There was an article I read some time ago, written for the ‘Raleigh News and Observer’, titled, “Gospel Myths Claimed”. The article described a meeting sponsored by Duke University at Chapel Hill, N.C., it was a meeting of the world’s most renowned group of Jesus scholars. These seven internationally known experts drew a conference crowd of about 360 clergy and lay people to Chapel Hill to listen to what they thought about Christianity’s most basic beliefs.
The reporter stated that in recent years, Christians have been hungry for new insights into the life of Jesus. Books, magazine stories and TV documentaries on the subject have achieved a kind of pop-culture following. The on-line encyclopedia Wikipedia describes ‘pop-culture’ as follows: Popular or Pop-culture changes constantly and …represents a complex… of perspectives and values that influence society. Items of pop-culture… appeal to a broad spectrum of the public….The news media mines the work of scientists and scholars and conveys it to the general public, often emphasizing “factoids” that have inherent appeal or the power to amaze.” These seven scholar’s message met the criteria to a tee, the message had an inherent appeal to their audience, and their denial of Christian beliefs did, in fact, have the power to amaze. According to this article these seven scholars, if asked what they thought of Christianity’s most basic beliefs – would tell you ‘most are myth’. Was Jesus born of a virgin? Did he walk on water? Did he intend to establish a new religion? Their answer to the above questions is, “Probably not!”
Bible scholars, such as these seven, must come to a point in their careers where their course of study is no longer a spiritual quest but may rather become doldrums. They must routinely publish papers and/or present lectures on something new and different in order to have inherent appeal to the pop-culture and to have the power to amaze. To study Jesus for years and to have nothing to show for their work would make them appear to be less than scholarly. They must show, some how, that they know more and in greater detail about their subject than lesser or non-scholars. The seven scholars, mentioned in the article, have obviously been numbed to any inspiration from on high. The spiritual incentive they must have had, that drew them to want to be Jesus scholars in the first place and that spirit that may have directed them early in their study, has obviously been set aside for the recognition of the world. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,” (Romans 1:22)
It is true that the four Gospels may have been written after the fact and they all do not coincide exactly but they are close enough to make it obvious that their stories are accurate from each of their points of reference. If their work is going to be challenged because they wrote their stories later in their lives instead of when they were walking down a dusty road with Jesus, how much less accurate would be thoughts and writings of seven scholars 2,000 years after the fact? Unlike the seven Jesus scholars, the real Gospel writers were given some help – “But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14: 26) The Father sent them the Holy Ghost to help remember the things they were given by Christ, these seven scholars could make no such claim.
There was no mention at all of the Holy Ghost being present at the Chapel Hill conference nor any mention that anyone even invited Him. There was no mention, either, of anyone of the seven Jesus scholars bearing testimony of the truthfulness of what they were teaching about Jesus. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” ( John 15: 26) There is a question as to whether these seven were even qualified to teach about the Saviour and the Gospel of Salvation? “And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.” (D&C 42: 14) Based on the above scriptures it is plausible that those seven may just have been false teachers, it is obvious that they did not have the Spirit. “… there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them,” (ll Pet. 2: 1)
The seven scholars were asked; “Did he (Jesus) intend to establish a ‘new’ religion? The answer was, “Probably not.” There is a much more scholarly answer than that. When the Israelites were led out of Egypt they had been over three hundred years without a prophet and teacher and were ignorant of the Lord. Therefore, Paul declared to the Galatians that the Mosaic Law was a primer to prepare them for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (the Mosaic Law). (Gal. 3: 24-25)
I am confident that the 360 clergy and lay conference attendees at Duke University were led astray, because the seven scholars were teaching by the spirit of man and not by the spirit of God. Why? Because the things of God were taught as foolishness unto them. “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: … the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God…. not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Cor. 2:10-14) We are cautioned to watch and pray always lest Satan take us by the hand and lead us carefully down to hell. “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John. 1: 7) ” …and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish (myth!) and a vain thing.” (lll Nephi 2:2)
Unlike the seven scholars, I can testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour, the Son of God and that the scriptures which testify of Him are true, insomuch as they are translated correctly. I can also testify that as directed by the Father, He created this world and as the Creator, could we suppose that He were incapable of miracles, even walking on water or anything else that He may have a mind to walk on?
” … Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought? And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles. And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet, be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not…And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among so many of the children of men, is because they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust. ( Mormon 9:11)
May God protect the innocent from such “Jesus Scholars” that shared their worldly thoughts on the Savior at Chapel Hill on that fateful day.