On Monday, I was talking about trusting and not trusting. Part of what got me to thinking about this was the whole idea of conspiracy theories. I have friends who see conspiracies everywhere, right down to the idea that there is a small, powerful group that pretty much controls all world affairs. I just can’t fit those sorts of views into my overall worldview. I know that there are conspiracies, large and small, but I’m not going to spend my life looking around every corner to try and find them.
In the same way, I typically reject conspiracy theories regarding the Bible. I don’t buy into any of the ancient conspiracy theories about the authorship of the biblical books. I don’t accept conspiracy theories about the canon. And I don’t think that the majority of Bible translators have conspired to hide truths from us.
Could any of these people along the way have acted to promote a certain agenda? Certainly. I think all of us are influenced in one way or another by the things that we believe. But I believe that the checks and balances of community, time and divine intervention have helped to keep the impact of those personal agendas to a minimum.
It’s my opinion that our job, as people of the covenant, is to study and seek to understand the Bible in the form that we have received it. I’m not willing to play the game of “Maybe this writer wasn’t inspired” or “maybe this book doesn’t belong” or “maybe this passage isn’t original.” That’s where I am right now.
What about you?
Tim, I know what you mean. Constantine is the biggest target these days for such conspiracies, thanks to “The DaVinci Code.” I just got a book called “Defending Constantine” (by Peter J. Leithart) that seeks to set the record straight about how Constantine influenced or didn’t influence Christianity. It’s even endorsed on the back cover by N. T. Wright! A blog I read has a post that you might find sheds some more light on your post.
http://michaelsheiser.com/TheNakedBible/2011/04/reflections-on-jesus-for-liberal-theologians-and-their-hermeneutic/
I agree with you, Tim. It seems like conspiracy, skepticism and perhaps even paranoia are close relatives. I had a friend who tried to tell me that a cataclysm was coming with the year 2000…and it could be found in “the Bible Code.” He said, “you don’t believe it do you?” I said…”sorry friend — nope.” I believe the Spirit helps us to discern what is reasonable, unreasonable (Philippians 1:9-10).
Tim: Are you kidding me? (The divine right of kings) The kings of Europe and the Catholic church were in bed with each other for 1000 years. You really don’t think there was corruption, collusion, running rampant thru Roman Church, my God are you aware of all the books the Catholics have to place themselves in a favored position with God, that they have invented over the years. The Catachisis for one. You can hide your head in the sand and pretend that God protected his word thru the ages…..Why didn’t he protect his people? You probably don’t see a correlation with the Popery and the Nazis either. Funny how all those Nazis ended up in South America at the end of WWII. For anyone not to be skeptical of the constant persecution of minorities in Europe, the Inquisition, The churches attempt to maintain power thruought the middle ages is just plain folly. Basically Constantine told the pagans either accept Christ or die. If you check into the church history, the holidays, the priestly robes and hats all come from pagans religion in the early 3 and 4th century
I hate to admit it. But I get a chuckle out of the conspiracy people. Weather it’s political, prophesy types, aliens, or the new world order. And though there is a thread or two of truth in every conspiracy, it would do us good remember. Men conspire. It is our Lord, the creator of the heavens, that is control. Truly who’s hand was it that raised the nation of Germany in it’s nationalist socialist days. And why. Men love power and hatred follows, sometimes in it’s extreme. Yet look how our Lord raised another nation, it’s flag was red and carried a sickle. It’s leader, another mad man, who’s nation feared him. He scarified millions of his men of war to conquer the German soldier. Then there was our nation which was literally untouched by the ruins of war, and we were able to supply the worlds war machine, engage in war and invest in a great terrible invention all at the same time period. So, the question is – was it the conspiracy of men or the hand of the Lord that that made the sun no longer rise in the in Nazi Germany or for that matter – is it the hand of the Lord or the conspiracy of men that bring forth and bring down the nations. I prefer to believe our Lord is in control. Men will continue to conspire, for evil is in their hearts, but God is the one in control, whether we are aware of it or not.