Wisdom from the A-Team?

Took some time on July 4th to catch up on some movies I've wanted to watch.  Finally sat down and watched the new A-Team movie.  As a youngster, I loved, I mean loved, the t.v. show.  I was hoping they'd be true to the show in how they handled things.  I am happy to report: they were.

But there was one fascinating aspect of the show which caught my attention.

One of the members: B.A. Barakus has a change of heart while he is in prison.  He reads a book on non-violence.  When the team is finally reunited, B.A. talks to Hannibal Smith about his desire to become a man of peace instead of violence.

B.A. quotes Gandhi, "I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary."

B.A. asks Hannibal about the quotation.

Hannibal replies, "Gandhi.  'It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of nonviolence to cover impotence.'  Do you know who said that?"

B.A. shakes his head.

Hannibal answers, "Gandhi."

I had to look it up after I heard it.  You know how Hollywood takes artistic license with things.

Sure enough.  It's a solid quote.

Never heard it before.  None of my professors in college or seminary who raved about Gandhi ever brought this one to attention.

Call it selective quoting if you choose.

Just like many of us do with Scripture.  We'll selectively quote those items we think bolster our form of Christianity.  Never mind those pesky ones that seemingly contradict what we want to put forth.

God isn't wrathful.  God is a God of love.

Tell that to Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5).

You have to repent in order to be forgiven.

Tell that to the Prodigal Son's Father who runs to him before he even gets a chance to apologize.

God wants us to be wealthy.

Tell that to Jesus when He tells His followers to give up their possessions.

God wants everyone to share equally in what they have.

Tell that to Jesus when He tells the parable of the talents.

We like being selective.  How easy it is to put our own vision upon Jesus, upon Christianity, upon Gandhi.

How hard it is to allow them to instruct us in total.