Common Myths About Christians, Part 1
Not being saved until my mid-twenties has given me a unique perspective concerning how atheists view Christianity. I spent twenty-six years buying into all the misconceptions, prejudices, and myths about the Christian faith and the people. I wasn’t correct…pretty much ever. So, I thought it would be fun to think through some of those myths about Christians and how to respond to them. Join me while I work through two popular modern myths about Christians.
1. Christians Are Anti-Science.
This is a popular criticism nowadays. Between climate change, transgenderism, and Covid-19 Christians have heard a constant chorus of “science denier.” Is it true, though?
Like with any group of people, sure, some likely fit squarely under “anti-science.” However, this is not true of your average Bible-believing Christian. I know this because the Bible is not anti-science. Here’s a bit of Scripture for your consideration.
Isaiah 40:22 – “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:”
What’s this? The Bible describing the world as round well before we could ever know that? I don’t want to get too technical, but the Hebrew word used for “circle” is chuwg. This word describes a spherical circle. You know, like the scientifically accepted description of earth today…
Ecclesiastes 1:7 – “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.”
This is a description of water’s recirculation on earth. Can we agree that people were unlikely to see the water cycle in action while writing the Scriptures? Of course we can!
1 Corinthians 15:41 – “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.”
We know that each star is unique, but that fact is not visible to the naked eye from earth. Yet, the Bible says it is so. This is again a verifiable scientific fact that could not have been known by man when it was written.
Job 40:15-18 – “Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.”
People were not saying “dinosaur” when Job was written, but that behemoth certainly sounds like one, doesn’t he? Christians don’t scoff at the idea of dinosaurs. They praise God for such an awesome creation. The Creation Museum is the perfect place to see how the Bible and dinosaurs fit together, not contradict like frequently claimed.
With a little digging you will find that God has a lot to say about science. Looking for resources? The Institute for Creation Research and Answers in Genesis are a great start.
A Note on Current Scientific Disputes
The most popular anti-science claims have much more to do with current social and political issues of our day. I’m going to respond quickly to them because these controversies are not my main point, and I could write books on these topics with all the information out there. This blog post isn’t the place for all that.
Climate Change
Some people deny it is happening, but many (maybe most) don’t deny that. They just do not think it will be as catastrophic as alarmists say. The climate has changed over the course of our existence on earth, and we have acclimated. God will, as many of us see it, care for us. It certainly isn’t worth economically crippling the world when innovation and motivation can help us accommodate to predictable changes in our environment. Not to mention, God perfectly placed us in space and arranged all of nature to support our survival.
We can take steps to further protect our planet without behaving as if it is a crisis. We can believe that God will care for us while also acknowledging the climate is, indeed, changing. Two things can be true at once… People hate that.
Transgenderism
Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
First, He made them male and female. There isn’t a spectrum in which a person’s sex can exist, though, there is in how someone may display it. For example, not all females are girly girls. And not all boys are rough and tumble. However, God has created each of us male or female.
Second, God didn’t make a mistake by putting some people in the “wrong” body. Psalm 145:3 tells us that God has infinite greatness. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable.” Infinite greatness makes no mistakes. Psalm 147:5 tells us God’s understanding is also infinite. This, too, would preclude God from making mistakes. “Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.”
Therefore, if a person feels like he/she is in the wrong body, then they have a problem. But that problem is not because God made a mistake.
Covid-19
Christians are all over the board with this one. Some believe everything the media tell them. Others believe nothing anyone says about Covid. Still more are somewhere in the middle.
Is it anti-science for us to ask questions, look for evidence, and expect consistent and transparent information? Is it anti-science to weigh out our risks by looking at statistics? I don’t think so. In fact, that sounds an awful lot like science to me. Wherever each of us lands on this issue, no one appears to be eschewing science. We’re all confused. Grace, please. Let’s have grace.
2. Christians Don’t Have Fun.
OK. I actually understand this one. I have definitely met some Christians that just can’t have any fun. Or did I? I’m going to make a sweeping generalization. My apologies. I think that, generally, conservative Christians hold back some of their personality upon first meeting and when in mixed company. I can’t tell you why because I’m not psychic, but I can tell you why I do. Personally, I’m a goofball. I kid a lot, and I love to laugh. The problem with that, though, is it can be obnoxious to individuals who are much more low-key. Also, some folks just need to warm up to me and understand the heart behind the words, sound effects, and gesticulations that can land airplanes. Suffice it to say, I’m a bit much.
Although some Christians I have met seem a bit boring, I don’t believe it is more prevalent among Christians than the general population at large. Some people are boring and not much fun. The end. More often, the Christians I meet are up for fun. These are the kind of people who will give up a whole week to host Vacation Bible School (VBS). Young and old Christians, alike, commit to laughter, games, songs, and playing with children (no matter how challenging) in order to share Christ. Boring people who detest fun don’t sign up for intensely enthusiastic good times like VBS. They just don’t. Even when I decide I’m going to be miserable (adult tantrums are real), believers who are always rejoicing in the Lord (Philippians 4:4) pull me out of my self-imposed funk and show me real joy and gladness.
Ultimately, my takeaway is that people see Christians who do not participate in the same activities as the world, and they make an assumption that Christians are sticks in the mud. I’ve had more fun playing silly card games at a potluck dinner with friends and their kids with no media, no alcohol, and clean language than I ever had getting sloppy drunk with my friends. (And believe me, I tried to have that kind of fun a lot in my lostness.) So, could it be that one person’s brand of fun in not fun to another?
When I came to know Christ I became new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The things I once loved no longer brought me joy. I had new interests, passions, and a peace that I had never known before. Maybe Christians often look less fun because the world doesn’t recognize godly enjoyment.
Final Thought
Historically, Christians have been criticized, made fun of, and persecuted. In America, thankfully, it has mostly been criticism and teasing, but so often those things stem from ignorance. People form opinions of us based on anecdotes, biased reporting, or knowing some “weird guy” who carries his Bible around. They don’t know us, what we believe, or why we believe it.
Well, let’s get ready to tell people. If they call you “anti-science”, can you point to why you believe what you do? Or do you clam up? If you turn down an invitation to a bar crawl with the girls from work, can you explain yourself? Or do you just come across as a legalistic wet blanket? Ladies, it’s time to brush up on the WHY of our faith and show people who we are. If they know us for who we are instead of stereotypes, we have an opportunity to show them the true Christ. So, get ready.
Next week I’ll be tackling racism and judgment among Christians. I’ll see you then!
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