While
they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the
chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had
assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of
money to the soldiers, telling them, “You must say, ‘His
disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep
you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. —
Matthew 28:11-15a, NRSV
Here we go again! First, it was the Jesus Seminar
which, back in the '90s, used colored beads to determine what in the
Gospels were Jesus' ACTUAL words (in their esteemed view, only about
5% of the material). Then it was Elaine Pagels, who sought to
mainstream the heretical Gnostics, who produced a number of
unorthodox post-New Testament works—the most famous of which is
the Gospel of Thomas. Then it was Dan Brown who, in The Da Vinci
Code, speculated wildly that Jesus was REALLY married to Mary
Magdalene, with whom he also had a daughter. Then, not long before
Christmas of 2006, it was back to the Gnostic writings—this
time, the Gospel of Judas—for more bizarre speculation.
Now this Sunday, March 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET, the Discovery
Channel—just in time for Easter!—will be releasing a
“documentary” on the Lost Tomb of Jesus which, among other
things, will provide us with new evidence that he was NOT raised from
the dead. 1 (Please
excuse me while I yawn.). James Cameron and Simcha Jacobovici have
teamed up to produce this most recent attempt to undermine the
Christian Faith using the most sophisticated (and, of course,
“scientific”) techniques—such as statistical analysis
and DNA testing. 2
I never cease to be amazed at the sheer abundance of
energy used by the unbelieving community in an effort to discredit
Christianity; and for those who do not know how, or are simply too
lazy, to think critically—the “evidence” they see on
TV may appear convincing. But, then, this is what people such as
Cameron and Jacobovici rely upon—the ignorance of their patrons.
Christian apologist and theologian, Dr. James White, writes, “The
real reason for bringing in the DNA aspect is simple: Westerners
have been trained to suspend all critical thought in the face of
‘scientific fact,’ giving this tapestry of wild ideas the
aura of ultimate authority. ‘You can’t argue with DNA.’”
In a related article in the Jerusalem Post journalist,
David Horovitz, tells about Professor Amos Kloner. In 1980 Kloner was
the archeologist who oversaw the Talpiot tomb project that the Discovery
Channel show now asserts is Jesus’ lost tomb. Kloner found
Jacobovici to be “very likable,” even though the
latter’s conclusions make the archeologist look like an
“absolute incompetent,” and the “whole Israeli
archeological establishment, who failed to recognize that they had
stumbled upon one of the greatest discoveries of all time”. Not
to anyone’s surprise, says Horovitz, “Kloner is having none
of it. The film, to him, is a scam. Absurd. Unscientific. ‘Give
me scientific evidence,’ he said in our conversation, ‘and
I'll grapple with it.’ But Jacobovici's findings?
‘Impossible,’ he said. ‘Nonsense .... He's inventing a story.’” 3
What, then, should a Christian do with such
presentations as The Lost Tomb of Jesus? First, watch them—but
watch with a critical eye. Don’t merely take the so-called
“experts” word for it. Secondly, be informed. Know what you
believe, and why you believe it. Studying the Scriptures and the
teachings of the Church, whether on your own or in a group setting,
are the only ways you will get there—so begin now. And finally,
be open to learning—but relying always upon the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, of whom the Bible promises, “When the Spirit of
truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13, NRSV).
You must understand this, that
in the last days distressing times will come. For people will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive
..., ungrateful, unholy ..., haters of good, treacherous, reckless,
swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
.... For among them are those who make their way into households and
... oppose the truth. But they will not make much progress, because
... their folly will become plain to everyone.
— from 2 Timothy 3:1-9, NRSV
