Gnostasism is alive and well in 2008
So frequently I hear from people that much of the Bible is dated, that challenges that faced early Christians no longer are relevant to us today. The very people we are warned about in 1&2 John are hard at it today writing best selling novels trying to shed doubt on the resurrection and deity of our Lord.
“Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.” (2 John 1:7-11 NIV)
I recently went to my Audible account and looked for a thriller / mystery book to listen to, I drive a couple of hours a day to and from work, listening to books has been a way of making these trips more pleasant and bearable. I have always had a fascination with mid-evil history and a book about the Templar Knights caught my eye, I downloaded it and began listening. [[ SIDEBAR RANT ABOUT ELECTRONIC AUDIBLE BOOKS - Unfortunately I have no way of screening the books from having some language or worse yet sexual content and on several occasions I have basically tossed an electronic book for content. Usually there is a warning of some form if it does have that and those aren't books I'm interested in owning. When you get something offensive online make a comment so others are alerted, it saves others the annoyance of wasting a download on something they won't finish. END RANT]] The story was like many others, an ancient treasure and a hidden secret, with good guys and bad guys all vying to find it first. This time though the author chose to write the book in such a way that was always encouraging the belief that what was written was historically accurate.
I ran into this same thing with the davinci code, and by the end of it you've sat through 16 hours of some guy saying there are all these questions about the accuracy of our Bible. In the "Templars Legacy" case he called into question the gospels and unfortunately used the old trick that Satan has all Jesus detractors use. He left out contextual information and I basically reread Mark today to see if what he had alluded to was correct. In the book of Marks case he quoted Marks initial description of Jesus foretelling of his death and resurrection, a 2 verse entry (Mark 10:33-34), as being the extent of Marks time addressing the subject of Jesus resurrection in the book. In the 16th chapter it is discussed in full, albeit in a shorter manner than say John or Luke. He did this weaving a need for the story to change as believers got further and further away from the actual event throughout the 4 gospels. Mark is believed to be the oldest and therefore was the one he beat his drum most about.
Once I finished listening to Mark and saw that he wasn't really providing an accurate story I knew I had been had, During Lunch today I read it in the text and was able to get my fingers
on and flow around the book remembering the story from this morning, with my own knowledge I could now see the author was just trying to sow doubt and make a buck. So that is why I haven't given you the authors name, if you google the title you'll find it if your interested, but I won't be tossing any more cash this fellows way. So whew... it was a work of fiction, if you listen to the authors final comments, he confesses to making it all up - the parts in the story he uses to justify the plots deep dark secret. But he doesn't seem to care that for many it could cause a great deal of harm if shared to another as a trusted work. Like so many he isn't a believer, he tried to rewrite the gospel in such a universal way as to make it fit with many other religions. Thats just like those antichrists from the 1st century, he was a good guy, a prophet but did not really defeat death. Or worse yet he was God, but he wasn't really flesh so he couldn't have ever died for us to begin with.
ARRRRGHH... All this just makes me sad, but I what should I expect? The world isn't my home, it doesn't believe what I believe, it won't care if I perish or live. The moral of my story is be wary of what you buy, the books, movies and services may not contain a message that draws you closer to our maker and savior. I will throw kudos to Zondervan for the Audio Bible I did get from Audible last year. It made this mornings commute pleasant and I was encouraged by the readers dramatic efforts to impart the words of our Lord and Mark to me this morning.
Final Thought - for those possibly considering these odd views of Jesus as just a man or un-risen.
"13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:13-22 NIV)
I want to make sure if your reading this you grasp how important that message is, without Jesus as a risen savior all our beliefs are in vain. When you look around you in this world there is no doubt that there is a God, and beyond that, there is no doubt his Son came to earth and died and defeated death. You can see his love for us in his message of hope, and frequently in the people around you today. If your not a part of his family, an eternal member, seek out his message. Feel free to email me (See link on top of right of page) and I'll be glad to call you and talk about what you can do to have assurance. He is risen, and awaiting all of us to join him.
