Posted by
Playful Walrus on Thursday, April 24, 2008 3:24:10 PM
Trashing Christians or Christian ideals or the Bible is common in advice columns, pop music songs, television shows, and films – any medium where the author’s statement often goes unchallenged by immediate feedback to which the rest of the audience has access. The notions presented often float into the mind of the passive observer, who often will not subject it to critical analysis.
I’ve written before about “hit and run Bible mockers”. But I want to discuss something a little different that is in this recent edition of advice column Dear Margo.
HAPPY WITH OUR OWN BELIEFS, THANK YOU writes:
My sister-in-law is a born-again Christian and very outspoken about her beliefs.
Did you know that “born-again Christian” is a redundant term? All Christians are born-again. Otherwise, they’re not Christians, even if they attend church regularly.
She agitates my husband to no end when we are at family gatherings. I can't think of a wedding that we've been to in the last 10 years where she hasn't cornered us about being saved.
Sounds like she really cares about you.
We've tried to tell her that we have our own beliefs, and I usually walk away, but my husband gets very stressed and angry and gets into it with her every time.
It is your husband’s choice whether or not to get angry. He doesn’t have to say anything to her, or really listen to what she is saying.
She even sends tracts to us in birthday cards and other letters. I am tired of having to deal with this. Any suggestions on how to handle this zealot?
Well, you could cite her own Scriptures in a respectful way. I’m assuming she believes what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches not to “throw pearls before swine”. In context, it is a reference to leaving people alone when they don’t want to hear the Gospel. Simply move on to someone who does want to talk about it. As described, this woman isn’t being a very good representative of Christ. Christians are called to give a reason for the hope that is within them with gentleness and respect, not to hound people who’ve heard what you’ve had to say and don’t agree and don't want to hear anymore.
Instead of a variation of this respectful and possibly effective tactic, Dear Margo suggests a different approach.
Because your husband, however, seems unable to walk away, suggest he try a new approach when responding to his sister. Here's some early American history I read somewhere: Thomas Paine, considered by many a de facto Founding Father, ridiculed the Bible as a long fairy tale of crime and fantasy.
So Paine should be cited as a “de facto Founding Father”? What does being an influence on the founding of the United States of America have to do with the fact that this woman is saying stuff that these people don’t want to hear? If anything, the First Amendment says “let her talk” and “let her be free to have her faith”.
Perhaps the fellow could say that he believes the Bible to be a long fairy tale of crime and fantasy. But that will only continue the discussion, so it is bad advice. Of course the Bible records crime and fantasies, because people commit crimes and have fantasies. So what? This does nothing to negate the truth or authority of the Bible.
Thomas Jefferson took a razor to the New Testament and cut out everything he thought silly, evil or mystical.
Again, what does this have to do with anything, unless you believe that Paine and Jefferson are the ultimate authorities in what is believable, sensible, and moral?
He was left with a very short book.
Yes, I book that talks about good and evil and God is going to record a lot of evil and supernatural things. So what?
Then your husband should try to make a case for atheism.
She didn’t write that he was an atheist. She wrote that she wanted to end the discussions. This advice stinks. Too bad a lot of people are going to read it and try the next time someone cites their belief the Bible, even if it is the first time they do so.
Apoplexy guaranteed.
So she should try to get her husband to try to get a rise of her sister-in-law, thereby making the situation worse? Something tells me that Dear Margo couldn’t pass up a jab at the Bible and so she did it even though it meant giving lousy advice.
Again, I don’t excuse a lack of social grace or politeness. But I’ve got news for Dear Margo. The Bible has survived attacks from people much smarter and better at making the attacks than you. The Bible has provided good advice and guidance to people for thousands of years, and will continue to do so, should the Lord tarry, long after you are dead. It accurately describes the human condition, God’s redemption of humankind, how to avoid or deal with the pitfalls of life (with much better constancy than you), and how to have a relationship with God.
Game over.