Cut-and-Paste

Cut & Paste:

On April 13, 1743 Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the U.S.A, was born. Jefferson is probably most famous for his work as the primary author of the United State’s Declaration of Independence.

What many people, including Americans, do not know about Thomas Jefferson is that he had tragically unorthodox views on the Bible, Christ, and Christianity.

In an article titled, Thomas Jefferson’s Cut-and-Paste Bible, the Wall Street Journal reported, “Not long after completing the Louisiana Purchase, he (Jefferson) sat down in the White House with two Bibles and one razor, intent on dividing the true words of Jesus from those put into his mouth…”

Jefferson, as were most revolutionaries of the era, was profoundly impacted by the Enlightenment Project, which might be described (in a very basic way) as a philosophical movement, which encouraged people to cast off the oppressive chains of history, government, religion, and any external influence that we - as individuals - had no say in.

While, initially, this might sound incredibly liberating, it is, in reality, poppycock.

One of Jefferson’s statements regarding Jesus as reported by the WSJ is this: “he (Jesus) was not born in a manger and did not die to atone for anyone's sins.”

I refer to it as “poppycock” because Jefferson, a man born nearly two millennia after Jesus’ incarnation, offers up subjective opinion with zero support, zero historicity, zero canonical validity, and zero catholic/universal corroboration. All we have is Jefferson’s personal opinion, his limited theological training, and his finite experience.

How exactly did Thomas Jefferson arrive at his conclusions regarding “the true words of Jesus” vs. “those put into his mouth?” Was Jefferson there? No. What sources does Jefferson cite to validate his claims? None. It boils down to Jefferson’s personal preferences, and what he “felt” belonged in his version of the bible and what didn’t.

The WSJ article goes on to state, “But we craft new Bibles too, from the Book of Mormon of the Latter-day Saints to the Christian Scientists' "Science and Health with a Key to the Scriptures" and Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "Woman's Bible." Jefferson was out in front of all of these efforts. Here, too, he was a declarer of independence.”

Declaring independence from an oppressive tyrannical government is vastly removed from declaring independence from orthodoxy, catholicity, and apostolicity.

Eugene Debs once said, “The most heroic word in all languages is revolution."

Debs’ statement seems to herald revolution for revolution’s sake rather than heralding justice, goodness, compassion, community, and altruism.

Humanity’s declaration of independence was the epic tragedy of Eden. Humanity sought independence from our Almighty Creator, and the consequence, as foretold by God, was/is death. Independence and autonomy are not to be heralded as great achievements of humanity, but rather as a great travesty against the Eternal Well Spring of life - God.

The Enlightenment Project had a profound impact on Jefferson’s life and theology. He saw himself as the ultimate authority on all things political and theological. The problem is evident when later generations ask, “Why are the views of Jefferson binding or authoritative?” Just as Jefferson cast off the essential/critical components of Scripture’s canonicity, i.e. apostolicity, orthodoxy, and catholicity.

Apostolicity: Jesus’ words and life were verified by the life and writings of those Disciples turned Apostles. Had Jesus been a fraud then those early Christians would not have confirmed, followed, and died something they knew to be a lie.

Catholicity: The local church has upheld the validity and efficacy of Scripture for over two thousand years. Jefferson’s theological musings and writings were rejected by his peers and quickly fell into disrepute. The reason why there are countless manuscripts and copies of the four gospels and epistles is because they were revered by the Church as authoritative and true. Jefferson’s “Bible” never even made it to “coffee book” status even within his own circles of influence.

Orthodoxy: Ortho (right) doxy (praise/view/thought). The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself in written form. It informs us regarding God’s eternal, unchanging, consistent, and benevolent character. The Bible is not myth, legend, philosophy, or a book on morality. It is God’s revelation of Himself. When people like Jefferson, Joseph Smith, Mary Eddy, et al., come along and reinvent, edit, cut-and-past, and seek to “improve upon” God’s word they simply reveal the original sin of humanity - autonomy and independence - rather than subjecting themselves to the life-giving authority of our Creator.

The litmus test of Christianity is not new information, autonomy, independence, reinterpreting, or redefining God’s word. Instead, we have the testimony of the Apostles, the testimony of the Church, and the testimony of Scripture itself serving as guardrails against heresy, rebellion, revolution, and independence.

The WSJ notes “Jefferson claimed in a letter to a friend that it (Jefferson’s cut-and-past bible) demonstrated his bona fides as a Christian. ‘It is a document in proof that I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.’"

Jesus is not looking for disciples of doctrine, but rather authentic followers, i.e. disciples, of Christ Himself. Doctrines are human interpretations of theological revelation and principles. Jesus did not ask anyone to follow principles, doctrines, laws, or rules. Jesus has only ever said to His friends, “Come, follow me…”

Is your theology like that of Thomas Jefferson? Is it one based on a hodgepodge of cut-and-paste philosophy, life experience, majority consensus, or the ebb and flow of fickle culture? Or is your theology, the way you see God, a bona fide relationship with Jesus, our Savior, Redeemer, and Friend?

Cut-and-Paste is simply the expression of our inherent desire for rebellion, revolution, autonomy, independence, and sin with a personal twist.

Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Cut-and-Paste or Deny-and-Follow? He died to give you that choice.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley