Scott's Blog 2/28/07

A "Slick" Evaluation of "The Lost Tomb of Christ"

Sir Isaac Newton once said, "If I have seen farther than other men, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." There is no doubt that we are to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."(II Timothy 2:15)

But part of being an excellent student of the Word is to identify solid sources that can deepen our understanding of God's Word and provide solid perspective on the controversies that surround it. One such excellent resource is the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry located at www.CARM.org.

Matt Slick who produces the excellent materials found on CARM, has done an outstanding job of providing a reasoned and insightful evaluation of James Cameron's soon to be released documentary "The Lost Tomb of Christ".

Has the tomb of Jesus been found?

James Cameron, the Oscar winning Hollywood director who brought us the Terminator and Titanic movies, along with Simcha Jacobovici a producer-director have made a documentary (to be aired March 4, 2007) that alleges they have found the tomb of Jesus and that the evidence therein shows Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, had at least one child named Judah, and, of course, that Jesus did not physically rise from the dead.

In 1980, just outside of Jerusalem in the neighborhood of Talpiyot, construction workers tombaccidentally uncovered a 2000 year old cave holding 10 ossuaries. An ossuary is a burial box used to store bones. Six of the 10 ossuaries had names on them: "Jesus, son of Joseph; Maria; Mariamene; Matthew; Judas, son of Jesus; and Jose, a diminutive of Joseph."1 The allegation is that Jesua is Jesus, one of the Maries is his mother, the second is his wife, Mariamene is Mary Magdalene, that Matthew is a disciple, and Judas is Jesus' son.

When the ossuaries were first discovered, the bones were removed and buried.  (I could not find out what happened to them, but it appears they are lost.)  Later, scientists examined the ossuaries and found "forensic evidence" inside the containers.  They did DNA tests on the remnant biological material and found that Jesua and Mariamene are not genetically related.  This implies that they were a couple, not siblings. In other words, it would be similar to having a mother, a father, and a son buried in the same tomb.  The child would be related genetically to the mother and the father.  But, the mother and the father would not be genetically related to each other; that is, they wouldn't have the same parents.  The facts seem to be there, but what does it mean?

What should be our reaction to the find?

What I'm going to say here may surprise a lot of Christians, but we should be open minded about the evidence and not dismiss it in a knee-jerk reaction ossuaryand say it is a hoax, or a conspiracy.  If the evidence is factual and stands up to cross examination, then we need to deal with it as the set of facts they are.  If Christianity is true, then it should fear no facts -- and neither should its adherents. 

However, please understand that if the archaeological evidence is verified, the ossuaries do not disprove Christianity.  They only demonstrate that there is a family tomb from the time of Christ with the same names of those found in the gospel accounts -- which can have other explanations, as you'll see below, and around which many questions need to be answered.  Remember, the gospels are eyewitness accounts and are substantially different in evidentiary value than empty ossuaries with biblical names inscribed on the outside.  There is a huge difference between them regarding their interpretive and evidentiary significance.

Examine the evidence

The evidence needs to be examined!  If it stands, it stands.  If it falls, let it fall.  But, what would be substantial evidence against Christianity is if bones were discovered in an ossuary, or tomb containing something like Jesus' name on it, stating he was the son of Nevertheless, for Christians to automatically dismiss the evidence without first examining it, is to forfeit credibility in the eyes of unbelievers, many of which already think that Christians are irrational and refuse to believe facts. Joseph, and that those bones had nail marks in the wrists.  But, without a body, it is difficult to establish Jesus' death, burial, and lack of resurrection.  In fact, not having a body is exactly what the gospel accounts say is the case and that seems to be the case with the ossuaries.  Remember, they did have bones in them, but they are lost and cannot be examined.  So, it cannot be stated which bones they were or if the bones matched the genetic material found within.  They might not since families used ossuaries to hold more than one generation.  Sometimes they held up to six.

Nevertheless, for Christians to automatically dismiss the evidence without first examining it, is to forfeit credibility in the eyes of unbelievers, many of which already think that Christians are irrational and refuse to believe facts.  We have an opportunity to present a rational, non-emotional reaction and demonstrate that our faith is not so weak that our first reaction is to dismiss evidence we haven't even looked at yet. 

Remember, looking at evidence and using logic is what Jesus taught us to do.  Jesus said to doubting Thomas in John 20:27, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.” Jesus himself urged Thomas to examine the evidence and believe based on the evidence.  In other words, Jesus taught to examine evidence and make a logical conclusion based on that evidence. Of course, the Bible verse presupposes Jesus' resurrection is a fact, but still the principle to examine evidence is taught in Scripture.  Shouldn't we do what Jesus taught? 

Christians, don't make these mistakes

The initial response by a lot of Christians will be to react emotionally.  But, I have some suggestions.

  1. Don't make the mistake of saying that the evidence can't be true because a Hollywood movie director made the documentary.
    1. Just because un unbeliever makes a film, it doesn't mean what is in it is false.  Unbelievers can discover truth.
    2. So, don't dismiss it outright.
  2. Don't make the mistake of saying the evidence is false because it disagrees with your beliefs.
    1. Beliefs don't make something true -- for example, Mormons believe God came from another planet.  Believing it doesn't make it true.  Nevertheless, Christian beliefs are based on evidence, i.e., the eyewitness accounts in the gospels, the resurrection of Christ, etc.
  3. Don't make the mistake of concluding that if the evidence is verified under cross examination, that it means Christianity isn't true.
    1. At best all it shows is that there is a family tomb with common biblical names inscribed on ossuaries.
  4. Don't blow a good witnessing opportunity
    1. This will generate discussion.  You can print up this article, give it to people, and discuss the real issue of Christ's resurrection which demonstrates that he was who he said he was, God in flesh.  You can then have an opportunity to present the gospel. 
    2. Don't just dismiss it outright.  Use it.
Critics, don't make these mistakes

Likewise, I suspect the initial response by critics of Christianity will be to jump on the bandwagon and say that Christianity is proven false without examining the evidence, or considering counter arguments and questions.  So, I have some suggestions for the critics as well.

