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Mangled Christianity
A Review Bottom Line Beliefs by Michael B. Brown
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November 1, 2009
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“…in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons….” 1 Timothy 4:1
This book claims to describe twelve “bottom line” beliefs
that all Christians hold in common. However, its description of those beliefs is
confusing, and at times clearly contrary to Scripture. For example, in
discussing what happens after we die (chapter 12), it includes reincarnation
as a belief that is held by some Christians (p. 94). However, reincarnation is
contrary to Jesus’ parable about the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). And
it is clearly refuted in the book of Hebrews, which says,“it is appointed
for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
(Hebrews 9:27, emphasis added)
I have discussed two chapters dealing with beliefs that
are absolutely foundational to Christianity. Following that are some general
comments about the book.
Chapter 2 — The Centrality of
Jesus
This chapter makes the following main points about Jesus:
(1) “Jesus is a man who transformed human culture.” That
statement is followed by discussing how, over the centuries, Christians have
founded hospitals, nursed the sick, provided education, helped the poor, and
engaged in “social services.”
(p. 15)
This approach could be used by humanists or atheists who
care about the poor.
(2) “Some see Jesus as a rabbi’ who taught the ultimate
ethical system for life within community.” The Sermon on the Mount is given as
an illustration of teachings about ethics.
(p. 15)
This approach could also be used by humanists or atheists.
(3) “Some see Jesus as a personal presence. He challenges
us in our daily decision-making. He comforts us in times of crisis. He confronts
us at work or school or home, asking us, as he did Matthew, to Rise up, and
follow’
(Matt 9:9).
He is intensely personal and involved in our human lives.”
(p. 17)
This third approach is alright as far as it goes, but
there is much more to Jesus Christ than that. The apostle Paul said,
“Therefore God
also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven,
and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
(Philippians 2:9-11)
Nowhere in the entire chapter is there a word about Jesus
being our Savior, that He loves us so much that He died to save us from our
sins. Nothing is said about Jesus Christ being Lord. And nothing is said about
Jesus being God incarnate, both God and man.
The silence is deafening.
Chapter 3 — Jesus’ Resurrection
The first paragraph says that “A bottom line belief for
all Christians is a belief in the resurrection.” However, that statement is
immediately qualified by saying that what Christians believe about the
resurrection varies widely. The chapter gives four different approaches to
the resurrection. They are discussed below, in the order that they are given in
the book.
(1) “Some interpret the resurrection as more of a
spiritual than a physical phenomenon, almost as if Jesus were an apparition.
Such an understanding is neo-Docetic, and despite the fact that Docetism
was deemed heretical centuries ago, its influence and broad level of acceptance
remains undeniable even today.” This statement is followed by accounts of ghost
stories.
(p. 22)
According to the online edition of the
Encyclopedia Britannica, Docetism did more than deny the bodily
resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also denied that he had a real body
during his life on earth. It spiritualized Jesus to the point of claiming
that He only had an “apparent or phantom” body. This was one of the
earliest heresies, and in the second century it
became a teaching
of Gnosticism. This heresy denies the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and
the Resurrection. As a result, it also denies salvation. By trying to
spiritualize Jesus to the point of denying His humanity, it makes a mockery
of the Gospels and of Christianity.
[1]
Docetism is clearly refuted in the Bible. It wasn’t just
“deemed heretical “centuries ago” — it has always been considered to be a
heresy, ever since the early church. It spiritualizes Jesus, denying that He is
God come in the flesh, it denies both the Incarnation and the Resurrection, and
it thereby nullifies salvation. The apostle John warned Christians not to be
deceived by such false teachings. He said,
“Beloved, do not believe
every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many
false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of
God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is
of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in
the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you
have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”
(1 John 4:1-3)
The Bible makes it absolutely clear that Jesus had a
physical, bodily resurrection. And it specifically refutes the idea that what
the disciples encountered was a spirit or a ghost. Consider the following
account of the apostle Luke:
“Now as they said these
things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace
to you.’ But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen
a spirit. And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts
arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself.
Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I
have.’
“When He had said
this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not
believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’So
they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it
and ate in their presence.” (Luke
24:36-43)
They personally handled the physical body of Jesus.
They touched Him and felt Him. When they gave Him food, He physically ate
real food in their presence. Jesus made it absolutely clear that He was
physically present. By handling Jesus’ body, the disciples personally
experienced the concrete, physical nature of Jesus’ resurrected body.
(2) “Another way of interpreting the resurrection is that
Christ’s followers in the days after the crucifixion merely felt his nearness
with them.” This statement is followed by accounts of grieving people who “feel”
the presence of loved ones who have died.
In addition to denying that Jesus was resurrected as
described in Luke’s gospel, this approach makes Jesus Christ seem to be no
different than anybody else.
(3) “Jesus’ teachings, his principles, and the lives of
discipleship exhibited by his followers all survived in spite of the cross.
There are those who say that Jesus lives on through the people who started the
Christian movement and keep it going.”
(p. 23)
Again, this approach denies the resurrection as
described in Luke’s gospel. And again, it makes Jesus Christ seem to be no
different than other people. One could say that Karl Marx lives on through
the people who keep his movement going. One could say the same thing about
other people who have impacted society in smaller ways.
(4) “Finally, there are many traditionalists among us who
accept the idea of the bodily resurrection of Jesus.”
(p. 25)
After giving three approaches that deny the Biblical
accounts of the Resurrection, the author finally mentions that there are
Christians who believe that Jesus was resurrected bodily. And he calls such
people ‘traditionalists.’ But belief that Jesus was physically
resurrected as described in the Bible is not based on tradition — it is based
on Scripture. By talking in terms of tradition, the author makes the belief seem
as if it rests on the traditions of men rather than being based on the clear,
obvious, unmistakable meaning of the accounts of the Resurrection given in the
Gospels, the Book of Acts, and in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.
General Comments
The literal bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ is
absolutely central to Christianity. Our salvation depends on it. The
resurrection of the dead depends on it. Without a literal, physical resurrection
of the Lord Jesus Christ, our faith is worthless. The apostle Paul said,
“Now if Christ is preached
that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there
is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead,
then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is
empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of
God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did
not raise up — if in fact the dead do not rise.“For if the dead do not
rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is
futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep
in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are
of all men the most pitiable.”
(1 Corinthians 15:12-19)
“Bottom Line Beliefs” does not build up faith. It
brings fog instead of light. It gives a distorted, watered-down, confusing
picture of Jesus Christ and of Christianity. If readers are not Scripturally
knowledgeable and well grounded in foundational Christian doctrines, then this
book is likely to cause confusion and undermine their faith.
For centuries, courageous missionaries have faced dangers,
hardships, and death in order to share their faith with people in other
countries. And they are still doing it today, in nations where Christians are
severely persecuted.
The early Christians faced death by torture rather than
deny their faith. And throughout history since then, Christians have been
suffering and dying for their faith. It is still going on today, in countries
such as North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. These faithful Christians endure
hardship and death because of their love for, and trust in, the Lord Jesus
Christ — a risen Savior, a glorious Lord who conquered death and hell. Not for
a ghost or an ethics teacher.
NOTE
1. “Docetism,”
The Encyclopedia Britannica (online edition)
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/167323/Docetism
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and
lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and
he shall direct thy paths.Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and
depart from evil. “Proverbs 3:5-7