christianity

Doug Wilson & Christian Nationalism make the news in Australia

/ MurrayCampbell

The cat is out of the hat! A prominent Australian newspaper is reporting a story about Doug Wilson and Christian Nationalism. The Age yesterday published this AP piece, ‘Hegseth reposts video of pastors saying women shouldn’t be allowed to vote’.

The reporter’s focus is on US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth and his association with CREC (a new church association in the United States headed up by Doug Wilson). If it were not for Mr Hegseth reposting a video on X about Doug Wilson, Wilson and his Moscow movement might have remained in the cold, as far as Australian media is concerned. 

The word is now out, and no doubt a large number of Australians are scratching their heads and wondering, what on earth is going on here? Is Doug Wilson a legit Christian voice? Do his views reflect what Australian Churches are teaching and practising? 

Let me bring assurance and a note of caution. First up, no, Melbourne isn’t Moscow, but like a cold Russian winter, the chill can cross borders.

Doug Wilson and Christian Nationalism are not anonymous in the Aussie Christian scene. Thankfully, they are only a tiny voice, and yet it is more prominent than it was 5 years ago. There are now conferences and websites and some churches that regularly appeal to Wilson and Moscow, and invite speakers from their broad tribe to Australia. 

As a quick aside, the Doug Wilson who was preaching and teaching some useful and valuable ideas a decade ago is quite different from the problematic man and his movement today. Whether he always held the positions he is now propagating and kept them quiet, or whether he’s shifted over the decade, I don’t know which is the case. Either way, the Moscow vibe, as I call it (Wilson lives in Moscow, Idaho) brings a chill that we do not need in our churches or country.

The presenting story that led to the AP piece is a view promoted by Wilson’s church, whereby women should lose the right to vote. I wasn’t shocked to read this, as it fits into their view of men and family life. In the last week, I have also heard the scenario where some (a tiny, tiny number) of Christians now advocate that women should not have voting privileges in a church! The idea is preposterous as it conflicts with one of the Bible’s wonderful teachings:  the priesthood of all believers, and therefore the value of all members of the church and their contributions. And what of single women? In the world of Moscow, single women are frowned upon and offered and often derided. More of this in a moment.

It doesn’t need saying (although perhaps it does) that Christianity never fits neatly into any culture; for the Christian message is transcultural. This is one of the stunning truths of Christianity, that whether Korean or Ugandan or Bolivian, the Bible and the Christ of Scripture cross time and place and ethnicity.  Part of that means, though, that there will always be some element of pushback, disagreement, and confusion as to how people understand and respond to Christianity. After all, if Christianity was nothing more than a mirror to Australia 2025, there would be little incentive and reason for anyone to become a follower of Jesus Christ and join a local church. And yet, not every idea preached by every religious leader is an accurate reflection of the Christian Gospel, and hence, when the unbelieving public are perplexed by and even finds a view repellent, they are right to do so. 

There are evangelical leaders in the United States expressing concern over the normalisation of ‘Christian nationalism’ in some circles. Similarly, in Australia, there are voices raising concerns about Doug Wilson and his Moscow crowd.

Stephen McAlpine and myself are among a number of Australian pastors who have been sending up flares to warn Aussie Christians about the rise of Christian Nationalism. Again, while their influence is small,  the Moscow flu is catching on in some more conservative churches in Australia, and it’s an ailment that inevitably makes people sick. Symptoms include public rage, thinking ‘normal’ evangelical churches and leaders have lost the gospel, one-sided politically, anti-authority, and demeaning toward various minority groups. 

Let me observe 2 examples here, one in relation to how women are viewed and one that articulates concerns about Christian Nationalism. 

Christian Nationalists love to talk tough love. Their men are vocal and grow long beards and know how to skin a beaver with their bare hands. These blokey males also have a way of using their strength to demean women. 

A few years ago, Sydney theologian, Dani Treweek challenged Doug Wilson and another American pastor, Michael Foster, for how they speak about single women in churches. 

Treweek said, 

“Wilson and Foster embark on a shared lament about the impending crisis facing churches whose pews are soon to be filled with lonely, unlikeable, tubby spinsters who have nothing in their lives and so spend their days endlessly seeking the benevolent attention of their ever-patient but extremely busy and very important senior pastor.”