  1. Don't assume that what is presented in a documentary is automatically fact.
    1. Wait until it is cross examined before making assertions.  In other words, get both sides of the argument before making judgments.
  2. Make sure your conclusions are logical, not merely inferential
    1. If the evidence is factual, what does it mean?  Does it prove that it was Jesus in the ossuary?  Not at all. 
  3. Don't jump on the band-wagon and start condemning Christianity because the finds can be interpreted against it. 
    1. There are important issues and questions to be raised as you will see in the next section.
  4. Don't make the mistake of concluding that if the evidence if verified under cross examination, it means Christianity is false.  It doesn't. 
    1. It only means that a family tomb with ossuaries containing biblical names has been discovered.  This is evidence, which can be interpreted in different ways, but is it conclusive proof that Christianity is false?  No it isn't.
Important issues and questions

Following is a list of issues and questions that I think are worth examining in regard to this recent discovery.

  1. The names on the ossuaries were very common at that time.
    1. "Charlesworth of Princeton Theological Seminary says he has a first-century letter written by someone named Jesus, addressed to someone else named Jesus and witnessed by a third party named Jesus."2  This demonstrates the commonality of the name Jesus.  Isn't it likely that other names would be common as well?  If Christianity were on the rise in the culture, it makes sense that people would adopt Christian names as they eagerly moved away from the imposing Roman Empire's rule.
    2. "'Jesus' and 'Joseph' were common names of the time, and another ossuary bearing the same inscription [Jesus son of Joseph] was revealed by archaeologist Eleazar Levi Sukenik in a 1931 lecture in Berlin.  However, this ossuary is set apart by its presence in a tomb alongside others bearing names associated with Jesus' family..."3 The fact is that "Jesus son of Joseph" exists elsewhere in archaeological findings.
    3. 25% of the Jewish women in the first-century Judea had the same name of Mary.4
  2. The ossuaries are inscribed in different languages:  Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek.
    1. Jesus, James, Judah are inscribed in Aramaic.  Yose (Jose, Joseph), Maria, and Matthew are in Hebrew. "Marianmene e Mara" (Mary Magdelene) is the only one written in Greek.  If the tomb is of Jesus' family, why are the inscriptions in different languages?
    2. Does this suggest that different individuals, perhaps in different times, and of different backgrounds were buried in the tomb? 
  3. Families were buried in their home towns.
    1. In this case it would have been Nazareth, not Jerusalem.   Jesus was known as Jesus of Nazareth.  If this really is the tomb of the biblical Jesus, then why is he buried somewhere other than his hometown, Nazareth?  This would have gone against Jewish culture and custom.
    2. Wouldn't the burial inscription have read "Jesus of Nazareth" or "Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph" if it were the Jesus of the New Testament?
  4. The same ossuaries were used for generations to store bones
    1. Point three is supported by the fact the same ossuaries were used for several generations to house bones, sometimes containing as many as six sets.  This would mean that the contents therein could be of family members long after the time of Christ.  It could even be of non genetically related individuals, by marriage, who get added to the tomb later on.
    2. Having similar genetics in the ossuaries doesn't prove it is Jesus' tomb.  It only proves there are similar genetics.  There is no known way to establish that the genetics in the ossuaries are those of Jesus.  At best, it can only be inferred and inferences are not fact.
  5. The family of Jesus was poor, Joseph was a carpenter and couldn't afford such an elaborate burial.
    1. To have a tomb and various hostelries constructed, was an expensive undertaking.  Since Joseph was a carpenter, Jesus would've learned his trade from his father.  Carpenters were not rich.  Therefore, how is the existence of an expensive tomb with ossuary's explained in light of this information if it is supposed to be at the family of Jesus?
  6. What of the existing documents (gospels).
    1. The gospels in the New Testament are excellently preserved historical documents that are consistent with the time, place, and culture in which they claim to describe.  If Jesus did not in fact rise from the dead, then what about the gospels accounts?  Are they fakes, compilations, or forgeries? Are these eyewitness accounts less valuable than names on ossuaries found in a tomb?  Surely, an explanation needs to be established to account for the claims of the gospel accounts if in fact, they were lies.
  7. If the gospels are used to verify the names on the ossuary's, why are they not also used to verify that Jesus rose from the dead?
    1. There seems to be an inconsistency in using the Gospels to verify the names on the ossuaries but then deny the claim of those same Gospels concerning Jesus' resurrection.  Why  except the names but reject the resurrection when both are described in the same document?  Is it because the presuppositions of those examine the evidence do not allow for the miraculous?  If that is the case, then beliefs are forced upon evidence in the evidence is interpreted in light of those beliefs.
    2. See Since the New Testament writers were biased, can we trust their testimony?
    3. See The Christians were mistaken about Jesus' resurrection
    4. See The Disciples stole Jesus' body and faked His resurrection.
  8. The Acts of Phillip
    1. In the book The Acts of Phillip is the term "Mariamene" which some scholars think it refers to Mary Magdelene.  Therefore, the inscription in the tomb which uses that term has been linked to the biblical Mary Magdelene via this old document. However, the oldest copy of the Acts of Phillip is from the fourteenth century and is a copy of a fourth century text.5 How reliable is the document known as the Acts of Phillip?  "The text is generally considered to have been a late 4th or early 5th century fantasy, involving miracles and supposedly clever dialogue, which it claims caused Phillip to win many converts."6
  9. Why aren't there any accounts of Jesus having a family recorded in any reputable ancient writings?
    1. This is, essentially, an argument of silence and is not the best argument.  Nevertheless, there is no credible historical evidence suggesting that Jesus had a family.  If Jesus were that important of a figure in the area and if he had a family, in contradiction to the gospel accounts, then why are there no reliable records of this recorded anywhere?
    2. If Jesus had a son, and a wife, and was walking around Israel, it would have been around the time that the gospels were being circulated which were written anywhere from the 40's to the 60's, with John possibly written later.  See "When were the gospels written and by whom?".  You'd think that the Jews and Romans would have countered the circulating gospels by simply saying, "Hey, Jesus lives with his wife and kid over in Jerusalem."  But, no such account exists. 
  10. Why didn't the critics of Christianity produce Jesus' body?
    1. Since the Jewish culture as well as the Roman authorities did not want Jesus' resurrection to be believed since it contradicted both of their theological and social power structures, and if Jesus did get married and have children, then why is their no record of them producing the person and/or body of Jesus?  You'd think this would have been settled long ago if Jesus really did live and breath after the gospels' recorded resurrection and Acts account of his ascension.
  11. Statistical analysis of the names
    1. How do they know which names were and were not common in those days?  Isn't this a relevant question to ask when making statistical analysis?
    2. Statistics can be manipulated.  We're not suggesting that these statistics were, but there needs to be an explanation dealing with how common the names were in the culture at that time and the criteria needs to be examined.
  12. Counter evidence
    1. Archaeologist says it isn't Jesus' tomb.  "In 1996, when the BBC aired a short documentary on the same subject, archaeologists challenged the claims. Amos Kloner, the first archaeologist to examine the site, said the idea [of the tomb being that of Jesus] fails to hold up by archaeological standards but makes for profitable television....It was an ordinary middle-class Jerusalem burial cave...The names on the caskets are the most common names found among Jews at the time...The cave, it [Kloner's report] said, was probably in use by three or four generations of Jews from the beginning of the Common Era. It was disturbed in antiquity, and vandalized. The names on the boxes were common in the first century (25 percent of women in Jerusalem, for example, were called Miriam or a derivative)."7
    2. Incorrect reading of names?  "Pfann [a biblical scholar at the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem] is even unsure that the name "Jesus" on the caskets was read correctly. He thinks it's more likely the name 'Hanun.'"8
    3. Alternate burial site locations.  "James Tabor, a Biblical scholar at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the leading academic voice who lends enthusiastic, if qualified, support to Jacobovici's claims, wrote that he looked for, and found, a legendary tomb of Jesus near the city of Safed."9
  13. Decomposition
    1. How long does it take for a human body to decay so that all that is left are bones?  This might be significant, or it might not be.  If Jesus lived a normal life and died as early as age 50, then that would mean he died in roughly 50 A.D. If he were buried in a small tomb, covered with spices, and wrapped in a cloth, how long would it take his body to decompose into only bones (or mostly just bones)?  I've been told that it takes less than five years.  If it took five years (or less)  then it would be after sufficient decomposition that the bones would be moved to an ossuary, a "coffin" designed not for body burial, but for the storage of the deceased's bones.  If it took as long as 5 years, then that would make the placement of the bones in the ossuary around 55 A.D.  The tomb has been dated to around
    2. and ossuaries dated to?  Could the relationship between the decomposition and the dating of the tomb/ossuaries thus become significant?  Did the Jews of the time move the bones A.S.A.P.?
    3. If the tomb and ossuaries are dated at 100 A.D., then that would be "generally consistent" with the claim that the ossuaries contain Jesus' family (though it is not conclusive).  If it were dated to 60 A.D., in my example here, then that would be even better. 
    4. Is this worth looking into?  Perhaps, perhaps not.
    5. Additional notes:  "According to Jewish rites, bodies would be left for a year or so to decompose in the "kokhim" before relatives came back to gather the bones and store them in ossuaries."10

