Tuesday, October 14, 2003

HERETIC. Just as we have been watching the conservative Episcopalians meet in Dallas to stand for the faith, an issue has popped up right here in Fort Worth. Dr. R. Scott Colglazier is a pastor of an upscale church here in Cowtown known as University Christian Church, part of the tiny Disciples of Christ denomination. If you say UCC in Fort Worth, everyone knows that means the church on the edge of the TCU campus attended by lots of politicos, lawyers, and other well off folks.

Dr. Colglazier now has a column in the Saturday Star Telegram in the religious section. One of his latest columns rather condescendingly bashes the new Mel Gibson movie. His first criticism is that the movie "slavishly" follows the Gospels. Now, in Southern Baptist circles, that is the only way you could make the movie and avoid controversy. It would be a compliment. But, you see, Dr. C did not mean it as a compliment, because Dr. C doesn't believe in the reliability of the Gospels.

It is shame that week after week, people will open the Startlegram and read a column by this guy. Those who are ignorant of theological matters may well write off Christianity when the read a preacher who says the Gospels aren't reliable. Those who are weak in faith will stumble.

Jesus said if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

Dr. Colglazier went on to call Mel Gibson a "fundamentalist Catholic". Doesn't that drip with liberal, intellectual snobbery and condescension? I don't think I've ever heard a Catholic called a fundamentalist before. I guess anyone who believes in the Bible is a fundamentalist to a liberal theologian. But, if Mel is a fundamentalist because he believes in the Bible, what does that make Scott who does not believe in the Bible? A heretic?

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