The Heart of Biblical Criticism

Is every man honestly seeking the truth when it comes to the Bible? Are people like Bart Ehrman, Dan Barker, Hitchens, Harris and the gang weighing the evidence from a fair and unbiased perspective without presuppositions? Surely, with fancy degrees and popular publications, they are approaching the matter neutrally and coming to honest conclusions, perhaps?

Enroute to conquering Bavinck’s 4 volume Reformed Dogmatics, I came upon a powerful piece, and one that demonstrates a truly biblical apologetic:

“All believers have the experience that in the best moments of their life they are also most firm in their belief of Scripture. The believer’s confidence in Christ increases along with their confidence in Scripture and, conversely, ignorance of the Scriptures is automatically and proportionately ignorance of Christ (Jerome). The connection between sin and error often lies hidden deep below the surface of the conscious life. One can almost never demonstrate this link in others, but it is sometimes revealed to our own inner eye [with respect to ourselves]. The battle against the Bible is, in the first place, a revelation of the hostility of the human heart…It remains the duty of every person, therefore, first of all to put aside his or her hostility against the word of God and “to take every thought captive to obey Christ” [2 Cor. 10:5]. Scripture itself everywhere presses this demand. Only the pure of heart will see God.”

That seems a little harsh at first.You mean every objection to the Word of God is rooted in a heart that is hostile towards God?

Without public moderated debates, it would be extremely easy to ignore this theology and write off Bavinck’s claim as untrue or irrelevant. Yes, easy. Feel-good. Temporary-fixes that welcome distractions (did someone say mainstream evangelicalism?).

But there are, fortunately, times where “another comes and examines him” (Prov 18:17). For in that case, the secret agenda, the spiritual presuppositions, and anti-God bias hidden beneath the skeptical worldview is opened up and revealed for all to see. Watch White debate Ehrman and try to say Ehrman isn’t a creature setting (false) standards before the Creator. Listen to Bahnsen debate Tabash, and try to assert that atheism is rational. Read (or hear) the transcript of the cross examination between Gene Cook and Derek Sansone, and find out the real end-game to the heart of a skeptic.

Agreed, it would be so much more comfortable not to. Close the window, spin the chair around and think about something else, something re-affirming, not challenging.

Of course, the problem is that God isn’t interested in your comfort. He’s interested in truth, and His glory, neither of which (unless you’re an Arminian or open theist) can be de-railed from a stubborn heart. Indeed, God has created all things, has decreed the beginning and end to all things, and has determined the meaning to all things, including the meaning to biological information in the cell, the eternal value of a failed marriage, and even the purpose of thousands of lost lives that were consumed by the waters of a tsunami. Bavinck is clear, as is Scripture: A) whatever ground the skeptic is arguing from, it’s God’s ground. B) Every person gives authority to a standard which turns around and gives that person meaning to life and measurement for truth, and that standard is either what man says, or what God says. As such, why on earth would we choose the creature’s lousy and constantly changing standards for truth and meaning when we have 66 books that have undergone the test of time telling us otherwise?

Christianity offers us a sirloin steak party at the beach consisting of family members, friends, and trustworthy comrades: the Body of Christ, alive, true, and faithful. And yet, somehow, we as Christians find ourselves absolutely thrilled  at the idea of eating ramen noodles with serial killers in the basement: dead, dubious, and dangerous. Something tells me committed Christianity and good theology is the way to go.