End Notes
1.   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17328478/site/newsweek/page/2/
2.   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17328478/site/newsweek/page/4/
3.   http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/tomb/explore/explore.html
4.   http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/tomb/explore/explore.html under Maria
5.   http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-25-2007/0004533923&EDATE=
6.   http://www.answers.com/topic/acts-of-phillip
7.   http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/02/26/jesus.sburial.ap/index.html
8.   http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/02/26/jesus.sburial.ap/index.html
9.   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17328478/site/newsweek/page/4/
10. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/24/wjesus24.xml

I think you can see why we hold Matt's work in such high esteem. I would encourage you to book mark www.carm.org on your computer. I have found it to be an indispensible resource, and I believe you will too.

 

Scott's Blog 2/27/07

Cameron's Documentary Sinks At the Dock

When I was in college, I was amazed at how many of my professors would take time out of class to attack Christianity. The class title could have been psychology, American Indian literature, or history of Swiss dentistry, but that didn't slow down the anti-biblical fervor. One professor even began his introduction to the class by informing us, "Oh, and if you are one of those born again types, drop the class right now, because I hate you people."

It was strange to realize I was no longer an academically qualified, tuition paying student. I had been suddenly transformed into a despised group labeled "you people".

Did I drop these classes? Not on your life! In fact, I found some of the anti-Christian rants I was exposed to some of the most faith strengthening moments of my life.

One professor took class time to inform us that Jesus didn't really rise from the dead. He had merely fainted while on the cross, and was mistakenly taken down by the Roman guard. Once interred, the cool air of the tomb revived Him. He made His way out of the tomb and back to His disciples who interpreted this as a resurrection.

This "Swoon Theory" seemed really impressive as it was shared by a man with six to eight initials after his name. But when I began to think about it, some serious faults started to surface.

As in - If Jesus merely fainted on the cross, how did He then survive having a Roman pike jabbed into His left side with such force that blood and water flowed from the wound? (John 19:34)

As in - If Jesus was placed inside a traditional Jewish tomb, how did He muster the strength to remove the 800 to 1,000 pound rock that was used to seal the tomb?

As in - If Jesus did remove the rock, how did He manage to defeat the Roman guard, a detachment of 4-20 troops, specifically ordered to protect the sealed contents of the tomb on the pain of death?

As in - If Jesus did manage to do all that, He had been savaged by the beatings, scourgings, and experience of crucifixion He had already received. Even if He made it to His disciples, this would hardly be a sight that would inspire the message of the Savior Who conquered death.

In short, I came to the conclusion that it would take more faith to believe in the "Swoon Theory" than the straightforward account of the resurrection we find in Scripture.

I couldn't help but flash back on my college experiences when I read the first scholarly reactions to James Cameron's upcoming documentary that purports to show us Jesus' family tomb and the coffins of both Jesus, His "wife", and His "kids".

Scholars, Clergy Slam Jesus Documentary

Feb 26 1:04 PM US/Eastern
By MARSHALL THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer

 

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Archaeologists and clergymen in the Holy Land derided claims in a new documentary produced by James Cameron that contradict major Christian tenets, but the Oscar-winning director said the evidence was based on sound statistics.

"The Lost Tomb of Christ," which the Discovery Channel will run on March 4, argues that 10 ancient ossuaries _ small caskets used to store bones _ discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem in 1980 may have contained the bones of Jesus and his family, according to a press release issued by the Discovery Channel.

