December 22, 2006
I get a lot of hate mail. On the website “on faith” co-sponsored by Newsweek and the Washington Post, I recently answered the question “Who is Jesus?” By quoting from scripture. There were a few positive responses, but most were negative. Here are a few:
“the concept of Jesus is an ongoing fraud perpetrated by the half weak upon the fully weak.” This writer calls people who believe in Jesus “fools.” But scripture says “the fool has said in his heart ‘there is no god.’”
Here’s another: “Jesus was a good man, wonderful teacher/idol and a prophet like other prophets. But absolutely he was not god. God does not grow up like Jesus. God is almighty, but Jesus was not almighty; he could not defense himself again crucifying.” I think he meant defend himself against crucifixion.
Jesus came for the purpose of offering himself as the perfect and eternal sacrifice for our sins. As to his being a good teacher, C.S. Lewis dealt with that in “Mere Christianity.” Lewis said he didn’t give us the option of being a “good teacher.” He was either a lunatic, a liar or exactly who he said he was.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
