I, MY, MINE

Written by Christopher Mentzer

“I am a Christian. I am a student of all religions. And I respect all people and all paths.”

“I don’t necessarily believe in organized religion. I love my God, my higher power, but it is mine and mine alone, and I create my connection, and I decide how my connection is going to be,” he added.

Will Smith ~Actor

In the above quote it appears that Mr. Smith is a very conceited individual.  The whole time he was speaking he was referring to himself.  But I don’t really think he is conceited but rather annoyed by the question and, rather than take time to share his belief, chose to reply “No Comment” in a roundabout sort of way.  All the same let’s look at his statement and break it down.

1)      “I am a Christian”. There are millions of people, in the United States alone, who profess to be a Christian.  This covers everyone from denominations to those who simply say, “I believe in God.”  I feel Mr. Smith fits into this category.

2)      “I am a student of all religions”.  If this statement is true, then Mr. Smith can’t be a Christian as there is only one faith of God (Eph. 4:5).

3)      “And I respect all people and all paths.”  Again, if this is true, then Mr. Smith is not a Christian as the bible plainly states, “and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them.” Mr. Smith’s reply is simply that of the ‘Unity in Diversity’ doctrine.  He doesn’t want to offend anyone (especially people who go to see his movies).

4)      “I don’t necessarily believe in organized religion.” What a shame!  The first church establish in the Book of Acts was, indeed, organized.  And the writer of Hebrews supports this in Heb. 10: 24-25, “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; 25. not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting `one another'; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.” “Forsake the assembling together” and “the day drawing nigh” shows that there was a specific day and time that Christians met for worship.

5)      The last part of the quote, which I won’t restate as it is too lengthy, is part of the “Accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior” mode.  Mr. Smith considers it none of our business of what he believes.  Again this is a shame as the scriptures plainly teach in Rom. 10: 9, “because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus `as' Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

It is apparent that Mr. Smith is not comfortable in discussing religion.  The apostle Paul wrote in Rom. 1: 16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”  Jesus said in Matt. 10: 32, “Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven.”

As popular as Mr. Smith is as far as being a Hollywood celebrity, he should step up to the plate and proudly proclaim his beliefs!  Otherwise simply say, “No Comment!”  We should not be ashamed of the gospel or the name of Jesus Christ for, as Paul stated, it is what saves us.