According to CNN, the only thing more miraculous than Jesus' resurrection is that Christianity survived at all after the first century.To me, the only thing more unbelievable than CNN saying this, is how much time they spend seeking to foist their version of history on the unsuspecting.Over the last couple of months, we have spent some time examining “The Mystery of Jesus” - a CNN special that casts a great shadow of skepticism over the entire biblical record – especially the Gospels. In their next special, “After Jesus”, CNN's shadow of skepticism grows darker and wider. So fanciful is their rendition of what took place in the years immediately following Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection that one scarcely knows where to begin.I have spent time reading the entire transcript of the special and I must say that when I was finished I was completely worn out. I don't think I've seen a more disturbing portrayal of supposed “biblical scholarship” than this one. As perhaps you'll see, CNN's “biblical” world begins to look a bit like Alice's Wonderland.The special seeks to explain that which to them is almost unexplainable: How could a defeated group of followers of a slain religious leader turn Christianity into the massive world-wide religion that it has become? In “After Jesus”, they seek to answer this question and, believe me, their answer has nothing to do with the resurrection. Which, of course, is the reason given by Luke in the book of Acts.As Luke reports it, the disciples were, indeed, cowering behind closed doors in Jerusalem, wondering what was to come next. Undoubtedly, they were afraid that what had just happened to Jesus would happen to them.And then something happened...They saw Him.His resurrection was first told to them by the women who had gone to the tomb. Peter and John ran to the tomb themselves to see it empty. As they returned to the upper room and the company of the other disciples, they related these events to the others. Suddenly, Jesus walked in.They were in disbelief at first, but He showed them His scars and ate and drank with them to prove that this was not just some “spirit” come to haunt them from the dead.Jesus spent many days with them after His resurrection, continuing to teach them before He ascended to Heaven. The disciples watched as Jesus ascended into the clouds and angels told them that one day He would return in like manner as He had promised. The Day of Pentecost – the day in which God poured out His Spirit upon them -coupled with their own witness of Him alive transformed these men into fearless messengers for Him. No longer were they cowards hiding for fear of the Jews. Nor were they afraid of Rome. They feared nothing and no one. They had one goal... Tell the world that Jesus is alive.They went to their deaths doing so. In so doing, they absolutely rocked the Jewish and Roman worlds. Luke's account in the Book of Acts tells of unbelievable growth...from the very beginning. Peter's first message at Pentecost yielded 3,000 converts. The fire spread from Jerusalem to Samaria to Asia Minor and down to our day...the uttermost parts of the earth – just as Jesus' said in Acts 1:8...“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”So much for the Gospel writers'...or should I say...eyewitness account.CNN doesn't believe that things probably happened that way. They can't tell you why they don't believe it. Bet I can. Listen to, first, narrator Liam Neeson and then CNN's expert:NEESON: The story in the Book of Acts was written by Luke decades later. Could he have exaggerated to make it sound even more impressive?(CNN's expert) GRIFFITH-JONES: I think it most unlikely that it happened exactly as Luke describes it, but Luke is absolutely clear what significance he sees in what happened, and what he needs to do is relay through his story not just what happened, but what it meant that it happened, what it signified.Hmmm...poor Luke. Makes you wonder what he would have to do to get modern day scholars to believe him. Apparently it's not enough that he was an eyewitness and a companion with the Apostle Paul on his missionary journey's. And note that Mr. Griffith-Jones gives no logical reason for his skepticism. So, one must draw the conclusion that he is skeptical simply because Luke is a writer of one of the Gospels. There's a term for such a disease in the academic world...Presuppositional Bias.In everyday terms, this simply means that CNN's expert has previously determined in his own mind not to believe the biblical record. Instead, Luke's account is reduced to symbolism – not of facts – but feeling. Not what actually happened, but what Luke felt like it meant that it happened.If you can figure out what all that means you're wiser than I. What I think it does mean, is that CNN is relying on the aura created by their visuals and the cool-sounding credentials of their critics to carry the day. Maybe find one or two with a foreign accent – they always sound more impressive – and let them pontificate about how they don't believe things “probably happened quite that way” at every reference to a biblical account.Oh do speak, O Wise