Lesson Forty-five
THE BIBLE WAS NOT WRITTEN BY GOD!!!
~ Mahatma Ghandi ~
Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Buddha; they all have roots in lore and what we could now arguably consider ancient history. And depending on your geographic location, the religious beliefs of your parents, and local spiritual principles, you’ve probably been exposed to all of them in some fashion. We all know the story of St. Nicholas and his gift-bearing benevolence toward children. Who of us has not left a tooth under the pillow (or in some cultures, buried it) to find money in its place the next morning? What child from the majority of homes in North America has not risen on Easter morning in anticipation of the gifts left by the Easter Bunny? Who hasn’t hunted a colored Easter egg? It’s ok!
And lastly, who hasn’t heard the Christmas story that tells of the virgin conception and birth of Jesus, the Nazarene? You know the one. He was conceived by God, himself, in the womb of the virgin, Mary. We talked about this two chapters ago! He was born in a manger because there was no room at the inn. He was visited by three wise men who brought gifts of frankincense and myrrh. Shepherds followed the star that shined upon the very location where the Messiah was born! The child-God grew to be a famed teacher, and as foretold by great prophets of the Old Testament, was crucified and buried for his alleged claims to be the Son of God, or King of the Jews. He rose from the tomb after three days, during which time he descended to Hell to defeat sin, and ascended to heaven to be seated at the right hand of God. His sacrifice and resurrection paid the price for all our sins. It’s a WONDERFUL story full of magic and hope. But it’s just that; a story. And it’s much less believable than the story of St. Nicholas.
By the time we reach the age of 12 (and many much sooner) we have clearly determined that the present-day roles of Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny are ALL played by our parents. The evidence is just too overwhelming and eventually the parental figures cave to the prodding of young minds. The truth is revealed. And yet when it comes to the story of virgin births, bright stars and mangers, despite overwhelming evidence that brings the entire story in to question, our children’s minds are continually imprinted with the undying devotion that the entire story is true. No one wants to recant the story because, by the very nature of Christianity itself, to not believe comes with too high a cost. Better to believe and be wrong than to NOT believe and be wrong. Let’s take a look at that. I know. It’s confusing.
What exactly does it MEAN to be a Christian? Actually, few things in scripture are more clear than the definition of what it means to be a Christian, that is, to hold your place in the Book of Salvation and be saved through Christ Jesus. In other words, your ticket to heaven is free and easy. Referred by some as the “Gospel in a Nutshell”, John 3:16 sums it up perfectly.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
You can read the entire Bible from front to back if you wish, but the only chapter and verse that really mean anything is found right there in John. In simple English is says without ambiguity, if you believe in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, you’re going to heaven. Period. It’s not open for debate. For Christians of every single denomination it boils down to that; belief.
You don’t have to tithe, go to church or sing in the choir. It isn’t necessary that you give to the poor or be kind to your fellow man. The Ten Commandments really become just “Ten Suggestions” because acting on them has absolutely nothing to do with your salvation. I’ll take it a step further. If you’re Christian and believe the Bible as written, then by your very claim you must ALSO believe there will be murderers and rapists in heaven. Some wonderful earthly people will spend eternity in Hell because they never accepted Jesus as their personal savior. And this is where it gets convoluted.
Time and time again I have met “Christians” who hadn’t the foggiest notion what that claim means. I’ve met those that believe you must only believe “in God” and when pressed about the bad people going to heaven, back-pedal and begin the process of picking and choosing those parts of the user’s manual (the Bible) that best fits their needs. Some of the Bible is pretty easy to swallow; some of it, not so much. For the parts somewhat less palatable, people defer to those verses that feed their spirit. For the life of me I’ll never understand how those that claim the Bible to be God’s word inerrant can also be the very sort that behave outside its teaching. It’s like trying to have it both ways. You can’t. And therein lays the very root of why I no longer adhere to its message. Who wrote this thing anyway? If not God, who?
