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| The Colbert Report | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Jimmy Cliff | ||||
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I love Stephen Colbert! His retort of “I’ll take faith and grace” to Jimmy Cliff’s desire to be judged on the scorecard of truth and facts is so perfect I almost can’t stand it. This interview brings to mind Jesus’ words: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
Jimmy Cliff has decided to “graduate” from religion and wants to be assessed on truth and facts. Well, what are the facts? What is the truth? When the requirements are things like, “Honor your father and mother” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” and “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” the truth seems to be that we’re not doing so well. The facts are that we’re coming up a little short. Or…um…a lot short.
To be judged on the scorecard of truth and facts is a hard yoke and a heavy burden. Jesus must, then, be talking about something else. And luckily, he is. Truth and facts lead to a heavy burden because it involves a righteousness required. Jesus says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light because he’s talking about a righteousness given. He’s talking about faith and grace. Truth and facts mean we’re judged on our own merits, or lack thereof. Faith and grace mean that we’re judged on Jesus’ merits, and judged righteous.
May we always rely on a righteousness that is given and never fear a righteousness that is required. And may we never EVER “graduate” from a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light.
COMMENTS
5 responses to “Jimmy Cliff’s Heavy Burden”
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That's fine and all, but I think what he really meant was that religion isn't built on truth and facts–that's why he's "graduated" from it. Thus he probably wouldn't accept your version of God's scorecard to begin with; hence the question of whether we need grace is moot.
It's fine to make a point however you want, but don't ignore what the man is actually saying. (Colbert only does so for comedic effect.)
While it's completely true that my desire is to make my point, Jimmy Cliff's actual theology aside, Cliff's truth and facts comment WAS in response to a question about what scorecard he wants to be judged by. It was a comedic question on a comedy show, to be sure, but was certainly framed in a "justification by…" sort of way. Also relatively safe to assume that a "graduate" of religion is a subscriber to something like cosmic karma ("I just try to be a good person")…which is another name for the "righteousness required" that I refer to.
Any version of the "truth and facts" that doesn't result in "we need grace" lacks truthiness.
The harder they come, the harder they fall……what I know!
😀
God ask what is your religion? Jimmy replies truth and facts ,God any of you religions have a problem with that. they say'' no problem''