Waving Our Bibles?
alt="Text Box: “They wave their Bibles at passersby, screaming their condemnations of deviant sex practitioners. They fall on their knees, worshipping at the base of granite monuments to the Ten Commandments while demanding prayer in school. They appeal to God to save America from their political opponents, mostly Democrats. They gather in football stadiums by the thousands to pray for the country’s salvation. They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch. They are joined by religious rationalizers—fundamentalists who, unable to find Scripture supporting their biases and beliefs, twist phrases and modify translations to prove they are honoring the Bible’s words.” " v:shapes="TextBox_x0020_1">
These are the opening words of a recent hit-piece against the Bible and those who believe it. These words are taken from a recent issue of Newsweek that puts on stage an article by Kurt Eichenwald.
When unbelievers attack Christians and the Bible, this is a typical tactic – to paint this crude caricature and present it with the implication – this is the way all Christians behave. It immediately shows the critic is unfamiliar with real Christians. (He has not met the editors or writers of Expository Files. We think he has not met our readers either).
I don’t wave my Bible as passesrsby. We don’t scream condemnations at deviant sex practitioners. I’ve never known one Christian to fall down in worship toward a granite monument. Most of this is unrecognizable to members of the Lord’s church. (Some of this may be connected to the Westboro Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas. But they do not represent most believers in the Bible.)
And I want you to observe carefully – the author of the Newsweek article is not really attacking the Bible here; he and Newsweek is attacking the people who believe the Bible. They seek to prejudice readers against the people who believe the Bible. If they can prejudice his readers against the people associated with the Book, I suppose they think it will be easier to dismiss the Book itself.
One thing we can do, let our light shine through words and deeds that do not confirm the caricature.
By Warren E. Berkley The Final Page
