That Tom Cruise Video

“We’re the authorities on getting people off drugs. We’re the authorities on the mind. We’re the authorities on improving conditions. We are the way to happiness. We can bring peace and unite cultures. Now is the time.”

That’s from the latest, controversial video of Tom Cruise over the Internet, extolling the virtues of his Scientology faith. (Most websites that hosted the video pulled it out after the Church of Scientology issued them a notice of copyright infringement.) Someone wrote this about the video, “Let me put it this way: if Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah’s couch was an 8 on the scale of scary, this is a 10.” Cruise did not say those claims tongue in cheek. I watched the video myself. He is so enthusiastic or, as described by http://gawker.com, “with all the wide-eyed fervor that he brings to the promotion of a movie… Making the argument is an understatement. [He] is a complete fanatic.”

Well, Cruise is sincere… but wrong. Scientology is not the authority. Our Lord Jesus was, is and will always be the authority. He does not merely improve but rather He transforms lives. He is not only the way to happiness but, much more than that, “the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6, NIV)

But what caught my attention was what Cruise added, “It’s rough and tumble. It’s wild and woolly. It’s a blast. It really is. It is fun. Because [expletive deleted], there is nothing better than going out there and fighting the fight, and suddenly you see - boom! - things are better. I want to know that I’ve done everything I can do, every day... I do what I can. And I do it the way I do everything.” He may be wrong but how excited he is for his faith!

What about us? We have the truth. But are we that enthusiastic? Yes, Cruise was called a fanatic. But he does not care a bit. I’m not saying that we become “wide-eyed” fanatics. But we are called to proclaim Jesus. That’s more than enough to be passionate… to stake our reputation or give our lives for.

Brethren, now is the time!

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