One of the caskets even bears the title, "Judah, son of Jesus," hinting that Jesus may have had a son, according to the documentary. And the very fact that Jesus had an ossuary would contradict the Christian belief that he was resurrected and ascended to heaven.

Cameron told NBC'S "Today" show that statisticians found "in the range of a couple of million to one in favor of it being them." Simcha Jacobovici, the Toronto filmmaker who directed the documentary, said the implications "are huge."

"But they're not necessarily the implications people think they are. For example, some believers are going to say, well this challenges the resurrection. I don't know why, if Jesus rose from one tomb, he couldn't have risen from the other tomb," Jacobovici told "Today."

Most Christians believe Jesus' body spent three days at the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City. The burial site identified in Cameron's documentary is in a southern Jerusalem neighborhood nowhere near the church.

In 1996, when the British Broadcasting Corp. aired a short documentary on the same subject, archaeologists challenged the claims. Amos Kloner, the first archaeologist to examine the site, said the idea fails to hold up by archaeological standards but makes for profitable television.

"They just want to get money for it," Kloner said.

Cameron said his critics should withhold comment until they see his film.

"I'm not a theologist. I'm not an archaeologist. I'm a documentary film maker," he said.

The film's claims, however, have raised the ire of Christian leaders in the Holy Land.

"The historical, religious and archaeological evidence show that the place where Christ was buried is the Church of the Resurrection," said Attallah Hana, a Greek Orthodox clergyman in Jerusalem. The documentary, he said, "contradicts the religious principles and the historic and spiritual principles that we hold tightly to."

Stephen Pfann, a biblical scholar at the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem who was interviewed in the documentary, said the film's hypothesis holds little weight.

"I don't think that Christians are going to buy into this," Pfann said. "But skeptics, in general, would like to see something that pokes holes into the story that so many people hold dear."

"How possible is it?" Pfann said. "On a scale of one through 10 _ 10 being completely possible _ it's probably a one, maybe a one and a half."

Pfann is even unsure that the name "Jesus" on the caskets was read correctly. He thinks it's more likely the name "Hanun." Ancient Semitic script is notoriously difficult to decipher.

Kloner also said the filmmakers' assertions are false.

"It was an ordinary middle-class Jerusalem burial cave," Kloner said. "The names on the caskets are the most common names found among Jews at the time."

Archaeologists also balk at the filmmaker's claim that the James Ossuary _ the center of a famous antiquities fraud in Israel _ might have originated from the same cave. In 2005, Israel charged five suspects with forgery in connection with the infamous bone box.

"I don't think the James Ossuary came from the same cave," said Dan Bahat, an archaeologist at Bar-Ilan University. "If it were found there, the man who made the forgery would have taken something better. He would have taken Jesus."

None of the experts interviewed by The Associated Press had seen the whole documentary.

____

If the early reactions of the scholarly community are any indication, it looks like James Cameron's theory won't make it out of the dock.

When weak attacks on the essence of the person and work of Jesus arise, I am reminded of the challenging words Paul shared with the intelligensia of his day.

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

 

 

Scott's Blog 2/26/07

A "Titanic" Error

We must be getting close to Easter time. How do we know? With almost clock work precision, Hollywood seizes this time of year to launch attacks on the truth of the resurrection of Christ.

Last year we were "treated" to the joys of the "Gospel According to Judas". The National Geographic Society touted this as an important new witness to the life of Jesus. Unfortunately for the credibility of National Geographic, the "Gospel According to Judas" didn't live up to the hype. When the dust of controversy settled we discovered this document wasn't new. It had been discussed, refuted and dismissed by the church back in the second century. It's message that Judas was the hero of the Gospel story, helping Jesus to shed His human body in order to achieve perfection, was the product of an early cult group called the Gnostics. The document does shed light on the attempts of this group to use Jesus and Judas as mouthpieces for their religion, but nothing more. (See Scott's Blog 4/19/06)

Of course, warming up in the bull pen was the movie version of Dan Brown's "The DaVinci Code". The combined media chorus shouted out the message loud and clear - "Forget all this resurrection stuff! You can't trust the Bible!" (See Scott's Blog 5/17/06)

Ready for another round? Next up is Academy Award winning director James Cameron's attempt to repackage old error in a new special effect laden and (supposedly) scientific package.

Jesus: Tales from the Crypt

Posted by Tim McGirk

Brace yourself. James Cameron, the man who brought you 'The Titanic' is back with another blockbuster. This time, the ship he's sinking is Christianity.

In a new documentary, Producer Cameron and his director, Simcha Jacobovici, make the starting claim that Jesus wasn't resurrected --the cornerstone of Christian faith-- and that his burial cave was discovered near Jerusalem. And, get this, Jesus sired a son with Mary Magdelene.

No, it's not a re-make of "The Da Vinci Codes'. It's supposed to be true.

Let's go back 27 years, when Israeli construction workers were gouging out the foundations for a new building in the industrial park in the Talpiyot, a Jerusalem suburb. of Jerusalem. The earth gave way, revealing a 2,000 year old cave with 10 stone caskets. Archologists were summoned, and the stone caskets carted away for examination. It took 20 years for experts to decipher the names on the ten tombs. They were: Jesua, son of Joseph, Mary, Mary, Mathew, Jofa and Judah, son of Jesua.
Israel's prominent archeologist Professor Amos Kloner didn't associate the crypt with the New Testament Jesus. His father, after all, was a humble carpenter who couldn't afford a luxury crypt for his family. And all were common Jewish names.

There was also this little inconvenience that a few miles away, in the old city of Jerusalem, Christians for centuries had been worshipping the empty tomb of Christ at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Christ's resurrection, after all, is the main foundation of the faith, proof that a boy born to a carpenter's wife in a manger is the Son of God.

But film-makers Cameron and Jacobovici claim to have amassed evidence through DNA tests, archeological evidence and Biblical studies, that the 10 coffins belong to Jesus and his family.

Ever the showman, (Why does this remind me of the impresario in another movie,"King Kong", whose hubris blinds him to the dangers of an angry and very large ape?) Cameron is holding a New York press conference on Monday at which he will reveal three coffins, supposedly those of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother Mary and Mary Magdalene. News about the film, which will be shown soon on Discovery Channel, Britain's Channel 4, Canada's Vision, and Israel's Channel 8, has been a hot blog topic in the Middle East (check out a personal favorite: Israelity Bites) Here in the Holy Land, Biblical Archeology is a dangerous profession. This 90-minute documentary is bound to outrage Christians and stir up a titanic debate between believers and skeptics. Stay tuned.
--Tim McGirk/Jerusalem

Where do we start with this one? 

