What is the Jesus Seminar and Who Cares?

Religious America is greatly influenced by seminaries, professors and theologians. The beliefs of most denominations are a direct result of what these academics say and teach. In most churches one cannot even preach without an advanced degree. Of course, such is not so among churches of Christ. We are far more interested in what the Bible says then what men say about the Bible. However, in ignoring what the denominational world is doing and saying we must reckon with a certain danger. It is possible that denominational "Christianity" will shape and mold Americans' expectations and ideas about Jesus. The Jesus Seminar is doing exactly that, and we would do well to keep abreast of their dangerous teaching.

The Jesus Seminar is a group of about 50 Bible scholars and seminary professors who began meeting in 1985 to uncover the "historical Jesus." They began by openly stating the Gospel records were useless (too flawed) and so they would launch "the tumultuous search for the Jesus behind the Christian facade of the Christ." To find the "real Jesus" they devised a voting system to decide what Jesus really said. By casting a red bead into a bucket they indicate that a given statement was spoken by Jesus; a pink bead shows that this statement resembles something Jesus might have said; a gray bead says the idea may be close to Jesus but did not originate with Him. A black ballot is a definitive no. It means Jesus positively did not speak the saying but had the words put in His mouth by later writers. The result of their voting was widely reported in the media: 82 percent of the words attributed to Jesus were not spoken by Him. In the all of Mark only Jesus' statement "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17) was judged authentic! Further, they threw John out completely. The Jesus Seminar then capitalized on their media success by publishing The Five Gospels: The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus. This new "Bible" announces that "the Christ of creed and dogma can no longer command the assent of those who have seen the heavens through Galileo's telescope." The Seminar's members have used a very willing media with great effect to promote their book and cause. Dr. Luke Johnson, a scholar who has attacked the Seminar, remarked "It was fascinating to see how the Jesus seminar . . . was savvy enough to realize that the American media covers only three things well: Personalities, elections and scandals, and crafted their yearly performances in the form of elections (the colored beads) concerning the personality (Jesus) promised to yield a scandal."

What do Christians think of this? "Some liberal theologians wrote a book claiming the Bible is not accurate _ so what? Let us get back to Bible study." Why should we care what the Jesus Seminar is doing and saying? The answer is simple: they are changing the way Americans perceive the Bible and Jesus. Historically most people have had some degree of faith in the Bible. The Jesus Seminar is not only trying to change that, they are succeeding. Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Reports all devoted April cover stories to their work, and much of what was said was very favorable to the Seminar. One cannot deny that this will affect people's faith and interest in Christianity. Dr. Johnson said in Time "Americans generally have an abysmal level of knowledge of the Bible. In this world of mass ignorance, to have headlines proclaim that this or that fact about Jesus has been declared untrue by supposedly scientific inquiry has the effect of gospel. There is no basis on which most people can counter these authoritative-sounding statements."

In many ways this struggle reminds me of the evolution-creationist controversy. Americans believed solidly in creation until the late 1920's. Then, because of scientists' manipulation of the media, the lie of evolution was told repeatedly. Now many accept it as fact. Could the same thing happen to Jesus? Could the Seminar pound away at American consciousness of Christ until finally they convince us that we cannot know Jesus or believe what the Bible says about Him? A negative answer would only betray naivete on our part.

I foresee two effects of the current Jesus wars. First, our non-Christian neighbors will need to be given evidence for faith before we can teach them about Christ. When modernistic scholars have torn down people's basic beliefs we must build them back before we introduce the one church concept or baptism. Second, inevitably this will affect some Christians. I have heard evolution defended in Bible class and expect to hear the Jesus Seminar defended as well. How long will it be until a weak or immature Christian says "We cannot even be sure Jesus said that, can we? The news says the Gospels are not reliable. . . ." As an aside, let me predict that Jesus' statements on marriage, divorce and remarriage will be the first to be attacked this way.

Our society is under assault by these pseudo-scholars and theologians who are trying to yank the last under-pinnings of faith out from under us all. We dare not close our eyes to the challenge they pose. Yes, defending Jesus' deity and the integrity of the New Testament requires some study, thought and careful work in areas that can be tedious and difficult. Yes, we will be tempted to say "Let them believe that and let us get back to studying the Bible." However, if we fail to prepare ourselves to give an answer for our hope (1 Peter 3:15), we will have failed the Lord we love so much. He is risen. We must be ready to prove that fact to a world with ever increasing doubts.