She sums up Foster and Wilson’s views on single women as:

  • the reason women are single is because “Baby […] You can do better than this. You’re not likeable” or because they are too “tubby” to be considered of marital value to the men around them (at least the ones they haven’t driven into the arms of Islam);
  • single women are derogatorily dismissed as a “bunch of old spinsters”
  • anyone not married by the time they are 40 are issued the dire warning that they ‘will be lonely’
  • elderly widowed women are depicted as a tiresome burden upon the senior pastor’s time and energy
  • the only valuable and valid expression of love in action is if it is directed towards someone’s own offspring and then their offspring
  • single women are the harbingers of “chaos”
  • unmarried women don’t “have anything” in their lives”

With the surprise of an AFL team beating the local u12 boys team, they responded with a tirade of personal attacks on Dani Treweek’s singleness and theological credentials!.

Then there is this issue with ‘Christian Nationalism’, which readers of The Age may be wondering about. At this point, allow me to repeat a few paragraphs from an article I wrote on the subject in 2023, following up a series of pieces written by Stephen McAlpine as he reviewed Stephen Wolfe’s ‘The Case For Christian Nationalism’. McAlpine eventually gave up reading Wolfe after several bouts of diarrhoea!

“The tectonic plates of belief and hope are moving and causing major disruptions to every sphere of life. One of the answers being proposed by Christians (in some circles) is one gaining some traction in some areas of American and European Christianity, and it’s finding its way onto Australian shores as well: Christian Nationalism. 

It’s not as though Christian Nationalism is brand new; iterations have existed at different points in history, often with long-term disappointment, bloodshed, and Gospel compromise.

I understand why Christians across the United States are concerned and even angry at some of the values and views that have captured hearts. I appreciate why Aussie believers are troubled by various moral agendas that have been normalised in our political and educational institutions. However,  frustration and concern with politicians and the political process is not a reason for reactionary theology and poor exegesis.

We don’t fix one problem by adding another one; that way, we end up with a bigger mess!

Christian Nationalism ends up making the State into the church and the church into a political party and turning the Gospel of grace into a weapon to beat down political opponents. Instead of being God’s message of reconciliation, it distorts the gospel into a message of social conservatism and one that sees political progressivism as the great Satan. Social and moral conservatism can be as dangerous to spiritual health in its intentions to create new forms of legalism and allegiances.  

I’m not saying that Christians in Australia walk away from the public square and sit tight on uncomfortable pews behind stained glass windows. It’s not that Christians shouldn’t participate in the political process. It’s not that we should ignore social issues and cultural debates. Such things are part of common grace and ways we can love our neighbours. Christianity influencing the public square isn’t Christian Nationalism, it is a wonderful byproduct of the goodness and sensibility of Christianity.” 

Australia is one of numerous countries where governments are getting bigger, and the people are looking increasingly to government to be the saviour of all their issues and hopes and fears. This has the unfortunate effect of giving more authority and responsibility to the State and, negatively, it diminishes the role of the community to take responsibility. That critique aside, in the eyes of Scripture, the State is not the main game, but it is the church. In this sense, Christian Nationalism makes a similar error to other heresies, like the prosperity gospel and social justice gospel. They all aim at changing society (and controlling society) through policy and behaviour. 

The problem with that mindset is that it contradicts the nature of the Gospel and the purpose of the church (aka Ephesians ch.2). The halls of Parliament and legislative offices are not the places where God is working out his redemptive plans. It is in the church and by the Gospel of Christ that God is achieving his purposes.

Christian Nationalists may well identify some sins of America (or Australia), and yet the answer according to Scripture isn’t to make America great again or Australia, but to present the Gospel of Christ and make disciples of all nations. Christianity is international and multi ethnic, and any attempt to contract the gospel to a particular nation-state is enormously problematic. 

Make Christianity weird again, not make Christianity skewed again! The message of Jesus Christ has this remarkable ability to weave and connect through every fabric of society. Christianity eventually revolutionised how the Roman Empire viewed women, babies, slaves, and more. Our modern equality sensibilities didn’t arrive by chance, but through Christianity. And yet it wasn’t through some militant takeover bid fueled with rage and demeaning the downtrodden, but with sacrifice and through persuasion, and the God of grace bringing forgiveness and newness of life. 