* The Time Magazine heads up helpfully notes that Cameron's theory is a reach to begin with. The names on the tomb were very common. If scholars dismissed the ossuary of "James, the son of Joseph, the brother of Jesus" for (among other reasons) that such names were common in the day, why wouldn't the same objection apply here?

* If Jesus and His family were so wealthy they could afford one of these luxury family tombs, why did Jesus have to be interred in the borrowed final resting place of Joseph of Arimathea? (John 19:38) If the body of Jesus was placed in an easily identifiable tomb, why didn't the Jewish leaders produce the body and stop the church dead in her tracks on the day Peter preached at Pentecost? (Acts 2:22-24)

* If Jesus didn't die and rise from the dead, then He repeatedly lied to His disciples. (Matthew 20:19, Mark 8:31, Mark 10:34, Luke18:33) How can we square this with the fact that Jesus claimed to be the embodiment of truth. (John 14:6). 

* If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, how did 500 people see Him resurrected at one time? (I Corinthians 15:6)

* If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, and His teaching was a deception, why were the disciples willing to die for a lie? (Acts 4:5-20)

* If Jesus didn't die and rise again, why did Saul of Tarsus throw away a life times' worth of achievements to follow Jesus (Philippians 3:4-10)?

I seriously doubt if James Cameron and the Discovery Channel will touch on any of these critical issues. But like "The DaVinci Code" dust up, this program will provide a great opportunity to reach people with the message of the historical reliability of the Resurrection of Jesus. Are you ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you? If someone asks you why you believe Jesus rose from the dead, are you prepared to give a solid Scriptural answer? As you do, you will not only be able to touch others with the power of the Word of God, but you will also find your own faith strengthened and encouraged as a result!

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,  and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.  After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.  Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.  Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (I Corinthians 15:1-11)

 

 

Scott's Blog 2/23/07

Winning The Fame Game

Have you caught an episode of American Idol lately? 


American Idol title card

There seems to be an unusually high level of controversy surrounding the show this season. Are the judges too negative? Will the feud between Simon Cowell and host Ryan Seacrest eventually come to blows? Are the clearly untalented people who make it on the air in the early rounds merely patsies, set up for national ridicule? 

It is heartbreaking to see people who (like myself) can't carry a tune in a bucket have their dreams dashed before an intimate audience numbering in the tens of millions. 

But in watching American Idol, I get the impression that there is a greater danger posed by such programs than the high speed impact of ego and reality. What is the ultimate reward of being a successful contestant on American Idol? It's not the record contract and the money that goes with it. It is the promise of the ultimate brass ring we reach for in our culture - fame.

There seems to be an instinctive drive within us as human beings to want to be known and recognized. I believe it ties into the inescapable need for purpose and meaning that is part and parcel of being made in the image and likeness of God. We have a non negotiable desire to know that our lives count for something. This hunger and thirst for real and lasting impact is the very thing that God has used to lead many of us to a saving knowledge of Jesus.

But here's the rub. We know we are somehow created for glory. The big question is, where will we seek it? Is it from the applause and approval of men? Or from the unconditional acceptance we find through faith in God?

How we choose to answer that pivotal question will have deeper and more lasting consequences in our lives than we can imagine.

Those who pursue fame through human means usually end up in one of two places.

 Those who fail to achieve their dreams of the spot light end up going through the rest of life feeling like a failure - condemned by the constant refrain of "If only.." that plays through their minds like Muzak in an elevator. No matter how many wonderful things come their way, even the greatest blessings come off as a tasteless banquet served at "Table B". Even seeing the success of others becomes another excuse of a round of self pity and jealousy. 

But what about those who appear to win the fame game? 

The funny thing that many discover is that while at the beginning they felt they were pursuing fame, they find the tables turned. Fame, once achieved, doesn't come with an On/Off switch. People with fame suddenly discover a strange lack of freedom. An event as simple as a shopping trip can end up as a mob scene if not carefully coordinated. The famous also discover that personal privacy is a thing of the past, with every move and mistake in life dutifully examined under the media microscope. On a personal level, the famous begin to wonder if they can keep up the pace that propelled them to prominence. The words "What have you done for us lately" become a constant source of stress. Interpersonally, those who have achieved fame and all that goes with it begin to wonder if even their closest friends and even family members love them for who they are, or merely for what they can do for them.

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

No wonder the prophet Jeremiah had these words of advice for his assistant Baruch.

And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. (Jeremiah 45:5)

But notice in Jeremiah's warning there is also given the path to the fulfillment we seek. Instead of pursuing great things for ourselves, there is a wonderful alternative - seeking the greatest thing of all - the acceptance and approval of God.

Consider this testimony from a man who was considered one of his society's winners, clearly on the fast track to fame and fortune - until he found something better.

If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;  concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:4-11)

Paul discovered that the applause of Heaven was the only glory really worth pursuing. It doesn't corrupt - it completes us. It doesn't enslave - it frees us. It doesn't lead us to "Idol"-atry. It leads us to the true and living Savior who pursued a decidedly different pathway to glory than we see on television.

One Solitary Life - effect of the life of Jesus on mankind

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never traveled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three
when the tide of public opinion turned against him

His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life

 

Scott's Blog 2/22/07

Where Is God Working?

Every now and then when I feel I am too excited about the amazing things God is doing, I will dump a bucket of cold water on my heart by reading one of those dreary magazines or web sites devoted to "the state of the contemporary church".

 Wedged in between the "How To Pack the Pews with Gen X-ers" articles and soul searching essays on the Biblical implications of a personal whirlpool spa in the Senior Pastor's office, you can count on finding a hand wringing article on how we are dropping the ball on the Great Commission.

Dutifully these purveyors of gloom and doom will tell us that they just don't see people getting saved. "The age of evangelism is over!", they soberly declare.

These people need to get out more often.

Consider this observation from political consultant Dick Morris.

