Research reveals that Biblical
literalism is strongly correlated with a host of social maladies and inhumane
world-views. For instance, people who think the Bible is the literal word of
God are more likely to physically abuse their children, harbor hatred of
homosexuals, deny the evidence for climate change, love semi-automatic assault
weapons, oppose women’s equality, oppose humane treatment of animals, oppose
universal-subsidized health care, and to vote for incompetent, unintelligent,
unhinged men for president.[1]
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fewer than one in
four Americans (24%) now believe the Bible is "the actual word of God, and
is to be taken literally, word for word," similar to the 26% who view it
as "a book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by
man." This is the first time in Gallup's four-decade trend that biblical
literalism has not surpassed biblical skepticism. Meanwhile, about half of
Americans -- a proportion largely unchanged over the years -- fall in the
middle, saying the Bible is the inspired word of God but that not all of it
should be taken literally.[2]
I have been unable to find any of the “research” Zuckerman
used in his defamation of people who believe the Bible is literal. I am not
interested in the semantics of how one views the Bible, let’s just say that it
is God’s story, from creation to redemption. I might also point out that the
actual research he used from Gallup is of American society. The information may
suggest that there is a problem with the way Americans think, rather than their
view of scripture. I doubt that one’s view on biblical literalism is the only
factor leading to: physical abuse of children, hatred of homosexuals, denying climate
change, loving semi-automatic assault weapons, oppose humane treatment of
animals, oppose universal-subsidized health care, and to vote for incompetent,
unintelligent, unhinged men for president. That sounds to me more like being a
republican than a Bible believing Christian. The list also fits white supremacists
better than most other groups. It also reflects atheistic beliefs, since if
there is no God, the survival of the fittest is key. Regarding the election of
the current weird president, it took a whole lot more people that just those
who believe the Bible is literal to put him in office. A country that elects a bombastic
buffoon as president will have to live with the fall out; he is the American
president. I wouldn’t be blaming Bible believers for crimes of society, the
American president doesn’t believe climate change is real. He’s against health
care, he’s all for making the rich richer. As an atheist Phil Zuckerman clings
to anything disparaging about Bible believers. I suggest that he look at American
society, it just may be that immorality and baseness keep pace with the increase
of godless people.
I don’t agree with Zuckerman’s rationale, I do however
recognize that many who profess Christianity come across more political than
spiritual. I can’t speak for all churches in the US, but I can about some with
which I am familiar. It’s my belief that Jesus applauds acts of kindness, the
consideration of people in need, and support of those who are vulnerable. I don’t
understand how a disciple of Jesus would be against poor people receiving
medical help from the government. I also don’t understand why a believer would
be against social programs. It certainly doesn’t look good for “Christians” to
support policies which advance the rich and wealthy, but do harm to the working
class and poor of society. Anyone having a modicum of understanding of Jesus’
teaching will see that professed Christians do not always support those
teachings. “Christians” of every stripe are giving atheists and other godless
groups ammunition against God. It is incredulous that the current American
president owes part of his success to “the religious right”, that’s politically
right, not religiously correct. What characteristic of this man was most
appealing to Christians? Maybe his morality? Possibly his business ethic? Might
be that he’s very rich. It couldn’t be his campaign promises, since those were
against social programs. I don’t know what it was that appealed to the religious
people of America causing them to vote for this man. He is certainly not the
epitome Christian virtue, but then very few of us are.
"In the Western religions —
Judaism, Christianity and Islam — the focus is: 'What do you believe?' There is
always a tremendous focus on doctrine and teachings," he says. "In
the East, Buddhism and Hinduism in particular, the leading question is, 'Do you
know God?' It's much more experience-based."[3]
In India I saw the grotesque deities of Hinduism, the
thousands of idols and shrines littering that country, and I ask myself, how is
it that pagan idolatry has captured the essence of Jesus’ teaching, and western
religions focus on intellectual concepts devoid of spirit. There is something terribly
wrong when Christianity is seen in the same context as Judaism and Islam.
