I received this story from a friend I go to church with. I hope you enjoy it as much I did.
At the University of Chicago Divinity School each year they have what is called "Baptist Day." On this day the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center.
One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich who said that the resurrection of Jesus was false. He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection, the religious tradition of the church was groundless because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact never rose from the dead in any literal sense.
He then asked if there were any questions. An older preacher with a head of white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium. Docta Tillich, I got one question, he said. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it. Docta Tillich...My question is a simple question...Now, I ain't never read them books you read and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek. He finished the apple. All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate, was it bitter or sweet?
Dr Tillich paused for a moment and answered in scholarly fashion: I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple.
The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into the paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, Neither have you tasted my Jesus.
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
Have you tasted Jesus?
At the University of Chicago Divinity School each year they have what is called "Baptist Day." On this day the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center.
One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich who said that the resurrection of Jesus was false. He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection, the religious tradition of the church was groundless because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact never rose from the dead in any literal sense.
He then asked if there were any questions. An older preacher with a head of white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium. Docta Tillich, I got one question, he said. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it. Docta Tillich...My question is a simple question...Now, I ain't never read them books you read and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek. He finished the apple. All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate, was it bitter or sweet?
Dr Tillich paused for a moment and answered in scholarly fashion: I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple.
The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into the paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, Neither have you tasted my Jesus.
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
Have you tasted Jesus?
Concerning your link about the Paul Tillich story and "Taste my Jesus", I thought I would let you know that the story is an urban legend and never happened.
ReplyDeleteLink from TruthorFiction.com (debunks urban legends and hoax emails)
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/t/tillich.htm
quote from link:
A spokesperson at the Divinity School at the University of Chicago says there's no evidence that this exchange ever took place. Additionally, he says there is no record of the school ever having a "Baptist Day" in its annual schedule. Paul Tillich was on the faculty of the school from 1962 until his death in 1965.
Just thought you'd like to know.