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Muscular Christians

By Alan Riley

Published: August 08, 2008

Just moments ago, we finished watching Steven Curtis Chapman and his family on CNN's Larry King Live. It was an incredible interview where God was honored, the Gospel was shared and the eternal question of why bad things happen to good people - what C.S. Lewis called "The Problem of Pain" - was addressed as well as I've seen it addressed in a long time.

For those of you who do not know, Steven Curtis Chapman's adopted daughter Maria Sue was killed this past May in a tragic accident in the driveway of their home. She was run over by an SUV driven by her brother Will. Such a tragic circumstance could rip even a solid family apart. Guilt, anger, blame, remorse, and grief could so easily have caused the Chapmans to doubt their faith, to blame each other, or to blame God.

Instead, tonight on Larry King Live America and the world saw a family whose faith is the real deal. A family who has been tested in the worst kind of way and emerged to say that God is good and that His grace is sufficient. We got a glimpse into the heart and soul of a high-profile Christian personality and saw clearly that he truly believes - and lives - every word that he has written, sung about and proclaimed for the last 21 years.

It was especially touching to hear how immediately after the accident their focus was not on their dead daughter but on their devastated son, Will. They told of physically wrapping their arms around Will and assuring him of their love, assuring him that they did not blame him for what happened. Emily, their newly-engaged daughter told King that the Bible said that God was near to the brokenhearted and that He had been faithful to that promise to them since this happened.

One story in particular broke my heart, yet warmed it at the same time. At the hospital after they learned that their daughter had indeed passed away, the family prayed together and asked God to show them something to assure them that Maria was OK, that she was safe in His arms. When they got back home, they found a picture that Maria had colored the morning of the accident. It was a flower with six petals.

One of the petals was shaded in blue. Beside the flower, Maria had written in huge letters S-E-E. They said Maria had never written that word before. As far as they knew, the five year-old Maria only knew how to spell her first name. The message of the picture was clear to the Chapmans. They had six children. One of them was now in heaven. "See," she was telling them, "I'm OK."

There is a great scene in the movie Chariots of Fire. Eric Liddel, the "Flying Scotsman," the great 1924 Olympic Champion and the Pride of Scotland felt that he needed to retire from running and spend his life in more serious and important pursuits like preaching and sharing his faith. Eric's pastor and another clergyman come to see him, seeking to persuade him to keep running for the glory of God. They wanted Eric to see that his notoriety, his fame, and the legions of young people who idolized him were opportunities to influence lives for the gospel that a simple preacher would not have.

The pastor looked at Eric earnestly and said, "What the world needs to see today, Eric, is muscular Christians."

What all of America saw tonight on CNN was muscular Christians. Champions. More than conquerors.

Overcomers.

Alan Riley is the Director of Web Operations for 316Networks.com and serves as the Managing Editor for 316Networks.com. He is an ordained Baptist minister and a regular contributor to online publications. He blogs at www.alansblog.com

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