THE LATINO REVOLUTION

By DICK MORRIS

February 21, 2007 -- A revolution is underway among America’s Latino population that will have profound implications for the future of American politics. Of the 41.3 million Hispanics in the United States today, 37 percent identify themselves as “born-again” or “evangelical.” Just 10 years ago, the proportion that did so was about 15 percent. All told, there are now about 11 million Evangelical Protestant and 3 million Evangelical or Charismatic Catholic Latinos in the United States. In 1996, there were only 4 million.

This explosive growth in Evangelical religious affiliation among Latinos — about 1 million converts annually — portends huge changes for American politics. With the Latino population swelling from 22 million in 1990 to 41 million in 2004, any change of these proportions in the beliefs of Hispanic-Americans will have a momentous impact on politics.

I will leave the speculation on things political to the experts, but these statistics tell us something powerful - God is doing an amazing work in the Hispanic community.

How to explain it? 

I will never forget a lecture given while I was attending Talbot Seminary by professor Dr. James Christian. Dr. Christian pointed out that every great evangelical movement in church history has found its most fertile soil among the hearts of the poor. We tend to believe that if we can reach the rich, powerful and influential, then the kingdom of God is really going to go places. But Jesus never saw things that way.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
      Because the LORD has anointed Me
      To preach good tidings to the poor;
      He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
      To proclaim liberty to the captives,
      And the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "(Matthew 5:3)

Mark in his gospel makes this telling observation.

And the common people heard Him gladly. (Mark 12:37)

A good portion of the Hispanic community are immigrants who have left everything behind for the promise of a new and better life. They are the "have-nots" of our day. And almost predictably, the surveys show they are spiritually hungry.

In the history of the Calvary Chapel movement, this emphasis on the "have-nots" was responsible for an incredible move of God. Pastor Chuck Smith and his wife Kay would spend hours praying for the hippies who were overflowing the streets of Orange County, California in the late '60's.

As these young people began to get saved in numbers, a conflict arose. The church had spent a considerable amount of money to put in new carpet in the worship center. An over zealous elder put up a sign that said "No bare feet on the carpet". 

Pastor Chuck arrived early and took down the sign. He then called a meeting with the leaders of the church. He told them that if this was the kind of place that would keep people from hearing the Good News simply because they didn't have shoes, they needed to find a new pastor.

The elders rethought their position and the rest is history.

What would have happened to the Jesus Movement if some hadn't had the vision to see beyond the externals to the heart? What would have happened if that fledgling fellowship called Calvary Chapel had devoted themselves to reaching the Yacht Club set, instead of the flower children?

This is not to say that those with money or position can't be reached. They can and do come to faith in Christ. But if we really want to be in the midst of where God is really doing exciting things, it is usually to be found among the poor.

For thus says the High and Lofty One
      Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
 “ I dwell in the high and holy place,
      With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
      To revive the spirit of the humble,
      And to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15)

 

Scott's Blog 2/21/07

So Easy A Caveman Could Do It?

You've probably seen the ads touting the simplicity of an insurance agency web site. It spoofs our age of political correctness by showing some decidedly primitive looking people feeling discriminated against for being cave men.

The funny thing is, these cave men have a touch of sophistication that defies stereotypes - ordering roast duck with mango salsa at trendy bistros, pouring out their traumatized cave man psyches to therapists. In short, these cave men are pretty modern characters.

Ironically, this ad campaign might not be too far from the truth. When we think of ancient man, we do think of brutish primitives whose idea of sophistication was scratching crude images into a rock wall.

Turns out that this culturally re-enforced image is at odds with the facts.

Stonehenges all around us

Architectural relics and modern structures show that we may not be much different than our ancestors.
By Craig Childs, CRAIG CHILDS is the author, most recently, of "House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest."
February 16, 2007

ARCHEOLOGISTS recently discovered what appears to be the other half of Stonehenge, illuminating what they believe is a much larger Neolithic complex than has long been envisioned. What is coming to the surface seems strangely familiar. Looking closely at Stonehenge and other Neolithic sites, we find the formative patterns of our modern world.

Step out of your house and you might notice your street is fixed on a cardinal grid: north, south, east, west. This pattern defines many American and European cities, as well as Neolithic sites such as Anyang in China and the Mexican city of Teotihuacan.

The new discovery, two miles from Stonehenge itself, is an elaborate residential compound now being excavated. It is a site where the builders of Stonehenge may have lived and where pilgrims may have stayed while attending feasts and ceremonies. Fascinating tidbits have been unearthed: a timber version of Stonehenge, evidence of different kinds of occupations in the 4,600-year-old village and a processional "road" leading to the nearby Avon River. These finds add to the picture of an enigmatic Neolithic religion, in which stone-paved roads are aligned with celestial features and great circles frame the rising and setting sun at key times of the year.

This all has an uncanny resemblance to Neolithic sites in different parts of the world. The Big Horn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming, dating back several hundred years, is a complex celestial calendar, its 28 spokes of aligned stones pointing to risings and settings of the sun and various stars. This medicine wheel, in turn, is similar to the Nonakado Stone Circle of Japan, from the 1st millennium BC, where standing stones mark important, calendrical events on the horizon.

My friend and colleague, Kim Malville, recently discovered an Egyptian Stonehenge in the Sahara dating back more than 6,000 years. Malville believes that it acted as both a calendar and a temple for people living along the edge of an ancient lake, and it is the oldest known megalithic site in the world.

My personal favorite Stonehenge look-alike — at least in concept — is in northern New Mexico, where in the 11th century, the Chaco culture built hundreds of miles of processional "roads." Rather than rings of giant standing stones, the Chacoans erected enormous masonry temples known as great houses. Many of these great houses are aligned to view celestial events through portals and windows.

Looking at the way ancient people assembled themselves, archeologists see cults and primitive, celestial religions. But how primitive were these people's beliefs, and how different from them are we?

I once ambled around the Colorado Capitol in Denver with a compass and notebook in hand. I had come to a modern landmark to apply the same questions we had been asking at ancient sites. I found that every aspect of the building's neoclassical architecture has alignments you see at many Neolithic ceremonial centers. Every bench is symmetrically arranged around the cruciform building, which is, in turn, set to cardinal directions. It lies within an array of other government buildings and open processionals, each holding to the same cardinal patterns.

At the Chaco site, certain ruins were found swept clean, while nearby buildings were loaded with trash. The same thing was just unearthed near Stonehenge: some buildings littered with broken pottery and discarded bones — what archeologists believe to be the leavings of feasts and pilgrimage — and others remarkably clean.