Unfortunately I don’t think the problem is with the author of the above quote.
I think that the church in America
today is so obsessed with being practical, relevant, helpful, successful, and
perhaps even well-liked that it nearly mirrors the world itself. Aside from the
packaging, there is nothing that cannot be found in most churches today that
could not be satisfied by any number of secular programs and self-help groups. Christless
Christianity. Sounds a bit harsh, doesn't it? A little shallow, sometimes
distracted; even a little human-centered rather than Christ-centered from time
to time, but Christless? Let me be a little more precise about what I am
assuming to be the regular diet in many churches across America today: "do
more, try harder." I think that this is the pervasive message across the
spectrum today. It can be exhibited in an older, more conservative form, with a
recurring emphasis on moral absolutes and warnings about falling into the pit
of worldliness that can often make one wonder whether we are saved through fear
rather than faith.[4]
It bothers me greatly to realize that Christianity has
become so insipid and common that it is listed as just another western
religion. In fact, none of the three “Western religions” are really western.
Judaism and Christianity are Middle Eastern, and Islam is Arabic. That any one of
these religions is considered western should cause great concern for adherents
of any of the groups. Christianity has suffered the greatest from syncretism,
Judaism and Islam do not permit modernization of their doctrines. The Jews did
not, and still do not accept Jesus as the Messiah, they are obviously not
Christian. Islam worships the moon god, and follow the teachings of a man who
had political ambitions which required unification of Arab tribes. That was
accomplished by focusing on a single deity, Islam is not Christian. The
critical feature of Christianity, as the name suggests, is its focus on Christ.
When Christ is taken out of Christianity all you are left with is insanity.
The major changes in spiritual
practice over the past half century have been largely window dressings. Pick a
trend—megachurches, seeker churches, satellite campuses, vacation Bible school,
children's church, affinity group ministries (e.g., ministries for singles,
women, men, young marrieds), contemporary worship music, big screen projection
systems, EFT giving, cell groups, downloadable sermons, sermon outlines in
bulletins, Alpha groups. All of the above have simply been attempts to rely on
marketing strategies to perform the same activities in different ways or
places, or with particular segments of the aggregate population. Whatever
difficulties were present in the larger institutional setting that spawned
these efforts are invariably present in the smaller or divergent efforts as
well.[5]
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint,
dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice
and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting
the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel![6]
I do not want to leave the impression that either Frank
Viola or George Barnar are hypocrites. The point I want to make is that similar
to the religious leaders of old, most modern efforts to reform Christianity
ignore the primary deception that –Jesus designed the church. The idea that by
reforming or improving the church one is somehow restoring Christianity is as
ridiculous as swallowing a camel. The church is a human institution, it has
nothing to do with Christianity. Jesus did not build the “church”! His entire
mission concerned the kingdom of God. It is time we stopped being fooled by the
erroneous translation of Greek words. Some Christians formed societies to avoid
persecution, however, Christianity was never intended to be institutionalized.
…the Christians
encountered by Pliny recognized that their meetings came within the scope of
the edict against collegia, at least potentially a subversive political club, a
view later espoused by Celsus. Celsus also saw them as a disloyal Jewish sect;
others may have seen them as a rather more respectable burial society, and so forth.
Christianity was diverse; people are likely to have noticed diverse aspects of
the strands they encountered, and interpreted them in terms of differing models
from their respective social contexts.[7]
I agree with Viola and Barnar’s findings which suggest to me
that attempts to resuscitate the church have failed. Unfortunately many churches
represent Horton’s “Christless Christianity”. Not all though, there are churches
focused on Christ, which have a fellowship of believers, and support people in
their walk with Christ, but even those will not evade the stigma of institutionalism.