If there is a ‘sin of empathy’ (yes, Moscow is also responsible for the ‘sin of empathy’ vibe), it is to show empathy with this movement blowing its cold weather in a westerly direction over the Pacific Ocean. My advice, avoid it like the plague. Instead, be captured by the Apostle Paul’s vision for the Christian Church in Ephesus. In that ancient metropolis of commercial and religious influence, Paul reminds the local church of God’s message of peace and being God’s people of peace. I’m convinced, we (churches) will do well to keep working hard at this: 

 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:17-22)

For anyone who wishes to read further on Christian Nationalism, 9Marks published a journal on the subject which contains excellent and easy to read articles and reviews – https://www.9marks.org/journal/a-new-christian-authoritarianism/

Kaeley Triller Harms has written this recent summary piece of disclosed issues with the Moscow movement https://kaeleytrillerharms.substack.com/p/doug-wilsonjust-the-facts-maam

Mike Bird has written a series of helpful articles about Christian Nationalism, including reviewing Wiliam Wolfe’s book, ‘The Case for Christian Nationalism

https://michaelfbird.substack.com/p/review-of-stephen-wolfes-the-case

Ollie Dempsey: Footy, Faith and Fear

/ MurrayCampbell

Melbourne and footy are synonymous, so it’s only fitting to dedicate a whole episode to footy and faith! Geelong AFL player, Ollie Dempsey, has recently shared his story about faith and footy. He is one of many professional athletes in Australia who believe in and follow Jesus. Maybe it sounds strange, but why are more young people investigating Jesus? His story might serve as a quiet encouragement to many young people

I really enjoyed reading two recent interviews with Ollie Dempsey. His openness about the challenges of believing in Jesus is normal to the Christian experience and an encouragement.

You can watch my latest episode in ‘Tomorrow’s Melbourne’ below on youtube or on your preferred podcast platform.

Church: do I choose new or old?

/ MurrayCampbell

As Zoomers try out church, many are looking toward older and more traditional churches. What is behind the growing interest in liturgical and classical churches? What are some helpful tips for choosing an authentic and legitimate church? In this episode, I explore 2 ways to assess the ‘real thing’: learning history and going back to first principles, namely the Bible.

or listen on Apple Podcast

Or on spotify

3 Reasons Why You Should Read The Bible

/ MurrayCampbell

Everyone wants to belong to a story. In this episode, I suggest that the Bible is the greatest story, and we are part of it.

The Bible is the story of the world.

The Bible is the story of God.

The Bible is the story of you?

Along with a reference to Courtney Barnett’s song ‘DePreston’, Rachel Gilson’s book ‘Born again this way’, and Tom Holland

Enjoy…

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/3-reasons-why-you-should-read-the-bible/id1504044662?i=1000717445196

Or at Spotify

Be Radical and Read the Bible

/ MurrayCampbell

A challenge if you live in Melbourne. A challenge no matter your age, and especially if you’re part of Generatoin Z

Be radical and read the Bible!

Check out the latest on ‘Tomorrow’s Melbourne’ and how an upsurge of Bible reading in the UK could help us take the Bible more seriously here in Melbourne

Evil in Melbourne

/ MurrayCampbell

Melbourne has been rocked this week with 2 men charged with abusing little children. 1200 children are now required to be checked for STDs. Imagine the horror for these families? How do people begin to process what has happened?

In this episode of my new podcast, I want to address the question of evil, and needing a God who judges and who hates evil even more than us.

Or listen on Apple Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/episode-3-evil-in-melbourne/id1504044662?i=1000715507939

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uuIqzbk2Q6aqsEVGQA6Dj?si=ea124dbda07b44c5

Did Melbourne just see a sign?

/ MurrayCampbell

Melbourne was an exciting place to be over the weekend.

No, I’m not referring to the footy. Carlton, what are you doing to me?!

Hundreds of men attended the Belgrave Heights Men’s Convention and sat under the word with Sam Allberry and Stephen McAlpine. Lots of Churches around the city and suburbs preached Christ and believers were encouraged and non Christians were intrigued. I was at the Baptist BBQ while the Melbourne Anglican Diocese met to decide who would become the next Archbishop.

For decades the tide has been going out as the force of secularism and scepticism has claimed moral victory after intellectual triumph. And yet, left behind on the sandy shores around Port Phillip Bay isn’t the kind of happiness and freedom and contentment that we were promised. Instead, our streets and suburbs are floundering under the pressure of what is perhaps the worst mental crisis in our history, and growing social, economic, and relationship strain. My generation and my parents’ generation persist in closing the windows, locking the doors and telling the kids that there’s nothing outside; there is no God worth looking to let alone trusting for life. Not everyone is buying that script any longer. The emptying tide has left behind millions of people and exposed layers of rubbish on the sand produced by the materialist ideal. 

We are not happier. We are not safer. We are not more content. 

Is it surprising that we are hearing reports and stories of a gentle tide coming into shore in the UK and parts of the United States? In some parts of Asia and South America, it is a high tide with huge numbers of people, including Gen Z and younger who are becoming Christians and joining Churches and discovering that the God of the Bible is God today. 

We are not seeing a fast-moving incoming tide in Melbourne, but something is happening. I know there are recent reports of baptismal floods, but I suspect some at least are spurious. Nonetheless, there is something happening. Government and academic institutions are continuing to double down on sexual ethics and religious freedom issues, progressive Churches continue to play those songs on their playlist, and yet there is a gentle counter voice that can be heard.

Anecdotally, across various Baptist churches and Anglican, in University Christian groups, and among our Orthodox and Roman Catholic friends, young adults are experiencing Christianity for the first time. They are ignoring the warning signs that my generation posted on every street corner. There is a curiosity emerging, an interest in Jesus, and an intrigue to discover the meaning of the world’s most important book: the Bible. 

I wonder, if the Anglican Archbishop election is another small sign of a changing tide toward evangelical Christianity. 4 candidates were nominated for Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne; all 4 are evangelical Christians: Wei Han Kuan, Tim Johnson, Megan Curlis-Gibson, and Ric Thorpe. Someone may correct me, but this is rare and possibly the first time in many decades that all candidates are evangelical. This alone is significant and a result for which we should be thankful. 

Ric Thorpe was elected on Saturday afternoon and will be installed as the new Archbishop later this year. Bishop Ric Thorpe is an Englishman with a pedigree from Holy Trinity Brompton and training at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.  He is one of the few Church of England Bishops to uphold a Christian understanding of marriage and human sexuality. He is passionate about evangelism and church planting. These are all great indicators.

Melbourne needs more churches. Melbourne needs 100s more Christ-centred, Gospel-believing and preaching, people-loving churches.

I’m not an Anglican so feel free to take my observations with the same volume of water found in a baptismal font (bad joke). My Melbourne Anglican friends are overwhelmingly encouraged and thankful for all candidates and the outcome, even as the Diocese looks over troubled waters. Like all our Christian denominations, much deep work of theological and spiritual reform needs to take place. Theological liberalism and moral progressivism is like sand in the car after a day at the beach; the granules find their way into different spots and crevices and lingers long afterwards with distraction and annoyance. The fact is, most of our churches (across denominations) are in decline, and biblical literacy and cultural understanding are shallow. That can lead to desperate pragmatism or compromise. But mission with fraudulent theology won’t save anybody, just as sound doctrine without love gives people a spiritual migraine. Church planting without the Gospel is the devil’s strategy. Who would want to be in Christian leadership today?

And yet Christ is on the throne. Evangelism and church planting and revitalisation isn’t God’s Plan B. It’s always been Plan A and there is no plan B. The Gospel remains God’s power to save. The Church is the bride and centrepiece of God’s redeeming purposes. Let’s be thankful for Christian leaders who are convinced of this and who in love can navigate our churches in the shallows and deep.

It may be that as the cultural tide withdraws, small rock pools and large ones will be left behind, and they will become safe places for people to splash and swim and come to know the God who saves. Gospel Churches may be easier to spot and more inviting for those who need rest.

I sense a quiet excitement mixed with soberness as we see the landscape before us. Did we see a glimpse of things to come this past weekend? May it drive God’s people to prayer and eagerness.

Almost as important, someone needs to nudge Ric Thorpe toward the right footy club (Carlton) and teach him how to make a decent coffee and double-check that his visa includes a condition on who to support in the Ashes later this year.

Correcting 3 Misnomers About Baptists

/ MurrayCampbell

There seem to be 3 misnomers circulating regarding Baptist belief and practice, in light of the decision to remove 2 churches from the NSW/ACT Baptist Association:

  1. Freedom of conscience
  2. Freedom of association. 
  3. It’s a matter of interpretation

I have written about these topics at length on other occasions, so I won’t repeat everything here. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile pointing out that while these 3 points are being used to criticise the Baptists’ decision,  these very points in fact support the decisions that were made. 

Of course, freedom of conscience, and its cousin, freedom of association, are important Baptist principles. These are ideals for which I am thankful. They do not exist however without context, form or boundary. 

