Judas and Da Vinci
[WARNING: This entry is long and probably not worth the time it takes to scroll down on it. But for those who like long posts, sarcasm mixed with critical thought, or are bored, take a shot at it.]
Friday night I happened to catch a small piece of a presentation on ABCnews Nightline. This particular presentation dealt with yet another view of who Jesus was (I’m sure many were grateful for someone finally being so great as to discover the truth that had been hidden for centuries about the most pivotal figure in history). This time the book was The Jesus Dynasty and the author is James Tabor. According to him,no he is not trying to destroy Christianity or emasculate the character of Jesus. He maintains that he holds to the core values that Jesus taught (or at least the values that Tabor says are the core of the teaching ministry of Jesus). The basics of his proposal are similar to views that have been espoused before, with very little being new information and creative thought. Suffice it to say, Jesus was not the Son of God born of a virgin and much of orthodox Protestantism’s understanding of him is incorrect. Tabor takes a Hegelian view whereby despite the myth of the New Testaments teaching on the Christ of faith, there are kernels of truth that are at the heart of this cultural myth that are important for humanity. Yes, it was merely another television program airing a view of Christianity and of Jesus Christ that was antithetical to Jesus Christ (the good news was that D. A. Carson was the Christian scholar who also appeared on the show to combat Tabor, and ABC probably could not have made a better choice with that pick). But it is a part of a rising trend in America today as a result of recent literature and media exposure.
Sunday afternoon I went to my local Borders bookstore (my favorite location for doing work off campus) to drink my large Mocha and revamp another Moody paper that would soon be due. Upon entering this store, directly in front of the revolving doors was a newly created stand. On one side of this were several editions of The Da Vinci Code. On the opposite side of the stand were two recently released books on the Gospel of Judas, otherwise known as the lost gospel. Thankfully, the aforementioned book from Tabor, The Jesus Dynasty, was also there to complete the collection. Here was a stand that every person who enters the doors of Borders from that side would be forced to see. It stood boldly and alone in front of the revolving door entrance. Clearly, such books were intriguing to most who entered. The normal routine was for someone, or a group, to walk in, pick up one or more of the books, look at the back, flip through some of the pages and maybe read a small section. Books are not cheap, so most put them back down and went on with their Borders visit. However, many did not put the books down but carried them to the register for their purchase. Doubtless, there were numerous others who were indifferent, and I assume there were others who after putting the book down, subconsciously added one more reason in their mind to dismiss the claims of Christianity. All the more reason to laugh at the foolish fundamentalists who believe in that Bible. Merely another event that adds to this “phenomenon” that is sweeping many Americans along. Soon enough, the controversy will be heightened when the new movie, The Da Vinci Code, is released.
I am sure that there are many Christians who are greatly distressed and angered about this recent rise in anti-Christian literature and propaganda, or at least frustrated by our culture’s joy in it. After a few moments of the ABC news program Friday night, my father had seen enough and went to bed (in similar fashion to when the Discovery Channel airs something about evolution or the universe being millions of years old). Across America I am sure this is how many Christians feel (usually this is the frenzy media sends Christians into). Oh what a state we must be in and how far this world has gone! To think, that people would actually say and write such things against Jesus or the Bible, and do so often not as atheists but as those who say they esteem Jesus and hold to the essence of his teachings. To think that people would do such work in the name of capturing and continuing the truths that are present in the “mythical” stories of the Bible. Yes there is a bit of sarcasm there because of the manner in which evangelicals are so easily disturbed by unbelievers, but nevertheless, I do understand the irritation that Christians feel as a result of these attacks against the Word that we live by and the Savior that we love. In fact, I am thankful for the scholars and theologians who respond to such fallacious works with well-argued, academic, and biblical answers. Continue on D. A. Carson! Continue on Erwin Lutzer, Darrell Bock, Peter Jones, and even Moody’s own Dr. Litfin! Thank God for these men of truth and valor who will stand by the Word of God and fight against the lies this world offers. (I must admit, I took a certain pleasure in taking the books from the Christian section at Borders that are meant to argue against or disprove the Da Vinci Code books, and placing them on that stand in front of the revolving doors where the anti-Christian bookstand was.)
