Is Russel Brand a Born Again Christian
Jesus'southward plea to Russell Brand
The comedian/commentator Russell Brand is a stimulating and fascinating cultural icon. This calendar week I was then moved by one of his vlogs that I sent him the post-obit alphabetic character:
Beloved Russell,
Forgive the informality but I figured you're non i to stand up on formality. And forgive the format – only I don't know how else to get to yous. I assume y'all get thousands of pieces of fan mail, offers and pleas every week then why would this one go to you? Hence the more than public format.
I also figured that you are very open about the nearly deep and personal things in public, and then you wouldn't heed as I follow conform – if y'all ever read this.
In a way, this is a bit of a fan post. Ever since my son came to me years ago and pleaded with me to watch your interview with Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight, I take been a fan. I have to confess at the fourth dimension I was a wee bit prejudiced. All I knew about you was largely tabloid and mostly involved some scandal nearly Andrews Sachs, the actor who played Manuel in Fawlty Towers – I'k sure you remember that particular farce!
I am so glad I overcame my prejudice and listened to you, not but then simply many times since on everything from God to drugs. It astounded me to hear how you think, the depth of your feelings and just the sheer luminescence of your analysis. And yet there was also something more – a frustration that you lot seemed to come and so close to the truth and nevertheless remain so far. But well-nigh of all a desire for you to come to know the ane who claimed he is the truth – Jesus Christ.
This hit me forcefully recently – not only with your latest discussion with Ricky Gervais, or your comments on Covid, but that astonishing clip when y'all asked why everyone is googling prayer. Myself and my friend Steve take a kitchen tabular array conversation and y'all featured heavily in the last i.
It got me to thinking about what Jesus might have to say most your comments. I'chiliad not challenge to have a hotline to Christ, every bit though he is directly telling me what to say to yous - although in i sense every Christian has that because he has left united states of america his words, words which he says will never laissez passer away even though heaven and globe pass abroad. Powerful words!
So looking at the four gospels here is what Christ says nearly your comments:
You are right to talk about how easily we go addicted to the fabric things of this world. Jesus says it won't do y'all any skillful to take all the riches in the world and yet miss out on the ane thing necessary.
He knows that we are trapped past our addictions (what the Bible calls idolatries), lies, deceits, greed, self-absorption, simulated religion and fear of death. He said that he came to fix us free from the systems of this world too equally our personal sins.
You say that the holy is "the presence of the limitless that is always nowadays by his nature...." In that location is truth in that. God is omnipresent. But there is more to holiness than that. God is pure – morally. He cannot even look upon evil. There is a deep dazzler in holiness. Holiness is not a miserable religious person looking down on everyone else – but what the Bible calls the 'beauty of the Lord our God'. Almost of all nosotros come across that dazzler in the person of Christ who is 'the altogether lovely one'. To know him is to know ultimate love, truth and beauty.
There are lots of things that we could phone call a sacred experience – I tin can think of several – from walking in the Scottish mountains, to listening to Madame Butterfly at Sydney Opera House, from seeing my newborn son's face to watching a godly old human being leave this world. But the ultimate sacred experience – the ultimate coming into the presence of God – is through coming to know, dearest and serve Jesus Christ.
That's why when you talk almost prayer, I can agree with and so much and all the same I still want to ask: who are you praying to? Prayer in and of itself is not a good thing. It is the 1 to whom nosotros pray who is skilful – and who takes our prayers like incense and uses them to modify our world. I was seriously sick and near died in 2011. It was a cathartic feel in many means. When I eventually got out of hospital there were hundreds of cards waiting for me. The one that amused me most was the one from a couple of atheists which simply said 'we are praying for you' – to which my firsthand response was 'to whom?'!
And that is my response to yous. Yous talk about prayer powerfully and beautifully – but who are you praying to? I said at the beginning about offers and pleas. I was going to say that this is not what this letter is well-nigh. And yet in a way information technology is. Christ gives us an astonishing offer. He says that we can know the Male parent; he says that we tin have his Spirit; he offers us new life – a new nascency. He offers us forgiveness, grace, mercy, dear and eternal life. He says that nosotros tin can accept immediate access to the very throne of God – without the need for religious intermediaries or systems. Is in that location a better offer in the world?
And he pleads. He really cares. He stood looking over Jerusalem weeping considering he knew that the people would not accept his offer of peace. He cried with sorrow and rage at the grave of his friend Lazarus considering of his hatred of death. He pleaded with Peter and the disciples to follow him. And he does the same to us. To you.
Smart as you are; influential as you are; you can't arrive on your own. I think you know that. And y'all don't need religion or some human guru. And I'm well enlightened you know that no political or economic organization will bring y'all salvation. Only the truth can set up you costless.
There is so much more merely I had meliorate terminate before this turns into a longer epistle than the Campaigner Paul wrote! Merely let me leave you with this.
You lot recognise the spiritual – Jesus says that his words are spirit and life. He says that he will give u.s. his Holy Spirit. You talk about the need to rethink and have our minds renewed. You are so spot on – existent Christianity is non someone telling you what to remember but rather having your mind renewed by the Holy Spirit.
You desire to know how to pray together. Jesus answers when you pray 'our Male parent in sky' and there follows the Lord's prayer.
You said that you lot were asking God to evidence you. In the midst of all the dissonance. I call up he is. You seem a somewhat restless person – possibly that is where you go so much energy and effervescence? But ultimately nosotros all need rest. As St Augustine said of God: we were made for You, and our hearts are restless until they discover their rest in You.
Jesus said, "come to me, all you who are weary and I will give you rest."
Russell, is information technology not most time you answered his plea? O Lamb of God I come....
May the Lord richly bless you and depict you to himself.
Your mitigated fan and wannabe blood brother,
David
David Robertson is director of Third Infinite in Sydney and blogs at www.theweeflea.com
Source: https://www.christiantoday.com/article/jesuss-plea-to-russell-brand/134872.htm
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