A Snap-Shot of Human Need on the Evening News

Erik Raymond —  June 18, 2012

This is a very interesting video. See if you can list the various problems from the video and how the gospel answers them. Also note that you can even sound self-righteous while sounding condescending while ostensibly serving other people.

As to the fact that he says he is from another planet, well, that may be an entirely different category.

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Erik Raymond

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Erik has been writing at Ordinary Pastor since 2006. He lives in Omaha with his wife and kids while pastoring at Emmaus Bible Church. Follow regular updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/erikraymond

2 responses to A Snap-Shot of Human Need on the Evening News

  1. Ummmm…well…uhh…Hmm. First of all, he doesn’t really believe he is from Mars. He’s just trying to get a reaction from the reporter.

    That said, have you ever seen a lonelier person than this guy? Deeply, tragically, poisonously alone. Doing things for others (old guys, white guys, black guys, etc.) is probably all about personal empowerment–he helps people with their wood so that he can say that he helps people with their wood. Thus the condescension and the self-righteousness in his tone. It is literally him against the world.

    This is probably a guy whose father left when he was young, and who was raised by a mother who didn’t know how to raise him alone. He probably hates her because she was unable (of course) to offer him the answer to manhood. And when she couldn’t, he blamed her for it. He doesn’t want to hate her. But she was the only one around to receive the blow.

    This guy needs the gospel FROM A FRIEND. And he has none. Unbelievably tragic.

  2. Interesting catch, Erik, a modern day parable. I see the wood as either sin and/or life’s worries/cares/problems. Note how he removes other’s wood, only to pile it up in his own yard. When we try to help others using our own power (our truck, our sweat, our yard), it’s often more of a mess, complicating things (confusing doctrines, bewildering #s of demoninations). Only God thru Christ offers the solution to sin, we don’t. Curious of your take as well.