But, lest with think that this recent trend is actually a new thing and that these present-day authors have come up with new things that we as Christians have not faced before, think again. This has always been the case and it will always be so. Literature and ideas (whether anti-Christian in a blatant manner like that of atheists or a more subtle fashion like those who want to separate the Jesus of history from the Christ of faith) written to distort the truths of the Scriptures and the God-man Jesus Christ are not a new thing. The Church has faced them and prevailed throughout the decades. For one of my historical classes I am researching two figures from previous centuries who may be considered pioneers in the modern attacks or alterations against the New Testament and Jesus Christ. G. E. Lessing (1729-1781) is known for his “great ugly ditch” that he found incapable of being crossed. One cannot get from historical truths (Biblical propositions or events) to eternal truths (what is rationally and really true). Therefore, he rejected the events of Scripture and denounced them of their ability to present anyone with clear demonstrable truth. Religion must be based upon rationality he said. He did not eliminate the usefulness of Scripture but denied its ability to be without error and transmit propositional truth. Though the tree is bad the fruit of it is good, and hence, insight can be taken from it. The other man was D. F. Strauss (1808-1874), and he wrote a complete revision of the life of Jesus. Much of the responsibility can be placed on him for separating the Jesus of history from the Christ of faith, as well as for the notion of the Bible as a myth containing kernels of truth within its mythical stories. Protestant liberalism that took hold in America a century ago largely can be traced back to the influence of those men. The effects of these two men from the 18th and 19th centuries have trickled down, evidencing themselves still today in popular material like The Jesus Dynasty or in more academic work like the Jesus Seminar.
But then again, why only go back a couple of centuries? While Jesus was yet alive did not many question who he was? Did not others deny his true identity and produce lies about him? Matthew 12:24 says, “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said,’It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.’" To think, people who witnessed the miracles of Jesus accused of him of being a companion of Satan, doing works by the power of Beelzebul. When Christ asked Peter who others said he was, there was a variety of responses from John the Baptist to Jeremiah before Peter answered correctly. In Matthew 26 when Jesus is before Caiaphas we are told that the Pharisees sought false witnesses who may lie about him in their testimony. In John 7:40-52, the reason for division among the people is because of dispute over the identity of Jesus. Attacks again Jesus, misrepresentations of who he was, and confusion over his identity is not a new thing; it began in the lifetime of Jesus.
In the period of early Christianity the most dangerous heresy was that of Gnosticism. Gnosticism relished in its supposed secret knowledge about Jesus and other truths hidden in the Bible. If there was ever a movement that declared false things about Jesus Christ and the contents of Scriptural truths, it came from the Gnostics, who considered themselves friends rather than foes of Christianity. Gnosticism is nothing without its proposed theories and false views of Jesus that were espoused. The Da Vinci Code and the Gospel of Judas are both fruits of Gnosticism. Clearly, we need not look at our nearby bookstore, or even go back only a couple of centuries and think that it was a novel idea to create new theories of Jesus and attempt to subvert the Scriptures. It was occurring in the very beginning of Church History, and it was even occurring while Jesus still lived.
Therefore, Christians, do not be deceived in thinking that this wave of literature against the Jesus you believe in is a new thing. Do not be deceived into thinking that there is new information about Jesus that has provided a new theory about him that will destroy Christianity or undermine your faith. Do not become angered at the books you see on the shelves at you favorite store, or at the special presented on the nightly news. God will not be mocked and there will be a day of reckoning. People are not doomed to give into the ideas and worldly beliefs offered to them. Christians are not in threat of having their faith strangled. We should not be surprised or flustered by the pagan culture’s delight in such fallacious works, but we should also expect God to continue to guide his people in knowledge of the truth. “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Cor. 2:14) Those who are blind will walk in blindness, but we have the mind of Christ and the Spirit of truth to lead us into all knowledge. Your faith has solid foundations! Christianity will prevail!
And here are some possible links that relate to the issue.
