The Irrational Bible

Irrational Bible“I have no more ability to believe — that the first people on earth were a couple named Adam and Eve that lived 6,000 years ago. I have no ability to believe that there was a flood that covered all the highest mountains of the world only 4,000 years ago and that all of the animal species that exist today are here because they were carried on an arc —”
-Christian musician Michael Gungor 

To me, one of the scariest trends in modern Christian thinking is the notion that it’s less important what you believe, and more important how you believe it. It’s a modern take on the “all roads lead to God” saying, but with a more specifically evangelical flavor. Belief in Jesus is still expressed, but even the words “believe in Jesus” are up for re-interpretation these days.

The latest example of this theological drift comes from the Dove-award winning husband and wife artists Micahel and Lisa Gungor, known for popular worship songs like “Dry Bones” and “Beautiful Things.” My son remembers them well from their participation in youth events he’s attended, and their influence on Christian music has been significant. No surprise, then, that many are shocked, or at least bewildered, by their recent assertions that they simply no longer literally believe in stories from the Bible on such topics as creation and the flood.

“But I Still Love Jesus!”

Protesting that he still loves and follows Christ, Michael Gungor nonetheless says he has no more ability to take literally the creation account from Genesis, nor the story of the flood, than he has the ability to believe in Santa Claus. But in the same interview, he argues that the way one lives trumps what one believes, citing the Good Samaritan as a case in point, and reminding people that acts of love are meaningful, whereas specific beliefs are secondary.

And I sorta get it, but only sorta. I mean, to a point, he’s right: if you’ve got the right beliefs but don’t act on them, what’s the difference between your faith and the dead faith James condemned? (James 2:17)  Saying “be warmed and filled” apart from some practical help is, in fact, no help at all. So sure, any old Pharisee can hold sound doctrine but withhold love, and nothing good can be said about that approach.

Truth and Love, Not Truth or Love

But does that negate the importance of sound doctrine itself? Nowhere throughout the history of the early church do I see Peter, Paul, John or James preaching repentance from not being nice, and exhorting people to be more loving and thus enter the Kingdom, regardless of their beliefs. And there’s good reason for that. The cross alone provides the remedy to the sin problem, and the only reliable lifeboat for the sinner. If the man on a sinking ship is a super nice guy, but he jumps into a cluster of seaweed rather than the lifeboat because, he thinks, the seaweed will keep him afloat, then he’s gonna die. Not because he’s not nice, but because his wrong beliefs led him to trust the wrong devices.

Ditto for doctrine. Abandon the importance of sound doctrine, and you remove the ability to discern between lifeboats and seaweed, a literal life and death distinction. Abandon love, and your sound doctrine is, as Paul said, one big clang. (I Corinthians 13:1) So it not an either/or proposition: Sound doctrine must be held; love must both be what motivates us, and what
we express.

If He’s God, What’s Not to Believe?

As for the inability to believe the more miraculous parts of scripture, I’m confused by Gungor’s remarks. If I didn’t believe in an omnipotent Creator, then sure, a large percentage of the Bible would likewise be unbelievable. But if I accept the existence of God, and His ability to override principles of natural law, then there are no Biblical accounts I cannot likewise accept.

And honestly, if you reject the miraculous, can you really say you subscribe to the Christian faith? Is the resurrection of Christ not as miraculous as the flood, or the animal’s subsequent dispersion from the ark? Is the parting of the Red Sea, the walking on water, or the breaking of the loaves and fishes any less irrational to the natural mind? I cannot conceive of a true faith which dismisses the supernatural, else God Himself must, it seems to me, be likewise dismissed.

So God bless the Gungors for all they’ve contributed through their wonderful artistry. I’ll be the last person to question their integrity, much less their salvation, as I’ve no right or reason to
do so.

That said, I certainly think they’re wrong. And their error, I believe, is in keeping with a general departure from truth which is epidemic, growing, and catastrophic. Because anything leading to a denigration of scriptural authority must also lead to a denigration of the guidance and sure footed counsel we need. The Bible only becomes irrational if we reject it’s first words “In the beginning God —” After that, assuming it’s true (and I do) then all that follows is logical. That’s why believing it in its totality, including it’s most outlandish stories, makes sense to me.