one! And we'll check our brains at the door. LIFE OR DEATH MOMENT?One of the more troubling assertions made by CNN is that Christianity faced a “life or death moment” when the Apostle Paul came on the scene. He wanted to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, but the boys back in Jerusalem – Peter and James et all – said “No way”. To them, the Gospel was meant for the Jews alone. According to CNN, it was not until Paul came to Jerusalem and pleaded his case for the Gentiles and won over the Apostle James that the Gentiles were accepted by the fledgling church. Once he did that, the battle was won. After all, James was the Lord's brother. How could Peter possibly argue with him? Hmm...Interesting tale. Problem is, it is pure fiction.Again, I must plead the case that CNN's experts give no reason for their complete twisting of the biblical account. Are these guys biblical scholars? And in their minds, in order to be a “biblical scholar”, do they put any value whatsoever on actually reading the text?First, it was Peter – yes, Jerusalem Peter – that first pleaded for the inclusion of Gentiles to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem! Not Paul! In Acts 10, God poured out His Spirit upon the house of Cornelius – a Gentile – right in front of Peter. Acts 11 relates Peter's coming back to the believers in Jerusalem to tell the wonderful news that God had included the Gentiles. And there was no argument! The Jewish believers in Jerusalem, upon hearing of the event, enthusiastically embraced the Gentiles. No arguments. No argument with James or from James. And I believe it was because of Peter's prominence in the Jerusalem church that God had him bring the message of God's inclusion of the Gentiles – not Paul! Being the pillar of the Jerusalem church, who better to bring news of such a miraculous event than Peter!So...that means the question of Gentile salvation was settled long before Paul's coming to the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15...15 years before to be historically accurate!Which brings me to my next point...Paul's coming to the council in Jerusalem had nothing to do with the inclusion of the Gentiles in salvation as CNN claims. Did you get that? Absolutely nothing! The account in Acts 15 relates Paul's coming to Jerusalem – not to plead with Peter and James for the Gentiles in salvation – but to confirm that the Gospel he was taking to the Gentiles was the same as theirs! You see, as Paul took the message of Jesus to the Gentiles, he encountered Jewish believers who were coming behind him and telling the Gentiles that in addition to receiving Christ as Savior, they had to keep the Jewish law in order to be saved. Paul knew salvation was by faith in Christ alone – that the Jewish law had been fulfilled in Christ and was not to be viewed as a means to salvation.Paul came to Jerusalem to confirm this with Peter and James. Who better to confirm a question regarding the relationship of the Jewish law to salvation in Christ than Jewish believers in Jerusalem? Paul related the Gospel he was sharing with the Gentiles and Peter and James enthusiastically agreed – salvation is by faith in Christ alone. He was NOT to require the Gentiles to keep the Jewish law. After all, they themselves had left the Jewish law as a means of salvation and rested solely on faith in Christ. In fact, James penned a letter of encouragement for Paul to take on his journeys in ministering to the Gentiles.So, what do we make of CNN's account? It is pure fiction. It is an invention. Fabricated in the minds of men who are determined to propagate the notion that Paul invented Christianity as we know it today. I don't care how many “Alpha-Bits” some professor has after his name, he should be embarrassed to twist the biblical account like this and give absolutely no historical reason for doing so.We'll discuss some other assertions given in “After Jesus” next time. Thus far, though, it appears that once again we are going to be faced with a decision. Accept the history given by Luke – an eyewitness from the time of Christ, Peter, and Paul – who was there when Christianity began. Or, accept the ramblings of modern critics who claim to have the “real” story 2000 years after the fact.As your faith is, so be it unto you, but as for me...I'm sticking with Luke.
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Tracy Gray |
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The Anvil The Anvil of God’s Word
Last eve I paused beside
the blacksmith’s door,
And heard the Anvil ring
the vesper chime,
And looking in I saw upon
the floor,
Old hammers worn with
beating years of time,
“How many Anvils have you
had”, said I,
“To wear and batter these
hammers so.”
“Just one”, said he, and
then with twinkling eye,
“The Anvil wears the
hammers out, you know,”
And so, thought I, the
Anvil of God’s Word,
For years skeptics’ blows
have beat upon,
And though the sound of
falling blows was heard,
The Anvil remains
unchanged, the hammers gone.
Author Unknown
For more articles by Tracy Gray, please visit the Original Intent and Anvil Archives
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