Jeff Ling

In preparing for this Sunday’s message on Habakkuk, I was especially moved by J. Sidlow Baxter’s comments from his excellent “Explore the Book” (one I would urge anyone to get!).

Baxter describes Habakkuk as opening with a sob of doubt and grows into a song of joy. An apt description.  I’m reminded of the many times I have sat with people who were sobbing with doubts about their lives.

“Why did he leave me?”
“Why did God let them die?”
“I worked hard and I gave faithfully and now I’m unemployed. Why?”
“What if the cancer doesn’t go away?”
“Does God really love me… after what I’ve done?”

Doubt plagues all of us to some degree.

Habakkuk had doubts about God. Why on earth was God using the thoroughly rotten Babylonians to punish the not as completely rotten people of Judah? (1:12-17) He couldn’t wrap his brain around the idea of God using the godless to do His work.

Baxter lists three things Habakkuk did that took him from a sob to a song:

1. He told his doubts to God. He complained to God and not to others. (1:1-4; 12-17)
2. He made time to listen to God. (2:1)
3. He gave praise when he saw the answer. (3:17-19)

Baxter says it beautifully and his insights are worth reading:

There is also truth of high value for us in the process by which Habakkuk passed from his sob of doubt to his song of trust. First, he told his honest doubt to God, and not to any mere human “brains trust.” If we would only do that instead of sighing abroad our doubts on human ears, what unrest we would escape! But second, Habakkuk resolved to wait on God. He said: “I will get to my watchtower. I will wait to see what it all means.” Nor did God mock him. Nor does God ever mock such a man. We do not know how long Habakkuk waited; but we do know God answered him. Oh, if we would only give God time, so that He might prepare our minds for what He has to say! People say that God does not speak to men today as He did long ago. The truer statement is that men do not listen today as they did of old. To the man who waits, God does not remain silent. Thus, thirdly, Habakkuk broke through to joyous certitude and song. He had seen a vision. All was changed. When he had looked at circumstances he was in despair. When he waited and heard God speak he began to sing.

Baxter, J. Sidlow (2010-09-07). Baxter’s Explore the Book (p. 1042). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

When I set out to read The Christian Delusion: Why Faith Fails , I knew I wasn’t in for a particularly pleasant experience. My anticipation was that the author, John Loftus, had surely gone out of his way to paint believers in the worst possible light and he did not disappoint. After a few weeks of being mocked, ridiculed, taunted and despised, I finished the book that one reviewer stated “destroyed Christianity.”

I don’t think so.

Loftus will simply dismiss people like myself as delusional and uneducated. It’s a fact that John does have more degrees than I do and the man has worked hard at what he does. Even so, I wont concede to the status of a pea brain who has given no serious thought to his beliefs. I stand in good company. Countless numbers of brilliant people in all fields ascribe to the same faith as I and do so with confidence.

I read The Christian Delusion in order to better understand the arguments put forth by atheists. The book, which is a compilation of articles with Loftus as editor and a contributor, presents it’s material in a well written fashion with copious footnotes. All the usual subjects of attack are here: the authority of the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus, faith as a social construct, the goodness of God and, surprisingly interesting chapters on cruelty to animals and Nazism as an extension of Christian prejudice and hatred.

What is obvious from the outset is that Loftus and company are interested in only one side of the proverbial coin. For the most part, their sources are those who are already atheists or skeptics. When they quote those who are sympathetic to Christianity, the quotes tend to come from those who hold extremely low views of scripture. This provides a very skewed presentation in regards to Biblical authority. When John Shelby Spong is one of your go to guys for a theologian… well now you just look foolish. There is another side to the coin. There are scholars who date the gospels and letters much earlier than those Loftus and company consult, and who refute with expertise the idea that nothing can be really known of the historical Jesus. There are those who wrestle with the hard questions of faith without succumbing to atheistic views. There are believers who study the neuroscience of belief without dismissing the mystery of spirituality. The saying “it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,” does not apply here. It does natter where you start. Loftus and company are starting from a closed system which holds no option for a God who could have possibly inspired the Biblical authors. So case closed. But, it begs the question as to whether or not the atheists here are being intellectually honest. Persuasive? maybe. Sarcastic? Undoubtedly. Honest? Hardly.

There are those who have written a comprehensive response to the book.  The Infidel Delusion by Patrick Chan, Jason Engwer, Steve Hays & Paul Manata is a chapter by chapter refutation of The Christian Delusion and well worth pursuing. For those interested, you can watch a debate between John Loftus and one of his favorite targets, Dinesh D’Souza, here.

Do I recommend the book? By no means. Those who need to do research on an academic level may want to read it but the effort can only render results that are mildly but usually mis-informative, slightly entertaining and hopelessly biased.

I still believe.

You are retired for your private devotions; you have opened the Bible, and you begin to read.

Now, do not be satisfied with merely reading through a chapter. Some people thoughtlessly read through two or three chapters—stupid people for doing such a thing!

It is always better to read a little and digest it, than it is to read much and then think you have done a good thing by merely reading the letter of the word.

For you might as well read the alphabet backwards and forwards, as read a chapter of Scripture, unless you meditate upon it, and seek to comprehend its meaning.

Merely to read words is nothing: the letter kills.

The business of the believer with his Bible open is to pray, “Lord, give me the meaning and spirit of your word, while it lies open before me; apply your word with power to my soul, threatening or promise, doctrine or precept, whatever it may be; lead me into the soul and marrow of your word.”

Also, it is not the form of prayer, but the spirit of prayer that shall truly benefit your souls.

That prayer has not benefited you, which is not the prayer of the soul.

You have need to say, “Lord, give me the spirit of prayer; now help me to feel my need deeply, to perceive your promises clearly, and to exercise faith upon them.”

In your private devotions, strive after vital godliness, real soul-work, the life-giving operation of the Spirit of God in your hearts.