by Jeff A. Jenkins

In the most recent Newsweek magazine, Jon Meacham writes about the new movie, "The Passion of the Christ". Meacham raises questions concerning the accuracy of the Word of God when he writes, "the Bible can be a problematic source. Though countless believers take it as the immutable word of God, Scripture is not always a faithful record of historical events; the Bible is the product of human authors."

If Meacham is right, the Bible is no better than any other book. If the Bible is not always a faithful record of historical events, how can we know if Scripture is ever faithful and accurate?

The claim of Scripture is radically different from Mr. Meacham's point of view. The Bible claims to be the Word of God. The Apostle Paul states, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16).

The word inspiration comes from the Greek word, "theopneustos". It is a word that literally means "God-breathed". The Biblical claim is, God spoke His Words to man. The Apostle Peter states that Scripture did not come from man. He claims that it came from God (2 Pet. 1:20,21). Jesus himself said the Word of God is Truth (Jn. 17:17).

Meacham and the Bible cannot both be correct. Either the Bible is historically accurate in every instance or it is not. Either the Bible is the product of human authors or it is the product of a Divine Author. I will take God's Word over the word of man every time (Jn. 12:34).

By Emmett Smith

February has been an interesting month. For one thing, the "controversy" surrounding Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" seems to have become increasingly shrill as the movie neared release. On top of that, we've been bombarded from all sides with images of homosexual "marriages" in San Francisco. Who needed to see Rosie O'Donnell "marry" her lesbian partner? Certainly not me.

On the other hand, perhaps the "in your face" strategy we've been witnessing will awaken anyone who has gone back to sleep since 9/11/2001. You do remember 9/11/2001 don't you? A prominent Australian Muslim cleric went on record this week claiming that it was "God's work". He also spoke of an Islamic revolution, and said not to be surprised if a muezzin called out "Allah is Great" from the "top of the White House" some day.

It's worthy of note that God has historically punished nations for their ungodly ways. As this nation debates the homosexual agenda and as anti-Christian "critics" (devout humanists) insist that the biggest problem with an upcoming movie is that it takes the Biblical record "too literally", let's all remember how God warned Israel through Jeremiah, "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it." (Jeremiah 18:6-8).

The enemy is at the gate. Have you been AWOL?