Notes From Jon

Speaking of Faith Column

K-V Dispatch

March 14 2007 Edition

Hold on to your hats: Yet another startling new discovery threatens to rock the foundations of Christianity! How many times have we heard this in the last five years? From the questions posed by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code and the scandalous Gospel of Judas, to the recent discovery of the James ossuary (which, incidentally, was proven a hoax), it seems there is no shortage of revelations these days that strike fear in the hearts of millions of Christians worldwide! The foundations of the Church are crumbling, and Christianity is cowering in the shadow of science and truth…

Or at least, that’s what someone wants you to think.

In 1980, a group of archaeologists discovered a tomb with several ossuaries, boxes containing the bones of the deceased. Names on those boxes include “Jesus, son of Joseph,” Mary, and even “Mariamene,” a name that was reportedly used to refer to Mary Magdalene. The discovery was picked up by Hollywood director James Cameron (of Titanic fame), who has made a “documentary” on the subject. The implications are serious, they claim: Jesus was no more than a normal human being, who was married to Mary Magdalene, and who had children. No cross and resurrection, no ascent into heaven.

It seems everyone’s expecting Christians to shudder in fright. The world watches for some kind of vicious reaction from the Church, like cornered animals who realize their time is up. Sadly, some of us have given it to them.

I could go on for several weeks of columns, talking about the problems in their research, the evidence that disputes their claims. But you’ll see all of that on TV. I think what’s more important is not the story itself, but why we react to it the way we do.

We (as Christians) should not be surprised by this kind of thing at all. The rest of the world is looking through lenses of “un-faith,” and they will always see what they want to see. And they’ll keep looking… and they’ll still be looking years, decades, centuries from now (if Jesus hasn’t returned), trying to find that final straw that will break the Church’s back. And I believe the Church will still be as strong then as it is now, if not stronger.

What does it say about our “faith” when we allow it to be threatened or shattered by scientific discoveries, no matter how well-grounded they may be? What does it say about our God when we allow him to be judged by the whims of scientists and atheists who will read the evidence in their own favor? Is our “faith” based scientific proof and archaeological evidence? Or is our faith based on belief, on the Truths that God has revealed to us?

If you’re looking for scientific proof of God, I’m sorry to inform you that I don’t think you’ll find it. God wants us to have a faith that’s based on him, not on proof. As long as we are here on earth, the struggle will continue – between those who want to prove God, and those who think he’s just baloney. And in the middle will be those of us who just know – not because it was proven to us, but because we choose to believe that it’s true.

Instead of cowering in the corner and lashing out, maybe we’re better off looking seriously at these things and letting them inform – and challenge – our own faith. It’s no sin to ask questions – just ask Job. Rather than allowing our faith to be defined by the latest sensational news story, let’s look first through the lenses of faith and see the truth we need to be reminded of: That no matter what may come our way, God is still there, and he still has the final word.