Some time ago I read the news story about the Casket they believe held the bones of James the brother of Jesus. I've seen pro's and con's on its authenticity. I just shake my head in dismay. I find the Catholic Church is more tied to mysticism than any of the eastern religions. Much of Protestantism is not far behind. When the church loses the connection to the power of God they replace it with cheap imitations to prove they have a connection to God.
We are continue to see a great interest in the Shroud of Turin. I have read much about this over the last 30 years. Quite frankly, none of this has ever had a witness with me. I cannot tell you that this piece of cloth is or is not the grave cloth of Jesus. Based on scientific study, it probably is not. I am also convinced nobody can tell for sure. But I can tell you with certainty that the authenticity of this artifact does not matter one iota to me. And I have not seen it spark faith in men and women.
I wonder about all the fuss about this. Even if it is His Shroud we will most likely never be able to prove that. Time has erased enough of the trail of evidence. One of the reasons for this is the early church was more interested in God's power than in artifacts. They didn't concentrate on mystique, symbols and titles. They concentrated in the power of God. They concentrated on the reality of His presence not on the reality of religious objects. Peter and Paul weren't selling holy water or prayer cloths. They were dispensing the power of God. They didn't carry Rosaries or crucifixes. The best we will be able to do is prove the age of the artifact and attest that it MAY BE AUTHENTIC. And that proof would not be of any value in leading people to Jesus. That is the bottom line. Without that, the object has no value. It would probably have been better for the church if these artifacts had been destroyed.
I also have concern about these continual press releases about them. These do nothing more than provide platforms for the atheist and anti-Christian elements. Each time one of them is presented the forum is created for the negative to be presented too. The negative will be ignored by many but some are swayed by it. All too often the enthusiastic initial claims are later shown to be false. Our task is to present the gospel, not erode the credibility of the Word of God.
I ask why the Catholic Church even presented this artifact publicly before it was verified. It would seem to have been better if it had been destroyed than used as a stumbling block. I believe I can answer that question. The Catholic Church has over the years shown that it has an internal need to continue the mysticism it has presented over the years. Presenting what MAY be the grave cloth of Jesus contributes to that mysticism. It also helps bolster the teaching of the church that the pope is the direct line from Peter. Let me debunk that one now. If the Catholic Church, the Gentile church, were really from one of the Apostles, it would be Paul. Peter and he divided the church, Peter to the Jews, Paul to the Gentiles. Any Gentile line that claims to spring from Peter is usurping authority.
Gal 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (KJV)
The early church had authority because those in it had and exhibited the Power of God. When the priests of the church were no longer able to manifest that power they turned to mysticism. The elevation of Mary and the naming saints were outgrowths of this. And much of Protestantism has lost that authority because the leaders no longer believe in or manifest the Power of God. How sad it is that the church has fallen to its present state. But this need not be. It is not God's will, but our disobedience.
So if the shroud is not reality, if the church no longer has the Power of God, what is real?
I am sure most of us know the song, Because He Lives. It is beautiful and nothing should ever take away from it. But when I sing it I have seen something that makes me want to change TWO words because this changes how you look at the empty tomb. It moves you from the one who has questions to the one who knows and knows Him. Allow me to show one verse.
God sent His Son.
They called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He bled and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove
My Savior lives.
By William and Gloria Gaither
Let me state clearly. He gave his life for us. But an empty Grave does not prove my savior lives. The disciples could have stolen the body. Thank God that empty tomb is there BECAUSE My Savior lives. Because he lives the tomb is empty.
I agree. The empty grave is there for tourists to see. There are historical questions of whether it was His tomb. I don't care. I don't intend to go see it. It isn't worth the trip. That it is there does not prove anything. He has not risen because is empty. It is empty BECAUSE my savior is no longer in that tomb. And He is not there because He is Risen. As the early church said in its greeting to one another...
He has risen... He has risen indeed. One would say, "He has risen..." The other would respond, "He has risen indeed."
Another songwriter penned it this way. "You ask me how I know He lives. He lives within my heart." © Alfred Ackley, 1933
Anything less is mysticism. This is reality.
