A False Judas & Fishy Fossil - Or - God's Easter & Christ -- No Contest!
Bonnie Alba
April 10, 2006
Two recently announced discoveries might raise questions and doubts in some Christian minds during Easter?s holy week of remembrance and celebration, the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. But first, let?s visit the results of a new Scripps Howard-Ohio University poll.
When the question ?Do you believe that, after you die, your physical body will be resurrected someday?? was asked of 1007 people, only 36 percent responded ?Yes.? Fifty-four percent responded ?No.?
Of the ?born again? believers within the group, where you would expect an overwhelming 100 percent response, only 59 percent responded ?Yes.? Yet 90 percent of all polled believe in God or a Supreme Being. But only 50 percent of those who had ?attended church recently? believed in a physical body resurrection.
Though a small sampling, poll results indicate some churches have watered down the Gospel of Jesus Christ and also point to a lack of teaching-preaching basic doctrinal beliefs. Many Christians probably are unaware that the Apostle?s Creed and the Nicene Creed, once part of solid church doctrine, are pass?n many churches of today. These ancient creeds cemented the beliefs and foundational doctrinal truths from God?s Word, the Bible. They include the belief that after death the ?physical body will be resurrected.?
If Christians are not in the Bible, reading, studying, and breathing in the Word of God, then they cannot judge whether what they hear is true or not. They lack the knowledge of who God is, His character, His holiness and Righteousness, His Sovereignty over His creation, His purpose and plan for mankind. No wonder ugly tendrils of doubts may take root. Many Christians will bend to the winds of man?s inventiveness, following the most recent news of this or that discovery which might promote men's prideful theories and plans or appear to nullify what the Scriptures declare true.
Now to the latest discoveries announced on the Eve of Easter:
The first is the so-called ?Gospel of Judas.? Identified as a writing of a Gnostic sect of the second century, Judas is portrayed as the ?favorite? and confidante of Jesus. The unknown writer (not Judas) claims that Jesus planned his Crucifixion with Judas and quotes Jesus telling Judas: ?...for you sacrifice the man that clothes me.? Scholars and theologians will discuss and debate, tear the words apart and put them back together, for years to come. But it does not change the account of Judas? betrayal of Jesus as recorded in the Bible.
The second is the 375-million-year-old fossilized fish named ?Tiktaalik? which means ?large shallow water fish.? It is proclaimed as an ?intermediate link between fishes and land vertebrates? due to its supposed anatomical traits, evidence of developing limbs for land use. Sure to delight the Darwinian faithful, it will be heralded as proof positive that species evolve into other species over time. The debate continues.
If Christians experience a smidgeon of doubt due to these discoveries, then it?s time to bury noses in the Bible, turn to prayer and reflection on what one believes is the truth about God and mankind?s history. Many Christians who have looked to the Bible for authoritative knowledge of God know that the Sovereign God of the Universe cannot be placed in the small box of man?s image nor reshaped to fit man?s desire for immortality or godhood.
As we look at the events leading to the Crucifixion of Jesus, His burial and the empty tomb, Christ?s Resurrection is the crowning event, victory over death. Before this, Jesus told his disciples, ?In my Father?s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.? (John 14:2-4)
Doubting? but honest Thomas asked the question ?Lord, we don?t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?? Jesus answered, ?I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well....? (John 14:5-7)
Easter week is precious to believers --- exemplary of what God has done, is doing and will do --- all of it contained in the Bible, His Word to us.
So, a false writing and a fishy fossil --Or-- the God of the Universe and Jesus Christ who is the ?Lamb of God? and shed his blood for us? No contest!
2006 Bonnie Alba
Comments welcome: tttalba@hotmail.com
Sources:
Scripps Howard-Ohio University poll:
www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=RESURRECTION-04-05-06
Fossil Called Missing Link from Sea to Land Animals? -- New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/science/06fossil.html?
Gospel of Judas:? Christianity Today and New York Times reports; Apr. 6, 2006
When the question ?Do you believe that, after you die, your physical body will be resurrected someday?? was asked of 1007 people, only 36 percent responded ?Yes.? Fifty-four percent responded ?No.?
Of the ?born again? believers within the group, where you would expect an overwhelming 100 percent response, only 59 percent responded ?Yes.? Yet 90 percent of all polled believe in God or a Supreme Being. But only 50 percent of those who had ?attended church recently? believed in a physical body resurrection.
Though a small sampling, poll results indicate some churches have watered down the Gospel of Jesus Christ and also point to a lack of teaching-preaching basic doctrinal beliefs. Many Christians probably are unaware that the Apostle?s Creed and the Nicene Creed, once part of solid church doctrine, are pass?n many churches of today. These ancient creeds cemented the beliefs and foundational doctrinal truths from God?s Word, the Bible. They include the belief that after death the ?physical body will be resurrected.?
If Christians are not in the Bible, reading, studying, and breathing in the Word of God, then they cannot judge whether what they hear is true or not. They lack the knowledge of who God is, His character, His holiness and Righteousness, His Sovereignty over His creation, His purpose and plan for mankind. No wonder ugly tendrils of doubts may take root. Many Christians will bend to the winds of man?s inventiveness, following the most recent news of this or that discovery which might promote men's prideful theories and plans or appear to nullify what the Scriptures declare true.
Now to the latest discoveries announced on the Eve of Easter:
The first is the so-called ?Gospel of Judas.? Identified as a writing of a Gnostic sect of the second century, Judas is portrayed as the ?favorite? and confidante of Jesus. The unknown writer (not Judas) claims that Jesus planned his Crucifixion with Judas and quotes Jesus telling Judas: ?...for you sacrifice the man that clothes me.? Scholars and theologians will discuss and debate, tear the words apart and put them back together, for years to come. But it does not change the account of Judas? betrayal of Jesus as recorded in the Bible.
The second is the 375-million-year-old fossilized fish named ?Tiktaalik? which means ?large shallow water fish.? It is proclaimed as an ?intermediate link between fishes and land vertebrates? due to its supposed anatomical traits, evidence of developing limbs for land use. Sure to delight the Darwinian faithful, it will be heralded as proof positive that species evolve into other species over time. The debate continues.
If Christians experience a smidgeon of doubt due to these discoveries, then it?s time to bury noses in the Bible, turn to prayer and reflection on what one believes is the truth about God and mankind?s history. Many Christians who have looked to the Bible for authoritative knowledge of God know that the Sovereign God of the Universe cannot be placed in the small box of man?s image nor reshaped to fit man?s desire for immortality or godhood.
As we look at the events leading to the Crucifixion of Jesus, His burial and the empty tomb, Christ?s Resurrection is the crowning event, victory over death. Before this, Jesus told his disciples, ?In my Father?s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.? (John 14:2-4)
Doubting? but honest Thomas asked the question ?Lord, we don?t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?? Jesus answered, ?I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well....? (John 14:5-7)
Easter week is precious to believers --- exemplary of what God has done, is doing and will do --- all of it contained in the Bible, His Word to us.
So, a false writing and a fishy fossil --Or-- the God of the Universe and Jesus Christ who is the ?Lamb of God? and shed his blood for us? No contest!
2006 Bonnie Alba
Comments welcome: tttalba@hotmail.com
Sources:
Scripps Howard-Ohio University poll:
www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=RESURRECTION-04-05-06
Fossil Called Missing Link from Sea to Land Animals? -- New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/science/06fossil.html?
Gospel of Judas:? Christianity Today and New York Times reports; Apr. 6, 2006
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