“Thy word is truth,” Jesus said directly to His Father.

Amen. So let’s not mess with it.

Comments

Rachel Murfitt | Aug 6, 2014

I tend toward a non-literal-6-day view, but still believe very much in miracles and that creation was a miracle, however long it took. I recommend the book Who Made the Moon?: A Father Explores How Faith and Science Agree by Sigmund Brouwer.

mrandrewrod | Aug 6, 2014

I love your points! As Paul would say, "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" and "love rejoices in the truth." Can't have one without the other.

Lori Kinder | Aug 7, 2014

Confusion is Satan's most effective weapon . . .

SRMAC73 | Aug 7, 2014

Joe, not to step on your toes, but I if the Gungors have stopped accepting and believing biblical doctrine, and God's full authority over all creation then I believe there is every reason question their salvation. Not to say that we have the "Right" to do so, but if they are willing to believe that God did not create the earth and all living things on it, then they believe the bible is fallible and not God's truth. This then let's them cherry pick what they want to believe from the bible, and the inescapable conclusion is that they have a vastly misshapen view of who and what God is and may not even believe in the same God you and I do. If that's the case then their salvation would definitely be in question.

While I agree that not believing that Adam and Eve or Noah's flood may not jeopardize ones salvation, it certainly should give one pause to examine that person's belief in the bible as God's truth. This is especially true when in a case like the Gungors, they are performing and evangelizing (in a musical form in this case) and are seen as an example to aspire to by those attending their concerts. It's our responsibility as Christians to challenge them on their beliefs so that they may have a chance to see the error in their thinking. It's also important to do that so that other Christians won't be led astray. If the Apostle Paul was to hear what Michael Gungor beliefs are you can bet he would be the first to correct him and would have absolutely no shame in doing so.

Jane | Aug 7, 2014

I grew up attending church and learning about the miracles of the Bible. Sometime during college my science classes caused me to doubt the Bible. A few years later, after I had pretty much made my self miserable doing things "my way", I started to give Christianity a second look. However my faith had been devastated. I remember praying, "God, I would like to return but I don't believe those things anymore", and I listed a few miracles including the resurrection. Soon after that I saw my first article about the Shroud of Turin. The scientific study of the Shroud fascinated me, since my degree was related to laboratory analysis. I came to believe, and still do, that the Shroud is authentic. In fact, it was probably the world's first "selfie" (self photograph). Now that I believe strongly in the resurrection, the rest of the Biblical miracles aren't difficult to believe.

I'm sharing this to testify that we can pray honestly to God about our doubts, and request His help. In my case, I believe, He introduced me to the Shroud so I could regain my faith. (He also gave physical evidence to Thomas, so it's not contrary to His character.) If you want to watch a great video about it, I recommend "Unwrapping the Shroud". But, it really isn't important that you believe the Shroud is authentic. The important thing is that you realize that God can help anyone overcome doubts, if we just ask.

Tom Harmon | Aug 7, 2014

Good article Joe. But to take it further, you or I don't have the authority to judge ones integrity of faith or salvation, as only God sees motive, and grants salvation, as you have pointed out. But we must "denounce", false teaching I believe. Reading the book of Jeremiah now in my devotions..the people flat out rejected God's word and we're punished for it. God has exalted His Word above His name! Psalm138:2. To come out and publicly deny the Word of God is cause I believe for church discipline, don't know where the Gungers are members of a body of believers, but that body needs to act.

Ian M. | Sep 17, 2014

While I understand the concerns about specific passages of the Bible, I would like to point out that there are many passages that are metaphoric in their tone and intent. One sometimes cannot discern between history and metaphor. One could even decide for one or the other, still appreciate the content as God's revelation, and continue to see the Bible in those terms with no lack of reconciliation. I am just glad that we, as Christians, no longer kill each other over disagreements like that. We shouldn't metaphorically kill them even now.

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