Julian Thomas of the University of Manchester commented that these clean rooms near Stonehenge may have belonged to special people, chiefs or priests. He also suggested that they were possibly shrines and cult centers.

That day in Denver, tens of thousands of people were gathered in an open area at the foot of the Capitol for some kind of weekend fair. The atmosphere boomed with music and smelled of food cooking in numerous tents. What was I seeing? Pilgrims, feasts and cult centers? Were the meticulously kept buildings erected for priests and chiefs?

The same kind of architecture can be seen in Washington, where countless astronomical alignments are constructed into the Capitol and its surrounding buildings and monuments. Most recently, Gerald Ford joined a long line of presidents whose bodies have lain in state inside the majestic, symmetrical Rotunda. Will future archeologists imagine the worship of ancient leaders whose bodies were kept within circular chambers before burial?

So often we see ourselves as a lonely, cultural pinnacle, superior beyond all comparison. But if recent excavations at Stonehenge offer anything, they put our era in perspective, reminding us of an unbroken lineage shared across continents and cultures. We are simply an extension of an ancient age, living now in the next lost civilization.

The evidence is growing that the famous museum progression of man, from the refugee out of  the "Barrel of Monkeys" game at the south end, to the cleanly shaven, upright citizen leading the parade, is a myth. People have been people - even from ancient times. In many ways archeology is revealing that our ancestors may have even been more clever than we are.

This is precisely what the Bible tells us.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1:26-28)

How tragic that a philosophy based on the arrogant certainty that Victorian English society was the pinnacle of human development has passed itself off to us as "science". Approaching the understanding of our ancestors by looking through the 19th century spectacles of evolutionism blinds us to the brilliant achievements of humanity in the past. When we see humanity as the work of a purposeful and ingenious Creator, monuments to brilliant thought and creativity like Stonehenge aren't surprising, but should be expected.

 

 

Scott's Blog 2/20/07

The Temple Situation

One of the most key events looming on God's prophetic calendar is a rebuilding project that will rock the world - the restoration of the Jewish Temple on its historic site in Jerusalem.

Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.  But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:1-2)

There is no doubt that this great desire of the Jewish people will see a literal fulfillment. There is also no doubt that there is a major hurdle standing in the way. Situated squarely on the Temple Mount is what is now considered the third holiest shrine in Islam, the Al Aksa Mosque.

Al-Aqsa Mosque (Distant Mosque), Jerusalem

How could the Jewish Temple be rebuilt while this shrine still stands? There appears to be a significant development that could very well provide the answer to this crucial question.

MUCH ABOUT HISTORY
Temple's location found,
says Israeli archaeologist
Study of ancient cisterns pinpoints sacred site,
– Muslim Dome of the Rock outside confines
Posted: February 11, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern


© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Using maps created in 1866 by a British explorer and passages from the Jewish Mishnah, an Israeli archaeologist and professor at Hebrew University says he has pinpointed the location of the sacred Jewish Temple, twice built and twice destroyed in ancient times.

While popular consensus places the Temple, built by King Solomon in the 10th century B.C. and rebuilt by Jews who returned from Babylon in the 5th century B.C., on the site of the present Muslim Dome of the Rock, Prof. Joseph Patrich says archaeological remains show its exact location – and the consensus is wrong.

 

Dome of the Rock on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, facing west.

According to Patrich, the Temple, its corresponding courtyards, chambers and gates were oriented in a more southeasterly direction, sitting diagonally on what is the modern Temple Mount. The difference in orientation and the placement further eastward varies from the east-facing orientation of other scholars who believe the Temple was closer to today's Western Wall.

However, that difference is why, Patrich says, the Temple did not sit over the rock believed by Jews to be the site where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac and where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended into heaven.

Patrich's siting of the Temple is derived from information collected by British engineer Sir Charles Wilson in 1866 on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund. Wilson mapped a series of ancient cisterns below the present Temple Mount platform. One of those, Patrich says, preserves a vestige of the Temple that stood until it was destroyed by Rome in A.D. 70.

The cistern mapped by Wilson, approximately 15 feet wide, 170 feet long and 45 feet deep, was located near the Temple Mount's southeast corner. It was oriented in a southeasterly direction with branches extending north and south.

 

Patrich's reconstruction of Temple in 1st century A.D., facing northeast. Courtesy Hebrew University. (Drawing by Leen Ritmeyer)

"Until now no one has ever thought that the location of the cistern on the Temple Mount and its unique shape were derived from the shape and location of the altar and sanctuary," Patrich told YNetNews.

According to the archaeologist, this cistern is the only one found on the Temple Mount that corresponds to descriptions in the Jewish Mishnah – the rabbinic oral tradition compiled in the 3rd century A.D. – of daily purification and sacrificial duties carried out by the priests on the altar in the Temple courtyard.

The Mishnah says water was drawn by a waterwheel mechanism from a cistern and held in a large basin, or laver, for daily purification by the Temple's priests before they ascended the nearby ramp to the altar to offer sacrifices.

 

Patrich's reconstruction of Temple in 1st century A.D. overlaid on modern Temple Mount. Octagonal feature is Dome of the Rock. Diagram is oriented east up. Courtesy Hebrew University. (Drawing by Leen Ritmeyer)

Patrich believes the placement of the waterwheel and laver can be reconstructed from Wilson's map of the giant southeast-trending cistern and from that, the location of the altar and the Temple itself.

Patrich's siting has the Temple further east and south of locations proposed by other scholars and diagonal, rather than perpendicular to the Temple Mount's eastern and western walls. It also leaves the rock in the Dome of the Rock outside of the confines of the Temple itself.

Patrich said his research on the Temple's location is strictly academic, and political connotations should not be attributed to it.

 

The Bible tells us the Temple will be rebuilt, but with an interesting additional detail.

He came around to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod. He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas from the common. (Ezekiel 42:19)

It is significant to note that the end times Temple is described as having a courtyard compromised because it has been given over to the Gentiles. There will also be a wall built to separate the holy areas from "the common". The Hebrew word translated "common" can also be rendered "profane". How interesting that written on the dome of the Al Aksa Mosque are the words "God is not begotten, neither does He beget." From God's point of view, that kind of repudiation of the most important truth of the Bible is "profane".

