Below is a powerful five-minute scene from an episode of the TV Series ER aptly titled Atonement (watch from about 0:50 to 3:20). It depicts a conversation between a dying man seeking real forgiveness from a real God and a woman trying to respond to this need with the typical inclusive/pluralistic placebos that permeate our culture today, especially regarding religious issues.

Some notable quotes include:

. . . all I’m hearing is some new age “God is love” one-size-fits-all crap.

. . . I want a real chaplain who believes in a real God and a real Hell.

. . . I need answers, and all your questions and your uncertainty are only making things worse.

. . . I need someone who will look me in the eye and tell me how to find forgiveness, because I am running out of time!

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“We have turned God from the one we fear, to the one we’d like to have coffee with” – Al Stewart
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If nothing else, this short scene serves to give hope to those of us who during our obedience to Christ, have never come into contact with someone who honestly recognizes their dire situation before a holy and just God and genuinely seeks the hope of forgiveness that we know is only available through Jesus Christ.

Exhibit A . . .

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For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more – Heb 8:12
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It stands to reason that there are many people out there who have similarly grown weary of the lies and the postmodern “God is whoever you want him to be” gobbledegook. If by God’s will you find yourself speaking to such a person, make sure you’re ready to tell them the good news. Forgiveness and redemption are possible, but only through Jesus Christ, who lived the life that you could not live, who died the death that you should have died and who rose in triumphant victory over Satan, sin and death, so that you can have a relationship with God that is no longer marred by sin.

[Post edited by Duane: 17th Feb 2010]

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