Mr. and Mrs. Jesus?
The Discovery Channel recently aired a documentary claiming that tombs discovered in Jerusalem once held the remains of not only Jesus but also his wife and son. The main proponent of this view, James Cameron, is not a scientist but a director of such classics as Piranha Part Two: The Spawning (he also did a little film called Titanic). And even though most archaeologists completely dismiss the validity of the show’s findings, some people will nonetheless be convinced. Even if you think the Jesus family tomb idea is crazy, it may make you wonder. What would happen to your faith if some of your beliefs were shown to be false?
We used to believe that the universe revolved around us…literally. Then in the 1600’s, Galileo determined that we were the ones doing the revolving. This discovery was threatening to many Christians. Why? Well, Psalm 104:5 says that the Lord “set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved” (other Bible verses make similar statements). If you read that verse literally, what does it do to your faith to learn that the earth is, in fact, moving?
But it’s not always science that shakes our faith. Millions came away from the book The DaVinci Code believing that Jesus was married and had descendants and that the Catholic church conspired to hide it all from us. Dozens of books then sprouted up explaining why the book was wrong (I, however, can explain it in one sentence: The book is fiction; the author made it up). Would it impact your faith if the book were right, though? Picture it for a second-Jesus’ wife screaming at him to take out the trash and his teenage son crashing the family donkey into a tree-wouldn’t that make Jesus’ sinlessness even more amazing?
At some point, your beliefs will probably be challenged, whether from outside sources or from crisis situations in your own life. You can take comfort in knowing you are not alone. The Israelites saw the Red Sea part and manna rain down from the sky, yet when Moses was gone longer than they expected, they worried about their future and began making shiny new cow gods. The disciples witnessed Jesus’ feeding crowds of thousands with only a few loaves of bread, yet on another trip they worried amongst themselves because they had forgotten to pack bread. What does it say to us when figures who actually spoke with God or personally witnessed miracles had doubts?
What about you? What would or does challenge your faith? How can you prepare yourself?
- Written by Matt Brown
March 27th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Come on… how great is the picture in my head of Jesus chilling in a recliner with a beer and Mary Magdaline needing him to take out the trash, or clean up after the goat??
I am currently struggling with the questions that Matt has put forth. My faith is challenged at his very moment… I am considering revisiting Ukraine this year, and have been told that God will provide the money for me to go. Money is a struggle in and of itself to me. But for someone to tell me that the Lord will provide this money to me for this trip if its meant to be is something that I am really having a hard time with.
How can I be sure that the Lord will provide me with this money? Yes, I am challenging my faith here. What if I can only raise some of this money? Is God going to write me a fat check for the rest? Will Wachovia honor this check?
I know what is on the other side of the rainbow if I make it to Ukraine this year. Deaf camp is where I first heard God speak to me. It is where God first really REALLY made Himself known to my heart. So, why do I struggle with knowing that He will provide for me? Does this make me a bad person?
Thank you Matt for asking these questions…
March 30th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Wow. Great thoughts Matt. This is so good, it almost seems as if Karen wrote it. But I am sure that if she did, you would give her full credit and thank her for her insight. But that not being the case, thanks again “Matt” for making us realize that our faith is not based on the limited knowledge we have of God but on a God that is much bigger than our limited knowledge and understanding.
Kerry - What if God does not provide? Does that make him a bad God? Has HE said he would, or someone trying to speak on his behalf? If he has not, what HAS he said? Is this about a trip or about trusting him, no matter what? Just some more questions that come to my mind…
March 30th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Excellent questions, Ed… I can say that for the first time I am completely comfortable with that knowledge that God will provide. Not just financially, as I woke up with an overwhelming calm this morning.
I remember my life before I became a believer. Because of this, I know that He has provided me with protection, knowledge, trust, and love. I wake up and thank God everyday for providing me with peace and love. After that, I don’t need promises.
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:35 pm
I think Christ also boiled down the entire gospel message to 2 key things: 1) Love God and 2) love each other. We must do both through our words and our actions, but it is the true feelings within us that determine our motives. If someone takes sacrificial action for any purpose other than one or both of the above, then he/she is still not following the gospel, though his/her actions are meritorious.
Hence, I define sin in my own life as anything (words, actions, thoughts, feelings) that separate me from God instead of bringing me toward God. This is a pretty broad definition and highlights to me little things in my everyday life that probably aren’t in-tune with the gospel. The question is where should I draw the line between trying to be perfect and accepting my inherent sinfulness and seeking repentant foregiveness. Should we ever accept inherent sinfulness? Seems like it may be a cop-out.