What I Learned Being Interviewed by Meredith Vieira on the Today Show
Well, this has been a pretty exciting week. Not only was it my first-ever visit to New York City and my first appearance on national television, it was also a time of learning a lot of great, real-life lessons.
The first one was what I learned from Meredith Vieira, the woman who took the place of Katie Couric on the Today Show. Meredith came to popularity on The View. Although I don’t watch The View, I have seen brief clips of it, and I didn’t have a real positive opinion of Meredith and somewhat of a fear that I might be set up. We all know how easy it is when you get in front of a microphone and camera to say really stupid things, particularly when it comes to religion and faith.
When we all got in the room, Meredith explained that the reason for this panel discussion arose from the fact that there were two women on The View who were Christians and seemed to always be talking together and spending time together to the exclusion of the others. When they finally confronted each other over this, the two Christian women said they felt they had been excluded and put down because of their faith, while the other women explained that they felt that because they were Christians that they gave off an air of arrogance and superiority. When the fact was neither side was actually true, which illustrates the point all over again that if we would stop talking at each other and about each other and start talking to each other and with each other we would all get a lot more accomplished and find we have far more in common than we first thought.
What I found in Ms. Vieira was an honest, open person really in search of the truth. She has real questions for which she is seeking answers. The truth is, the vast majority of people out there who are still struggling with faith are just like Ms. Vieira. They have questions for which they are searching for answers. And those of us who claim the hope of Jesus Christ and all the promises of the Gospel have been admonished to be able to give an answer for the hope that we have, but to do it with respect and gentleness.
What started out being thirty minutes turned into about an hour and forty-minute heated discussion back and forth. When you’re sitting in a room with an avowed atheist, you realize that this is a person who has a very specific agenda. We’ll talk more about that later. What I also found is this: We often spend way too much of my time, brain power, and energy worrying about the atheist or the agnostic or someone who is antagonistic. We’re trying to win them over by proving them wrong. The truth of the matter is there isn’t enough evidence that convinces a person against their will. Mr. Harris is not open to change his position. He is an avowed atheist. That’s his religion and he is as zealous in the promotion of it as those of us who are followers of Jesus are zealous about proclaiming the good news of the Gospel.
What we fail to realize is too much of our time is spent dealing with those who are already converted to our own view and ignoring those who are honestly seeking. We avoid their questions because we are afraid they won’t like our answers. The truth of the matter is most people just want to hear the story of redemption from someone who is a satisfied customer. We need more dialogue and conversation to each other face-to-face. We need to be able to affirm the things we know and experience, and agree to disagree on the things that haven’t been and won’t be settled this side of Heaven.
What did I learn on the Today Show by being interviewed? I learned that as a follower of Jesus Christ, I’m responsible for the words I use. We need far less of the war-like metaphors and analogies of the war of worlds or clash of cultures and more of an honest conversation over dinner, a cup of coffee, or a backyard fence in the context of community where our search is for truth. One of the things I came away again thankful to God for, is that as a follower of Jesus Christ I need not be afraid of the truth wherever I find it. I embrace it. The truth is always the truth.
I believe an honest person seeking with an open heart will ultimately wind up with Jesus. For He is the One Who said that He is the way, the truth, and the life; that no man comes unto the Father but by Him. These are not my words, and not my religion. This is the truth. And for me it has changed my life forever.
Next time I’ll talk about what I learned from Sam Harris, the famous atheist.
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