The Roman Church adopted the hierarchical structure of the Empire and/or Jewish
priesthood, both of which were foreign to Christianity. I believe that despite persecution
by the church, Christians have lived as citizens of God’s kingdom either secretly
in the church, or hidden away from its influence. To avoid persecution
Christians were forced to go underground to hide from the scrutiny of the
church. I am confident that what Jesus told his disciples concerning his
kingdom is true, “the gates
of Hades will not overpower it.”[8] The church as the imposter of the kingdom is becoming
evident. People are leaving the traditional church by droves.
The religiously unaffiliated, called
"nones," are growing significantly. They’re the second largest
religious group in North America and most of Europe. In the United States,
nones make up almost a quarter of the population. In the past decade, U.S.
nones have overtaken Catholics, mainline protestants, and all followers of
non-Christian faiths.[9]
The share of Americans who do not
identify with a religious group is surely growing: While nationwide surveys in
the 1970s and ’80s found that fewer than one-in-ten U.S. adults said they had
no religious affiliation, fully 23% now describe themselves as atheists,
agnostics or “nothing in particular.”[10]
The only thing that concerns me about failing churches is
that some will equate it to failing Christianity. Christianity is not failing,
Christianity is personal, and it can never be institutionalized. As the many
facades of Christianity crumble, and the debris of denominations is cast aside,
the love of God will still be seen in his disciples. The godless mass will revel
thinking they have finally destroyed God, some believers may feel that God has
been defeated. The world has been in this situation before; pagans have
partied, and Christians have wept. No one is going to shake the God of heaven.
He’s seen it all before; it is he who laughs at atheists.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what
can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever
since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible
though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.
So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honor him as
God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their
senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools;[11]
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is
written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of
the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the
scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom
of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God
through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to
save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we
proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to
Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God.[12]
A favourite passage of mine comes from the Old Testament, it
is an interaction between God and one of his prophets.
"What are you doing here, Elijah?" He answered, "I have
been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have
forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with
the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it
away." …. Whoever
escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the
sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel,
all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed
him."[13]
There is significant meaning in what Jesus told people, "If any want to become my
followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow
me.”[14] Believers have a personalized cross,
its purpose is the link to the Lord, one’s service of worship. Honouring God
through Jesus, reaching out to the vulnerable of one’s area. It is not looking
for comforting meaningless talks in an air-conditioned auditorium. It means to
be committed as Jesus was to serving others and honouring God.
…there seem to be two ways in which a truly Christian reformation could
come about. It could come about through some terrifying persecution of the
Christian Church — a persecution that would rid the Church of those of little
faith, of the status-seekers and respectability-hunters, of the deadwood who
enjoy the club atmosphere, of the ecclesiastical hangers-on and the
comfort-searchers. Once the Church becomes the most uncomfortable institution
in the community, only those who really matter will stick with it. At this point,
one would expect the Church to come back to those basic principles of love,
faith, and hope that have made martyrs out of men.[15]
Berton wrote in 1965, he saw something few of his
contemporaries noticed, and which has got steadily worse over time. Now, over
fifty years later, the church is falling apart from internal rot. The name of
Christ will be slandered because the church has presented itself as the face of
Christ. Christianity will be mocked. But, nothing will overpower God’s kingdom.
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are
blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave
me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and
you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and
you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we
saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And
when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you
clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And
the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the
least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'[16]
[1]
Bible Belief in Decline, Phil Zuckerman Ph.D. https://www.psychologytoday.com
[2]
http://www.gallup.com/poll/210704
[3]
More U.S. Christians mix in 'Eastern,' New Age beliefs, http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion
[4]
Christless Christianity, by Michael Horton, p. 17
[5]
Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices, Frank Viola, George
Barnar
[7]
Making Sense in (and of) the First Christian Century, F. Gerald Downing, p. 142
[8]
Mat 16:18
[9]
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160422-atheism-agnostic-secular-nones-rising-religion/
[10]
The factors driving the growth of religious ‘nones’ in the U.S. Pew Research Center,
September 14, 2016
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