Thinking and Driving

I love my Ipod.  It is an absolutely crucial part of my life that I could never do without.  But my use for the Ipod is different than most others.  I do listen to music while running at my local gym, but that is not my primary use for it.  I use my Ipod for listening to podcasts. 
 
For those of you who may not know a podcast is a weekly program that is downloaded to your ipod each week. You can subscribe to podcasts that deal with news, sports, leadership, religion, literature, or a number of other subjects.  Since I live in a suburb on the outskirts of Melbourne, a lot of time is spent driving during the week. And most of the time I listen to podcasts while doing so.
 
Those files on my Ipod make me laugh, smile, cry, or shake my head in frustration.  But more than anything else they make me think.  I personally believe that one of the greatest habits a Believer should have today is the ability to think.  And sadly this characteristic is rarely seen.  To me this means being able to think through, defend, and discuss your beliefs about a subject.  I don’t believe that this is lacking because most Christians are lazy or ignorant.  Instead it is because we do not challenge our way of thinking.
 
If you look at the podcasts I have downloaded on my Ipod you may be surprised by what you see there.  I have the preaching of man who claimed that religion is the worst of corruptions.[1]  I listen to a group of people who feel the Churches job is to redeem the culture that we are in.  Therefore helping cure social problems becomes more important than the Great Comission.  I used to listen to a minister who feels that there is no literal Heaven or Hell.  Instead he believes that places like war torn Countries are Hell.  And by helping them with their physical needs we in turn create Heaven.[2]
 
I listen to other episodes that loudly preach the ecumenical Gospel.  In other words, it shouldn’t matter what kind of beliefs that two people have about God.  As long as they both love Jesus those individuals should worship together.  Two weeks ago I heard a pastor state that he was not a preacher or an administrator.  Instead he was a dreamer.  By saying this he was giving the message that preaching or doing the day to day work in a church is unimportant.  Last Sunday I listened to an interview done with a young man serving God in poor countries.  He believes that embracing one another regardless off beliefs about God leads us all closer to Christ. 
 
Do I agree with what I hear in these podcasts?  No I do not!  I want to make crystal clear that I in no way agree with ANYTHING that I have put in this article!  But I am very grateful for those podcasts.  Because they made me think about my own personal beliefs.  They have also made me defend those beliefs, and find flaws in the arguments of others.  I have even learned a few things that can be used in ministry (within the context of correct doctrine).  I have driven many kilometers since my arrival in Australia.  And I have spent many of them developing the important habit of thinking.
 


[1] Erwin McManus, Soul Cravings, entry 10, par.8, ln.3
[2] Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis, pg.147, par.2, ln.1