If the Bible Says It, I believe It!
Maybe, just maybe, the earth was once vastly different than it is today. Few would doubt that statement, depending on who was making it and what they meant by different, of course. If they meant that it was hotter or cooler, or that very different species of animals, like dinosaurs were alive, but no longer are, they'd be right. In that sense, it was obviously different. In fact, the earth is constantly changing, as is the universe that it exists in. Change is inevitable, but that's not what some people mean. Some folks mean that 6,000 years ago, give or take, the earth, maybe the universe, was perfect. There was no death, no decay and everything existed harmoniously.
What evidence is there for this theory? There isn't any! Only the bible tells me so. And, because the bible is true, whatever it says must be true as well.
Not all Christians believe this, though. Some people understand that allegory, symbolism and even myth are rich part of the biblical tradition. The real problem begins when people want to say “The bible says it, so I believe it” without ever looking much deeper than the words written on the page. That those words come to us through a long arduous, imperfect process, of interpretation and meaning, by words written in an ancient text, in a long dead language, for instance, is too arcane, too unpredictable. How can you count on words absolutely, unless you're absolutely sure of what they mean. How can you have the faith that moves mountains, if the meaning of a text is up for grabs, based on something as ephemeral as language and custom, all passed down over thousands of years and across continents.
Recently I was flipping channels on my television and came to rest on an old friend. One who I'd seen preach dozens of times some thirty years ago. He barely looked different, almost unchanged, maybe a few more lines in his face was all. His message hadn't changed either. It was still god's divine revelation to him, as he'd received it decades earlier. He was, likewise, still mesmerizing in his blend of Andy Griffith styled down-home patter, mixed with words of faith and power, spoken with the assurance of one who knows. Not surprisingly, his audience was bigger than ever.
It was like I had walked away from the television for a short break, only to find that he'd waited for me, picking up pretty much where he'd left off without missing a beat. That's because the message and the method were unbowed. He'd clearly found what worked and never questioned it. Why should he, he'd become fabulously wealthy, living in a six million plus dollar home, with his own private airport, private planes and private jets to use as he saw fit. Or, as the Lord saw fit. Apparently, in his case, there was little difference.
He's been questioned before about his luxurious lifestyle. Only to answer with “I preach what the Lord showed me, directly from the word of god!” Who could argue with that? The idea being that he's only doing the Lords work and if you did it as well as he does, you'd be rich too. That’s how the Lord rolls, after all, it's in the “Book!” If they come in droves, it's only because the Lord brings them. And, besides, if you get this stuff deep down in your spirit, you too, will never be sick another day in your life—and you'll never be poor either. Jesus laid it all on the cross; sickness, death, poverty, deformity, you name it, if it's the product of sin, it was left to die with Jesus on the cross. All you have to do is believe it and receive it! Amen brother! Amen!
What evidence is there for this theory? There isn't any! Only the bible tells me so. And, because the bible is true, whatever it says must be true as well.
Not all Christians believe this, though. Some people understand that allegory, symbolism and even myth are rich part of the biblical tradition. The real problem begins when people want to say “The bible says it, so I believe it” without ever looking much deeper than the words written on the page. That those words come to us through a long arduous, imperfect process, of interpretation and meaning, by words written in an ancient text, in a long dead language, for instance, is too arcane, too unpredictable. How can you count on words absolutely, unless you're absolutely sure of what they mean. How can you have the faith that moves mountains, if the meaning of a text is up for grabs, based on something as ephemeral as language and custom, all passed down over thousands of years and across continents.
Recently I was flipping channels on my television and came to rest on an old friend. One who I'd seen preach dozens of times some thirty years ago. He barely looked different, almost unchanged, maybe a few more lines in his face was all. His message hadn't changed either. It was still god's divine revelation to him, as he'd received it decades earlier. He was, likewise, still mesmerizing in his blend of Andy Griffith styled down-home patter, mixed with words of faith and power, spoken with the assurance of one who knows. Not surprisingly, his audience was bigger than ever.
