Some Christian leaders and journalists who have previewed a three-hour special Jesus and Paul—the Word and the Witness reported by ABC’s Peter Jennings are indignant after watching it because of its overly liberal theological focus instead of the truth as presented in the Gospel. The special is scheduled to appear on April 5 from 8-11 p.m. EST on ABC.
Focus on the Family's (FOTF) Tom Neven wrote a review on the special, saying, "Jennings repeatedly refers to 'the Jesus movement' as if it were just another political party or faction. Commentators also pit Paul against Jesus, as if the apostle taught things that contradicted Jesus, and some refer to Paul as 'the founder of Christianity.' "
Dr. James Dobson, founder of FOTF, is even urging Christians to contact Jennings or the ABC Network to express their displeasure with the special.
Also on April 5, Dr. James D. Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries and host of Truths that Transform, interviews Jennings and expresses his concern about the mostly liberal cast in Jenning’s previous attempt at a documentary on Jesus, Who Is This Jesus, which aired Christmas 2000 and was viewed by more than 12 million people.
Kennedy confronts Jennings and asks if the same lopsided panel of commentators can be expected for Jesus and Paul.
“I am presenting this interview with Peter Jennings so that listeners can hear his answers to some fairly tough questions about his approach to finding the truth about God’s revelation in Christ and whether Jesus and Paul will, once more, present a predominately theological liberal perspective to viewers,” said Kennedy in a statement that also ensured readers he nor his ministry was endorsing the special.
Some points during the program which may offend Christians is the use of Joan Osborne's song "What If God Was One of Us?," Jenning’s implied denial of Jesus’ divinity through his hypothetical remarks, such as suggesting Jesus might have said, “Hey, maybe I'm the Messiah" and commentators of the program who deny the accuracy of the Scripture.
“We must engage the culture in which we live,” Dr. Kennedy said. “We must respond to those who, for whatever reason, deny or distort the credibility and truth of Christianity. We do so on this broadcast.”
