The Envelope from CBS News

The Envelope from CBS News

Thirty thousand E-mails hit CBS after Andy Rooney made his comments about Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ." It was the largest response in the history of the popular program to anything anybody had ever said. What prompted all of these missives was that Andy Rooney stated that he didn't intend to see the movie, but that he might consider seeing it if, as he said, "I need a good laugh."

The torrent of E-mail was to the point, and name-calling was part of it. A writer called Rooney a “spineless, low-life, bottom-dwelling, numbed skulled pathetic little weasel;" another said he was disoriented; one said he was a "trashy liberal." One writer called for him to be fined, fired, and asked that someone shave off his eyebrows. A more famous pundit reported that Rooney had lost it, and was just "getting old." The negative letters ran red with anger and hatred for Andy Rooney.

Would Jesus have a different response? In Luke 19, Jesus is on the way into Jerusalem, the capital city, the city of the great David, knowing that soon they'll reject Him. Luke writes of Jesus' dramatic reaction: "He saw the city and burst into tears."

In Luke 15, Jesus talks about a shepherd with such poor business sense that he leaves 99 livestock to go out over dangerous terrain for the sake of one. Sounds like Jesus, the Great Shepherd, doesn't it? In Romans 9, Paul's response to those of his own people who are rejecting Jesus isn't anger, but "great sorrow" and "unceasing grief." In Romans 10, Paul's response isn't lava-hot anger, but prayer triggered by a desire that his people be saved.

The negative letters to Andy Rooney weren't from prayerful, grieving Christians; they were believers gone mean and hateful. The letters only make it harder for the next person to tell Andy Rooney about Christ.

I wrote to Andy Rooney a personal letter, not an E-mail, in which I said:

“Dear Mr. Rooney,

I read with interest your comments on the movie, "The Passion of the Christ." I would hope that they misquoted you, as so often happens to those in the public eye. (I suppose it's one of those crosses of celebrity that some are called upon to bear.) But if they didn't misstate your words, I would like to address your comments to see if maybe you'd be willing to rethink them.

I said that I read your comments with "interest." I chose the wrong word, because I read your comments with grief, and it's that sadness that prompts this letter. When I read that you said that you'd see "The Passion" only if you needed a good laugh, I truly felt sad.

When I was in college, the culture wars were just beginning. When conservative leaders would issue their ideas about books they classified as "filthy" or "immoral trash," the common rebuttal was, "But have you read the book?" For the most part, this stopped the "discussion" and made the conservatives look ridiculous when they admitted they hadn't.

When you mentioned that you hadn't seen the movie, and didn't intend to waste the money, I recalled those earlier culture war arguments. If you would see the movie, it's my opinion that you wouldn't laugh. I don't know what your reaction would be, but I don't think it would be laughter. But even if it is, in fairness, I think you ought to see it, if for no other reason, just to repay those aforementioned conservative leaders who waded through those "trashy" books, just so they could say, "We read it." I would like for you to be able to say, "I've seen it."

One other thing: in the final analysis, it's not important what you or I think about Mel Gibson. It's not even important what you or I think about his or any other movie. But what we think of the passion of the Christ is of tremendous importance.

In that regard, I'm enclosing the primary source document (as historians say) that records the passion in detail along with it's meaning. It's short, easy to read; yet I've found its concepts to be both profound and life-changing. It's a book that didn't take me long to read, but I found it to be so challenging that I've devoted my life to studying it. I hope you'll be able to say, "I read it."

Yours truly,

Dr. Mike Halsey

P. S. Since you complained about the high price of New York movie tickets, I thought I'd pay your way to see "The Passion." Please find enclosed a money order for $10. (You'll have to buy your own popcorn.)

So, inside the letter, I enclosed a copy of the gospel of John (the “primary source document” to which I referred). I then put the letter on the Internet, including it as part of the message of the Good Friday service at County Line Church.

There was an immediate reaction from those who read the sermon and the letter. They wrote, wanting to know Andy Rooney's reaction. That reaction has come.

In the mailbox one day was an official-looking envelope from "CBS NEWS." Andy Rooney had responded, or at least somebody from CBS had. I saved the letter to be last opened, just to prolong the excitement. Inside I found a handwritten note that said: "Dr. Halsey, We are not allowed to receive gifts." In the envelope was the money order. Succinct. To the point. Case closed.

But is it? One thing wasn't returned--the gospel of John wasn't there with the money order in that envelope. That, too, was a "gift." He (or somebody) returned one gift, but not the other. Two gifts sent, one returned. That's odd.

What will happen to that copy of the gospel of John? Who knows? But what we do know is that there is an inherent power in it, far more power than the movie (Rom. 1:16).

In it is the power of a free gift (is there any other kind?) which God extends to everyone, Andy Rooney included. The power of the gospel, which, upon relying on Christ alone by faith alone, brings eternal life and forgiveness of sin, to anyone, anywhere, any time, free. You, me, and Andy Rooney.

Dr. Mike Halsey, Pastor

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