Agree to Disagree

This is an excerpt from the novel Providence: Leading of the Spirit:

The female host greeted Lilia and Jim, “Thank you for being with us today. I have to say that the two of you make an astonishing-looking couple.”

Lilia replied sweetly, “Thank you. I think it’s because of the contrast in our coloring.”

“Oh believe me, it’s more than that!” the female host exclaimed brightly. “Individually, you are extremely handsome people.” Jim colored pink from the neck up, and the interviewer apologized, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you, Jim.” Jim smiled nicely and nodded at her graciously.

The female host said, “Congratulations on the Country Music Awards, Lilia and Jim. Your performance on the program scintillated with love, and some other mysterious element that I can’t quite put my finger on. It was reported that families across America, and the world were riveted to their televisions during your performance.”

Lilia looked at Jim for a response because she didn’t want to appear too proud.

He smiled and said in his deep, gravelly baritone, “I didn’t want to do it, but Lilia talked me into it, as she often does.” He hugged her slightly with the arm that rested on the back of the sofa.

The female host laughed, and said, “Yes, we’ve heard that she’s quite the precocious young woman.”

“You’ve got that right.” Jim chuckled and smiled at Lilia.

The female host added, “Lilia, you received four awards at the Country Music Awards. That’s quite an accomplishment: Best Music Video, Best Album, Best Female Vocalist, and Entertainer of the Year. Along with that, your ‘Only Him’ album has sold over ten million copies. What do you think of that Lilia?”

“I don’t think about it. I leave everything in God’s hands,” she replied humbly.

“I understand that you have many ministries, Lilia. What do you plan to do with the proceeds from your album?” The female host inquired pointedly.

Lilia smiled sweetly and replied, “My portion of the proceeds is designated for my orphanage in Uganda, Africa, and the outreach ice-skating rink that we’re currently building in Kauai, along with a few other ministries.”

“One of your bodyguards told me that you dedicate any extra time to ministering to the homeless people,” revealed the female host unexpectedly as she focused her full attention on Lilia.

Jim took Lilia’s hand in both of his, glanced at Lilia for approval, and then fielded the question for Lilia. “Lilia believes that if everyone did their part to help the homeless, we wouldn’t have any homeless people in America.” Lilia smiled up at Jim and nodded her head in agreement.

“It’s obvious that you care for each other very much. What does the future hold for the two of you?” the female host asked impertinently.

Jim peered at Lilia, and she eyed Jim demurely, then she turned and said to the interviewer, “I plan to marry Jim someday when the time is right.” Jim lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. The female host smiled at the revelation and lifted one eyebrow to the camera.

“Let’s talk about a sensitive subject, your beliefs. Do you honestly believe that Christians are the only people blessed by God?” She inquired as she put Lilia on the spot on national television.

Lilia didn’t hesitate with her answer. She replied with dignified aplomb. “God wants to bless everyone. The question is: Are we ready to receive the blessings that God wants to give us?”

“I happen to be Jewish. Does your belief mean that Abraham, the father of many nations, will not receive God’s blessing?” The female host drilled her question at Lilia, and tried to get Lilia to tip her hand, but Lilia had prayed about it beforehand, and she felt prepared.

Lilia replied in a sweet but confident voice. “Abraham found favor with God by faith alone, an inner belief and complete trust in God. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. That promise became truth in Jesus Christ, who was from Abraham’s bloodline. Abraham never doubted because he trusted God’s promise of a Messiah. Everyone who believes as Abraham believed is a child of God. God will always provide righteousness to those who believe.” Lilia smiled winningly with empathetic eyes at the female host.

The female host fired her missile in a straight line to Lilia and attempted to rattle her, “What will happen to the Jewish people who believe in God, but not in Christ?”

Jim gazed confidently at Lilia as she replied in an even and sincere tone, “The Jewish people are God’s chosen people. If Abraham’s line of descendants were a tree, the Jewish people would be the natural branches. Some Jewish people are without faith, and therefore, some of the Jewish branches are broken off from the tree. In their place, God grafted some Gentiles into the spot of the broken branches so that both the Jews and Gentiles could share the nourishment of the tree. God doesn’t offer salvation based on the law, traditions, culture, or heritage. Instead, God offers salvation based on faith. Because Jesus is the most complete revelation of God, I have faith in Him. If God was willing to do something so contrary to nature by grafting a Gentile into his cultivated tree, he will be much more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.” Lilia smiled humbly at the female host and waited politely for her response. Jim waited for the host’s response too.

“I don’t necessarily agree with you,” the host pleasantly replied to Lilia, and lifted a brow in question at Lilia.

“I understand,” said Lilia as she countered pleasingly, “but it’s nice that a Jew and a Christian can sit down and discuss it in an open forum rather than persecuting each other.”

“You are a very well-spoken young woman,” the female host replied to Lilia. “I can honestly see why you are successful at so many ministries.”

“Thank you,” Lilia replied engagingly and smiled at her pleasantly.

“You heard it here first folks, the remarkable Lilia Faith Christian, and her bodyguard boyfriend, James Stewart Rose,” said the female host as she reached over and cordially shook Jim and Lilia’s hands. “Thank you for being with us today,” she said and smiled at them. Lilia and Jim both smiled back at her nicely, and the interview ended.