Keep your eyes on the Temple Mount controversy. The reestablishment of the Temple may be ready to appear on the prophetic horizon.

 

Scott's Blog 2/19/07

A Shot From the Dark

When I was involved in the broadcast news business I came to a conclusion. The second lowest form of life is the "anonymous source". The lowest form of life are those who print what they say.

We have come to expect such underhanded tactics in the secular world. But the sad fact is the same hit and run, shoot from the shadows approach is doing land office business in Christian circles in our day.

Over the last year or so I have had the dubious experience of seeing the good names of bona fide men of God dragged through the media mud. I won't dignify these attacks by including a link, but you won't have to look long or hard to find them. In these cases, the people whose names were featured prominently in newspaper stories, blogs and even television broadcasts weren't just high profile people we see and admire from afar. They were people I know and love personally. People who took the time to make a lasting difference in my life. They were (and are) my friends.

It's one thing to see men who truly love God and His Word trashed in the media. It's another to see that the majority of the criticisms leveled against them come from "inside sources", "those who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals", and the ever popular "unnamed former leader/staff member/elder".

All these are merely important sounding synonyms for what we could call "spiritual snipers" - those who do their damage by firing away from a distance, under cover, safely hidden in the shadows.

But the shots they fire do their damage. They create untold hurt in the hearts of their intended targets, as well as their families. They also give the secular world another reason to dismiss the message of Jesus. After observing the carnage of the Hundred Years War between Catholics and Protestants in Europe, the skeptics of the day were known to sneer, "Behold! How these Christians love one another!" 

Well, don't look now, but the sneering continues.

Perhaps the most heart breaking aspect of this phenomenon is how absolutely unnecessary it is. There is no doubt that there are problems in the church today. The old saying is true - If you ever find a perfect church, don't join it or you will ruin the whole thing. God doesn't demand perfection among his people either individually or corporately. But He does desire progression - that we learn to deal with problems in a healthy and scriptural way.

What is the Biblical way of dealing with dust ups among God's people? Consider two basic Scriptures that can lead us to reconciliation instead of resentment in our walk with God.

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother." (Matthew 18:15)

Notice the method of dealing with problems among believers. We are to go personally and privately to that individual, with the goal of seeing God's best become a reality in their life. It doesn't say "Call a press conference". It doesn't say contact the editor of a newspaper. It doesn't say form a grumble group of soured saints so you can all agree that some person isn't just wrong, but evil.

Go to the person. Go individually. Go prayerfully. If you don't care enough to talk with that person one on one - you don't care enough to say anything on the subject. One of the most practical pieces of advice I have received in my ministry career concerns how I deal with letters that are sent to me as a pastor and radio host. When I open them, the first thing I look for is to see if they are signed. If they aren't, I deposit them where the belong - in the "circular file". If we aren't willing to personally stand for what we are saying, maybe it's because we don't have a leg to stand on.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)

Here we see the motivation we need to effectively deal with problems among believers. Correction shouldn't be a game of spiritual "Gotcha!" 

God took a particularly dim view of the sin sniffing ways of the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day, especially their tendency to place heavy burdens on men's backs and not lift a finger to help them (Matthew 23:4). 

One of the greatest challenges of the Christian life is to say no to the pull of anger and resentment and to go to a brother or sister who has offended us. But this is the path to true healing.

When I was on staff at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa I was involved in a regular Thursday night basketball game. One night a new guy showed up. He was driving me crazy because he had committed two grievous sins. He was running his mouth while he was running circles around me on the court.

After three games of hearing him "talk smack" while raining three pointers on my head, I had had enough. I stormed off the court and began to do the slow burn of self righteous indignation. Since misery loves company, I soon found another brother whose view of the "new guy" was just as dim as mine. Oh, the fellowship we find in a good old fashioned pity party!

The fellow who was in charge of the gym picked up on our grousing and asked what was wrong.

"I don't know, man. It's the new guy. I come here because I want to play with people who act like Christians. If I wanted that kind of attitude I would be playing in a secular league." My similarly disgruntled friend nodded in agreement.

Then my friend who ran the gym said something that made my blood run cold.

"Well, why don't we go over and talk to him about it?"

I have to confess this was the last thing my wounded fallen nature wanted to do. But I had to admit my friend was right.

We got the new guy's attention and he came bouncing over. "Whassup?"

"Um, well..." I mumbled. "The way you were talking in the game..I thought it was really out of line, and I just wanted to tell you that.."

I fully expected to hear a laugh and more less than helpful critiques of my jump shot. But what I saw shocked me.

Here stood "the new guy", completely humbled.

"Oh, man. I'm so sorry. I just became a Christian about a year ago, and sometimes I fall back into my old habits. Could you forgive me? I really was out of line."

I stood there stunned. The "new guy's" attitude of genuine contrition blew me away.

We became friends, and the "new guy" went on to pastor a church.

That is the power of taking God's Word seriously and practically. It's the last thing we want to do, and the first thing we need to do.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

 

Scott's Blog 2/16/07

Is God Still In The Miracle Business?

One of the most frequently asked questions that comes my way on Scott Richards Live has to do with signs and wonders. In Christian circles there seems to be a rising tide of confusion concerning God's ability or willingness to intervene in the day to day course of life.

And let's face it, when we see the ministry of Jesus we see the miraculous - storms are stopped, demons are disposed of, loaves and fishes multiply. And then there are healings. Lots and lots of hopeless physical circumstances and ailments instantly and completely cured.

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:


      “ He Himself took our infirmities
      And bore our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:16-17)

We also know that this kind of powerful demonstration of God's presence didn't end with Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven. Jesus Himself made this intriguing statement:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12)

The book of Acts provides vivid testimony that the early church saw miracles up to and including people being raised from the dead!

At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. (Acts 9:36-42)

There is no doubt that God moved in incredible power in the early church. But the big question is, what about now? 

The Bible tells us that the same power of the Holy Spirit that was with the early church is with us today.

And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39)

So where are the signs and wonders? The simple answer is, the power of God is evident around us if we simply pay attention. Consider this eye opening story posted by the Associated Press last week.

Teen's Heart Beats Again 4 Days After Stopping

NEW YORK (AP) - Daniel Walker was on his final lap jogging in his high school gym cl