The Blasphemy Challenge

My buddy (current intern and former NMC student) Chad Loucks shot me an e-mail about this topic this morning. I've been aware and burdened over it for a few weeks now.

The Blasphemy Challenge (click to see youtube video explaining) has gotten big response on youtube, and quite a bit of coverage. In fact, here is a Nightline story on it.




Now, this is me thinking out loud, but here's a few of the thoughts I've had concerning this whole thing:

• I find it interesting that much of what we see and read says that atheism is virtually non-existent... that most students will start with the basic assumption of something supernatural or greater than themselves existing.
• I echo the sentiments of the Episcopalian minister in the Nightline piece who said that this is, at its core, a denial of hope.
• Have they truly "blasphemed the Holy Spirit" in these videos????
  
• Chad asked in his e-mail, "What's spirit is in this?" Great question. As I first become aware of this whole thing, the Holy Spirit began to immediately remind me that there is so much more than meets the eye in this world. Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy, and I can't forget it.
• It's interesting how this type of video movement can be so power packed when it is against faith. I don't think a similar video campaign saying "I accept the existence of the Holy Spirit, etc." would have near the effect and coverage.

On that last point, I'm reminded that we, as Christ Followers, have to be smokin' what we're dealing. The response of the church to this should not unnecessarily be to launch an opposite Youtube campaign, but instead to show the fruit and evidence of the existence of the Holy Spirit in our actions... how we live, who we live for, how we handle our shortcomings, how we love... that's the combat to this thing, and more importantly combat the spirit of this world and this age.

By the way, at some point, we're going to look at and discuss some of these videos for on a Wednesday Night.