I recently saw a blog post that stated:
“If we continue to use the Bible as we did in the past, we render ourselves likely to repeat past atrocities.”
Immediately everyone who agrees that the Bible is the cause of most of history’s atrocities (you know, like the Nazi’s and 9/11 *sarcasm*) shout AMEN! And all those who suffer from the notion that Christianity is a religion of hate join the chorus. However when one looks at this statement (and no context other than a book plug was given) it becomes clear that this is a wonderful example of a worthless, sentiment driven statement. In order for this statement to have any meaning the following questions need to be answered:
1. Who is “we”? Or to put it another way, who is being stereotyped in this statement?
2. In what way was the Bible used in the past? This ties directly to question 1 since not all people use the Bible the same way. For example born-again believers committed to growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ use the Bible quite differently than non-believers (or marginal believers if there is such a thing) who are just trying to justify their political/ideological position.
3. Which past atrocities are being referred to in this statement? And, can it be proven that these past atrocities were the direct result of the above mentioned use of the Bible? Or was the use of the Bible just a means to make more palatable what man had already decided he was going to do?
4. If I (specific) use the Bible how does that make it any less likely that atrocities will be committed, with the Bible being used as justification for them, in the future?
5. Do you acknowledge that the Bible has to be used incorrectly to justify mans sinful, atrocious behavior?
And a 6th question…just for fun:
6. Do you acknowledge that the Koran has to be used incorrectly to condemn the jihadists sinful, atrocious behavior?
Perhaps the author of the statement is planning on clearly answering these questions in the book he was plugging, but that remains to be seen. If so I’ll eagerly post a follow-up to this post. So perhaps I can offer a different statement:
“If believers correctly study and understand the Word of God and actively apply it to their daily lives and proclaim it to the lost, they will render themselves more likely to refute, by their lives and testimony, the foolish notion that true Christianity is actually responsible for any past or present atrocity.”
