What's your favourite commandment?
Another priceless moment of TV history courtesy of YouTube. I had no idea that Woody Allen once interviewed Billy Graham. His opening question: "What's your favourite commandment?" There follows a good-humoured contest of wits. I'd say the result is a draw -- with Graham agreeing to go to see one of Allen's films if he agrees to come to a tent revival meeting. I wonder if they ever managed to keep those appointments. Anyone know?
Comments
You say it's a draw, Will. I'm not so sure! I'd say Billy Graham JUST got the better of Woody in this one. A brilliant bit of TV history, as you say. Thanks for this.
I'd no idea Dr Graham was such a wit in his early days. When was this first broadcast?
I think Woody inches ahead in the last few minutes. Graham was good but he's no standup.
Graham gets my vote. Brilliant communicator.
From Exodus 20:2-14
"4You shall not make for yourself an image, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
But in Deuteronomy 5:6-18 the same commandment is expressed as;
"8You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
If you read the Exodus version explicity (literally), anyone who has ever so much as drawn a stick figure of a man in the dirt with a tree branch or molded a lump of clay into a recognizable shape is going to hell because in Exodus it also says "I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments."
So not only are they going to hell but so are their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren for their transgressions. Punishment of the innocent, that's also my favorite. So much for justice. I think most believers prefer the Deuteronomy version. Why not ask the "literalists" like Wilder-Smith or Andy McIntosh if those words in Exodus don't mean exactly what they say?
Catholic teaching also prefers selecting from column B however;
"Catholic teaching distinguishes between dulia—paying honor to God through contemplation of objects such as paintings and statues—and latria—adoration directed to God alone. (See Catechism 2084-2141.)"
Presumably Anglican teaching is about the same. All however agree that punishment down to the third and fourth generation is a fact. Does Christian teaching negate that?
So;
"5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. "
OK, your grandfather was a sinner who rejected god by bowing down and worshiping craven idols but your father who was punished for his father's sins kept the commandments and obeyed god anyway. What does god do to you, punish you too for being within four generations of your sinning grandfather or show you steadfast love for being within a thousand generations of your obedient father? Don't you just love these absurd contradictions in logic that you find all over the place in the Bible? You can justify anything you want with them by citing them selectively.
By the way, the quotes are from Wikipedia;
Although I disagree with Graham on most things, he comes across here as quite a relaxed and easy going guy. I didnt think I would enjoy that as much as I did. I think what made the difference is that Graham didnt get all hot and bothered by Allens statements, he took them well and came back with his own quips! Great TV!