Jennings on Jesus & Paul
The major television broadcast networks venture into the field of religion
sometimes, often during a season the world identifies with "Christianity"
(Easter, Christmas). Recently the viewing public had opportunity to see another
Peter Jennings ABC documentary, "Jesus and Paul, the Word and the Witness."
The show that aired on Monday night, April 5, was virtually a carbon copy of the
previous Jennings work (In Search of Jesus, June 2000). In the former effort and
in this one, Jennings did not find the Jesus Christ of the Bible. And he
certainly didn't come close to the real apostle Paul. (There is no reason to
believe he was looking!)
The misinformation conveyed in these programs is a product of the mind-set that
gives more weight to human sources than inspired writers. To Jennings, the
speculations and pronouncements of mostly liberal theologians is more attractive
than the actual words of Jesus and Paul (and less demanding morally). He is more
concerned with how contemporary "experts" and "specialists" interpret tradition
than attending to the writings left by the Holy Spirit.
The documentary ABC aired Monday night (April 5, 2004) was noticeably slanted
toward liberal "scholarship" that questions, denies and re-writes biblical
history; that assumes a human superiority above the divine text. Along with
that, it was bold in identifying Catholic ritual and modern religious rock music
with the story of Jesus and Paul. Scenes from Catholic ritual predominating the
visuals, and religious rock was used as the primary musical background. The
content of the documentary was formed based on what is religiously and
politically correct; what is marketable and what is demeaning of Christianity.
The show never came to terms with the simple teaching of the Bible; was an
exercise in comparing what one "scholar" says to another; left out vital context
in quoting what Paul wrote; portrayed Paul as a "nasty" anti-Semite and
eventually claimed, "he was making it up as he went along!" And, according to
the scholars, "he had no idea that his ideas would ever become a blueprint for
the 20th century." (I assume the "scholar" would extend that opinion to the
21st!)
I cannot offer any favorable recommendation of these major media religious
documentaries, not even for some impractical academic purpose. Too much
misinformation; too much distortion; too much bold unbelief in the biblical
record. I agree with one reviewer on a website blog who said, "If even a
fraction of what I mention [critical of Jennings] is true, then we're looking at
something more akin to intellectual dishonesty than simple omissions."
The real Paul said: "But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which
was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man,
nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ," (Gal.
1:11,12). And, "the things which I write to you are the commandments of the
Lord," (1 Cor. 14:37).
By Warren E. Berkley
The
Front Page
From Expository Files 11.5; May 2004