For the ABCnews article on The Jesus Dynasty go here: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=1815838&page=1
For their article on the lost gospel of Judas go here:
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1810169&page=1
For Albert Mohler’s response to the lost gospel go here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2006-04-07
For Mohler’s radio program, with guest Darrell Bock, on the issue go here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/radio_show.php?cdate=2006-04-06
For Philip Ryken’s response on Reformation21 go here:http://www.reformation21.org/Counterpoints/Window_on_the_World/59/
Friday night I happened to catch a small piece of a presentation on ABCnews Nightline. This particular presentation dealt with yet another view of who Jesus was (I’m sure many were grateful for someone finally being so great as to discover the truth that had been hidden for centuries about the most pivotal figure in history). This time the book was The Jesus Dynasty and the author is James Tabor. According to him,no he is not trying to destroy Christianity or emasculate the character of Jesus. He maintains that he holds to the core values that Jesus taught (or at least the values that Tabor says are the core of the teaching ministry of Jesus). The basics of his proposal are similar to views that have been espoused before, with very little being new information and creative thought. Suffice it to say, Jesus was not the Son of God born of a virgin and much of orthodox Protestantism’s understanding of him is incorrect. Tabor takes a Hegelian view whereby despite the myth of the New Testaments teaching on the Christ of faith, there are kernels of truth that are at the heart of this cultural myth that are important for humanity. Yes, it was merely another television program airing a view of Christianity and of Jesus Christ that was antithetical to Jesus Christ (the good news was that D. A. Carson was the Christian scholar who also appeared on the show to combat Tabor, and ABC probably could not have made a better choice with that pick). But it is a part of a rising trend in America today as a result of recent literature and media exposure.
Sunday afternoon I went to my local Borders bookstore (my favorite location for doing work off campus) to drink my large Mocha and revamp another Moody paper that would soon be due. Upon entering this store, directly in front of the revolving doors was a newly created stand. On one side of this were several editions of The Da Vinci Code. On the opposite side of the stand were two recently released books on the Gospel of Judas, otherwise known as the lost gospel. Thankfully, the aforementioned book from Tabor, The Jesus Dynasty, was also there to complete the collection. Here was a stand that every person who enters the doors of Borders from that side would be forced to see. It stood boldly and alone in front of the revolving door entrance. Clearly, such books were intriguing to most who entered. The normal routine was for someone, or a group, to walk in, pick up one or more of the books, look at the back, flip through some of the pages and maybe read a small section. Books are not cheap, so most put them back down and went on with their Borders visit. However, many did not put the books down but carried them to the register for their purchase. Doubtless, there were numerous others who were indifferent, and I assume there were others who after putting the book down, subconsciously added one more reason in their mind to dismiss the claims of Christianity. All the more reason to laugh at the foolish fundamentalists who believe in that Bible. Merely another event that adds to this “phenomenon” that is sweeping many Americans along. Soon enough, the controversy will be heightened when the new movie, The Da Vinci Code, is released.
I am sure that there are many Christians who are greatly distressed and angered about this recent rise in anti-Christian literature and propaganda, or at least frustrated by our culture’s joy in it. After a few moments of the ABC news program Friday night, my father had seen enough and went to bed (in similar fashion to when the Discovery Channel airs something about evolution or the universe being millions of years old). Across America I am sure this is how many Christians feel (usually this is the frenzy media sends Christians into). Oh what a state we must be in and how far this world has gone! To think, that people would actually say and write such things against Jesus or the Bible, and do so often not as atheists but as those who say they esteem Jesus and hold to the essence of his teachings. To think that people would do such work in the name of capturing and continuing the truths that are present in the “mythical” stories of the Bible. Yes there is a bit of sarcasm there because of the manner in which evangelicals are so easily disturbed by unbelievers, but nevertheless, I do understand the irritation that Christians feel as a result of these attacks against the Word that we live by and the Savior that we love. In fact, I am thankful for the scholars and theologians who respond to such fallacious works with well-argued, academic, and biblical answers. Continue on D. A. Carson! Continue on Erwin Lutzer, Darrell Bock, Peter Jones, and even Moody’s own Dr. Litfin! Thank God for these men of truth and valor who will stand by the Word of God and fight against the lies this world offers. (I must admit, I took a certain pleasure in taking the books from the Christian section at Borders that are meant to argue against or disprove the Da Vinci Code books, and placing them on that stand in front of the revolving doors where the anti-Christian bookstand was.)
But, lest with think that this recent trend is actually a new thing and that these present-day authors have come up with new things that we as Christians have not faced before, think again. This has always been the case and it will always be so. Literature and ideas (whether anti-Christian in a blatant manner like that of atheists or a more subtle fashion like those who want to separate the Jesus of history from the Christ of faith) written to distort the truths of the Scriptures and the God-man Jesus Christ are not a new thing. The Church has faced them and prevailed throughout the decades. For one of my historical classes I am researching two figures from previous centuries who may be considered pioneers in the modern attacks or alterations against the New Testament and Jesus Christ. G. E. Lessing (1729-1781) is known for his “great ugly ditch” that he found incapable of being crossed. One cannot get from historical truths (Biblical propositions or events) to eternal truths (what is rationally and really true). Therefore, he rejected the events of Scripture and denounced them of their ability to present anyone with clear demonstrable truth. Religion must be based upon rationality he said. He did not eliminate the usefulness of Scripture but denied its ability to be without error and transmit propositional truth. Though the tree is bad the fruit of it is good, and hence, insight can be taken from it. The other man was D. F. Strauss (1808-1874), and he wrote a complete revision of the life of Jesus. Much of the responsibility can be placed on him for separating the Jesus of history from the Christ of faith, as well as for the notion of the Bible as a myth containing kernels of truth within its mythical stories. Protestant liberalism that took hold in America a century ago largely can be traced back to the influence of those men. The effects of these two men from the 18th and 19th centuries have trickled down, evidencing themselves still today in popular material like The Jesus Dynasty or in more academic work like the Jesus Seminar.
But then again, why only go back a couple of centuries? While Jesus was yet alive did not many question who he was? Did not others deny his true identity and produce lies about him? Matthew 12:24 says, “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said,’It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.’" To think, people who witnessed the miracles of Jesus accused of him of being a companion of Satan, doing works by the power of Beelzebul. When Christ asked Peter who others said he was, there was a variety of responses from John the Baptist to Jeremiah before Peter answered correctly. In Matthew 26 when Jesus is before Caiaphas we are told that the Pharisees sought false witnesses who may lie about him in their testimony. In John 7:40-52, the reason for division among the people is because of dispute over the identity of Jesus. Attacks again Jesus, misrepresentations of who he was, and confusion over his identity is not a new thing; it began in the lifetime of Jesus.
In the period of early Christianity the most dangerous heresy was that of Gnosticism. Gnosticism relished in its supposed secret knowledge about Jesus and other truths hidden in the Bible. If there was ever a movement that declared false things about Jesus Christ and the contents of Scriptural truths, it came from the Gnostics, who considered themselves friends rather than foes of Christianity. Gnosticism is nothing without its proposed theories and false views of Jesus that were espoused. The Da Vinci Code and the Gospel of Judas are both fruits of Gnosticism. Clearly, we need not look at our nearby bookstore, or even go back only a couple of centuries and think that it was a novel idea to create new theories of Jesus and attempt to subvert the Scriptures. It was occurring in the very beginning of Church History, and it was even occurring while Jesus still lived.
Therefore, Christians, do not be deceived in thinking that this wave of literature against the Jesus you believe in is a new thing. Do not be deceived into thinking that there is new information about Jesus that has provided a new theory about him that will destroy Christianity or undermine your faith. Do not become angered at the books you see on the shelves at you favorite store, or at the special presented on the nightly news. God will not be mocked and there will be a day of reckoning. People are not doomed to give into the ideas and worldly beliefs offered to them. Christians are not in threat of having their faith strangled. We should not be surprised or flustered by the pagan culture’s delight in such fallacious works, but we should also expect God to continue to guide his people in knowledge of the truth. “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Cor. 2:14) Those who are blind will walk in blindness, but we have the mind of Christ and the Spirit of truth to lead us into all knowledge. Your faith has solid foundations! Christianity will prevail!
And here are some possible links that relate to the issue.
For the ABCnews article on The Jesus Dynasty go here: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=1815838&page=1
For their article on the lost gospel of Judas go here:
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1810169&page=1
For Albert Mohler’s response to the lost gospel go here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2006-04-07
For Mohler’s radio program, with guest Darrell Bock, on the issue go here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/radio_show.php?cdate=2006-04-06
For Philip Ryken’s response on Reformation21 go here:http://www.reformation21.org/Counterpoints/Window_on_the_World/59/
posted by dustin at 3:46 AM
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