and faithfully proclaim it.

(ht.travis.)

Possibly Related posts:

1. A Gutsy Grandma and her Savior
2. John MacArthur on Moralism
3. CJ Maheney on ‘The Cup’
4. Why I Hate Religion
5. Emergent PBS Documentary

10 Responses to “Feel-Good Pluralism dribbles the ball off their foot”

1. kschaub says:

   February 19, 2008 at 6:39 pm

   I actually watched this the night it first aired. It was the first time I’ve watched ER since I was in high school. Even though they try to make you feel sorry for the chaplain, the old man makes a strikingly a-matter-of-fact point. That made me smile.
2. The Fudge says:

   February 19, 2008 at 7:37 pm

   You know, that totally irritates me. I watched this episode when it was on originally and I actually cheered loudly at the end of this scene. i don’t even need to watch the youtube video, just a look at the still shot is enough. What was really odd was that despite an attempt to make the character look angry because of his coming death, he still stood up as sympathetic. It was awesome.
3. tom harvey says:

   February 20, 2008 at 6:58 am

   i kind of brushed this post off for the past couple days.
   truth be told…i don’t watch tv anymore and i am happy to have it out of my house! so tv clips tend to not catch my attention. but i watched this clip today and it really is a powerful rebuke to the current
   church…this is how the world views us!
   it brought to my mind a point that i try to make with some of my friends. that point is that the testimony of real life proves their beliefs to be false.
   this is easy to do with my health wealth properity friends…but a little more difficult with those who are represented by the woman in this clip…and “she” is EVERWHERE!
   your quote:
   “The clichés that make up water cooler discussions and many Sunday am sermons do not carry the day when someone is staring down the barrel of divine wrath and wrestling with a ravished conscience”
   is awesome…
   too bad Paul Washer wasn’t available to speak with this patient! that would be television worth watching!
4. Joshua says:

   February 20, 2008 at 11:41 am

   http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=351

   actually was just talking about this and they said it best:

   How many real dying people are given this same worthless pap while their souls are on the brink of eternity?

   BTW on a side note, Erik, I was wondering what your take is on a story I mentioned at:

   http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=35041
5. Tyler says:

   February 20, 2008 at 1:24 pm

   As the other said, I saw this with my wife when it originally aired. ER is full of political undertones, but this was a stark and refreshing contrast. Isn’t it fun to see God in His providence use pagans to communicate some truths even through media such as nighttime television?
6. erik says:

   February 20, 2008 at 2:49 pm

   Fudge, what is irritating about this? I agree on the effect of his looming death…interesting.

   Joshua: I think the article is…interesting. I’m glad he is telling single people not to fornicate and married people to have sex. Why the time limit? Does everything have to be 30 days? Not sure the full context of what he is doing. I’m sure there could be some complications for the married people, and without clarification, could feel like they are not godly…again, more context would perhaps shed light.
7. Toby says:

   February 20, 2008 at 2:56 pm

   This is a great clip. As a doc I have seen one dying unbeliever who wanted forgiveness. He confessed his sins and believed and is with the Lord now. The rest want what she was selling. Believers and the best to care for. To watch as a friend is ushered out of this life to be with the Lord is great joy.
8. erik says:

   February 20, 2008 at 4:13 pm

   Toby, thanks for the comment. What a great privilege that was to be a part of that, it is amazing to see that even in the shadow of death, the heart is cling to prominence.
9. Can I be forgiven? « CCBC Young Adult Ministry says:

   February 21, 2008 at 9:44 am

   [...] that His Word provides us with hope and answers to life’s difficult questions.  The link is:http://www.irishcalvinist.com/?p=1194 [...]
10. I’m an Over-Ripe Watermelon Head « .::Every Thought Captive::. says:

    February 26, 2008 at 11:07 am

    [...] seen so many competing ideologies vying for attention. And yet, beneath all the clamor and chaos, our world is starved for truth. …My friend’s father loves to pose thought-provoking questions. As we’re discussing [...]