How Credible Is Christianity Today?
A commentary by Paul Suckling
United Church of God pastor, Worcester, Mass. and Portsmouth, N.H.
Christianity is no longer accorded the level of trust
and credibility it once held in Western civilization. The unpersuaded
see it as having few positive distinctions from all other religions.
Whether Christian, Buddhist, Shinto, Islamic, Hindu, etc. (a choice
of hundreds of major religious groups and thousands of minor ones are
available) most religions seem to have one thing in common. In their
ranks one can find a core of people dedicated to doing good things for
others. In this regard, Christianity is not unique.
But there is also the negative side of Christianity. Corruption and
scandals undermine its credibility just as they do other religions. Numerous
books chronicle the rancorous and sometime scandalous disagreements that
have divided Christianity. Other books detail the sins committed by some
of its leading figures. And from the news media we hear or read almost
daily about some current corruption that is plaguing its ranks.
How much confidence can we have in the validity of this religion in
light of its troubled history? Consider these relevant facts.
Shortly after all of the apostles' writings were completed and
added to the Bible (near the end of the first century) Christianity began
experiencing internal controversies. The debates and doctrinal modifications
that followed led to significant diversity in its teachings. By the fourth
century, after it had transformed its teachings sufficiently to be accepted
in the Roman Empire's social and political structure, it became
the state religion.
This expanded the power of the church in Rome dramatically. In a short
while the church was dominating the state. It justified its newly found
status with the doctrine of two swords—the church (the spiritual
sword) claimed superiority over the state (the secular sword).
By the early part of the sixteenth century a considerable number of
people in Europe began to challenge the moral laxity and other abuses
approved or allowed by the ecclesiastical hierarchy in Rome. These "protesters" were
labeled as heretics. The root of this word means a choice— signifying
that these people had made an open choice to no longer trust
or accept the beliefs of the church hierarchy. State sponsored Christianity
was thrown into a crisis.
When Rodrigo Borgia ascended to the office of Pope—as Pope Alexander
VI—Martin Luther was only 9 years old. Luther later became the
pivotal leader of the "Protestors"—later called Protestants—who
were attempting to reform Christianity through the movement
now known as the Protestant Reformation.
But instead of those reforms uniting the Christian religion, scores
of splits occurred in the years that followed. Hundreds of "Christian" denominations
sprang up. Amid this diversity each denomination has experienced enormous
difficulty in living up to its own tenets and teachings.
Within the greater body of Christianity its shortcomings and divisions
are played down for seemingly two reasons. Denominations quickly recognized
that their membership would probably drop drastically if they insisted
that everyone associated with them had to pledge full compliance with
all of their tenets. Their second choice, the one most settled for, was
that a few good deeds are better than none at all. They accepted the
reality that only a minority—often a small minority—of their
members would actually practice sincerely all they teach.
Current surveys of the practices of those who claim to be Christians
indicate that they often vary greatly from the tenets of the denomination
to which they belong. And they differ even more with the teachings of
the Bible. These surveys indicate that most of today's professing
Christians believe that truth is relative and that they can trust their
own feelings and opinions more than the teaching they hear preached.
Christianity is a religion at odds with itself. Within it are many sincere,
well meaning people who do the best they know how to do in living a decent
life that includes loving and serving others. But when the history of
Christianity is examined honestly, much is to be desired of the example
and commitment of the vast majority of its members—and often of
its leaders. It is little wonder that so many doubt its credibility.
This brings us to a crucial question. What were Jesus Christ's
expectations for those who would make up that body of people—that Church—that
He promised to build? His promise was, "... I will build My church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" Matthew 16:18).
He also promised, "Therefore by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew
7:20). Are the fruits of Christianity today all that Jesus had in mind?
 Why not find out for yourself what Jesus really predicted concerning
the Church He founded? Request, download or read online your free copy
of our informative booklet: The Church Jesus Built.
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