It was like I had walked away from the television for a short break, only to find that he'd waited for me, picking up pretty much where he'd left off without missing a beat. That's because the message and the method were unbowed. He'd clearly found what worked and never questioned it. Why should he, he'd become fabulously wealthy, living in a six million plus dollar home, with his own private airport, private planes and private jets to use as he saw fit. Or, as the Lord saw fit. Apparently, in his case, there was little difference.
He's been questioned before about his luxurious lifestyle. Only to answer with “I preach what the Lord showed me, directly from the word of god!” Who could argue with that? The idea being that he's only doing the Lords work and if you did it as well as he does, you'd be rich too. That’s how the Lord rolls, after all, it's in the “Book!” If they come in droves, it's only because the Lord brings them. And, besides, if you get this stuff deep down in your spirit, you too, will never be sick another day in your life—and you'll never be poor either. Jesus laid it all on the cross; sickness, death, poverty, deformity, you name it, if it's the product of sin, it was left to die with Jesus on the cross. All you have to do is believe it and receive it! Amen brother! Amen!
There's only a few minor problems with this scenario. Namely, that if the history of the church and apostles is even close to true, every single one of them was martyred. John wasn't killed, but he was tortured and ultimately imprisoned for the remainder of his life. Paul was beaten numerous times, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, snake-bit and ultimately, beheaded. James, Jesus' brother was the leader of the early Jesus movement and had authority over Peter and Paul both. He was killed as well. Amazingly, not one of them proclaimed the power of faith over death and suffering. Not one of them took control of the forces of evil, thereby saving themselves and their friends and family.
None proclaimed wealth and deliverance from difficulty as a divine right given by God by virtue of Jesus' sacrifice. In fact, over the course of centuries martyrs were held in the highest esteem. Not because they were suicidal for God. But, because they stood their ground and were willing to die for the message of the Gospel. They picked up their crosses daily and followed Jesus, willingly, for the Kingdom of God, just as Moses had, and David, Elijah, John The Baptist and just about every other leading figure in the bible. They believed some things were worth dying for—and they did.
Such is the problem of reading the bible, absent any context greater than your own desire to believe that your “belief” is true. Or, having faith in your own faith. If you are held to no standard, except your own, you'll inevitably have no standard at all. That you can get people to follow you in large numbers should surprise no one. Especially, if you can tell them how never to suffer sickness, how never to be poor, to live their best life now, replete with houses and cars, jet planes and hefty bank accounts.
Jesus said, “The correct path is always narrow, you'll see few traveling on it. The path to destruction, however, is wide, people will be pushing and shoving to walk on it. Better still, ride on it—in that long black limousine—just waiting to take them to their just reward.
Mark Magula
None proclaimed wealth and deliverance from difficulty as a divine right given by God by virtue of Jesus' sacrifice. In fact, over the course of centuries martyrs were held in the highest esteem. Not because they were suicidal for God. But, because they stood their ground and were willing to die for the message of the Gospel. They picked up their crosses daily and followed Jesus, willingly, for the Kingdom of God, just as Moses had, and David, Elijah, John The Baptist and just about every other leading figure in the bible. They believed some things were worth dying for—and they did.
Such is the problem of reading the bible, absent any context greater than your own desire to believe that your “belief” is true. Or, having faith in your own faith. If you are held to no standard, except your own, you'll inevitably have no standard at all. That you can get people to follow you in large numbers should surprise no one. Especially, if you can tell them how never to suffer sickness, how never to be poor, to live their best life now, replete with houses and cars, jet planes and hefty bank accounts.
Jesus said, “The correct path is always narrow, you'll see few traveling on it. The path to destruction, however, is wide, people will be pushing and shoving to walk on it. Better still, ride on it—in that long black limousine—just waiting to take them to their just reward.
Mark Magula