Speaking to the ABC, Belinda Groves (Senior Minister Canberra Baptist), suggested, 

‘Baptist churches are not like the Anglicans or the Catholics – it’s not very hierarchical. We have what’s called local, you know, congregational autonomy. And when we gather together as an association, it’s recognising that our real governance happens in our local churches and that that association is really just a recognition of connection between us and a common commitment to do things together that take a bit more than just a small individual church.’

That’s mostly true. Groves doesn’t explain what this Baptist connection is and means (I sense she’s downplaying it), which is fine given it’s a short television interview, but when we begin asking the question, what is the glue that makes us baptists together, the answer given is often that being Baptist is primarily about freedom: freedom of conscience and freedom of association. Again, while these are cherished ideals, they can’t exist without definition and boundaries, otherwise, they become meaningless terms.

When I hear some voices declare that Saturday’s decisions cut against our Baptist distinctive (some of these voices are by non baptists), I want to respond by saying,  you’re being historically myopic and theologically incorrect.

Baptists can rightly defend a person’s right to believe and practice their religion freely AND believe that freedom of association requires common agreement among those desiring to associate together. The fact that we have doctrinal bases demonstrates that there are commonly aligned theological convictions: the Trinity, penal substitution, faith in Christ, the bodily resurrection of Jesus and more.  When it comes to contemporary issues surrounding sexual practices, these were not disputed in former days, but now through what Carl Trueman describes as ‘expressive individualism’, matters like same-sex marriage have come about and therefore churches are required to form a view. 

In 2009, theologian Hefin Jones wrote a paper for NSW Baptists where he offered an important historical survey of different strands of Baptist thought. While he is surveying NSW Baptists, the same groupings are found among Baptists worldwide. Jones demonstrates that when it comes to confessions and statements of association, there are broadly 3 Baptist groups: Anti-Creedalism, Non-Creedal Confessionalism, and Confessionalism.

That’s important for understanding those who are decrying the decision made by 2/3s of Baptist delegates last Saturday. When they argue that NSW is becoming anti-baptist and authoritarian, they are representing one line of historic Baptist thought, not the entirety. 

Of NSW, Jones notes, 

“Were Anti- or Non-Creedalism intrinsic to Baptist identity then NSW Baptists as a denomination have never been true to it…from the beginning of the NSW Baptist Union in 1868 it has been Confessional, the real question being, how Confessional? Unlike the associational rules of 1858 the 1868 constitution included a doctrinal basis.” 

It’s interesting to discover that both freedom of conscience and freedom of association are linked historically to Baptists speaking against Governmental intrusion in religious matters or controlling the local church. More recently these have become an argument for Baptists to promote all kinds of ideas and practices. This, in my view, can lead to misrepresenting Baptist ideals.

It’s also the case that Baptists have always had mechanisms for removing pastors and churches. That our Unions have rarely resorted to these is a good thing but sadly sometimes it is necessary for the sake of Gospel clarity, unity and mission.

As much as some Baptists are crying ‘freedom’, we understand that the conscience isn’t infallible, nor is it the Lord of the Church. And Christian association, for it to be truly Christian, requires common ascent to the Gospel, and indeed to things like the Apostles Creed and Nicaea Creed. Baptists get along and disagree on many tertiary matters, but same-sex marriage isn’t one of them, and when we’re told that it is, I suspect progressives are ignoring their own clarion calls for justice and what they understand the gospel to be about. 

This leads to the biggest misnomer of all, namely that same-sex marriage is merely a matter of interpretation and therefore not one that’s serious enough for breaking fellowship.

Bible interpretation is indeed a factor and there’s a whole discussion that can be had about hermeneutics, but is the Bible’s teaching on sexuality vague and contestable? The argument, ‘it’s just about interpretation’ serves more like a poor cover version of today’s sexual milieu. It’s an effective tool for muddying the waters, but little more. I suspect when progressive churches are transparent about their convictions (as I’ve heard some pastors argue behind the scenes), they believe sexuality issues are a love of God issue and a justice issue. Far from speaking about same-sex marriage as a second-tier belief, they often frame their position as crucial to understanding the Gospel and the character of Christ.  If they are to be consistent, surely they appreciate and agree that the issue at hand isn’t one where we can all agree to disagree. It’s either a primary justice and love of God matter or it isn’t.

Same-sex marriage is a primary Baptist issue for 2 clear reasons: Jesus says sex outside heterosexual marriage is a sin and the Apostle Paul refers to exclusion from God’s Kingdom and what contradicts sound doctrine and the gospel. How can we embrace that which God says excludes? That’s not God’s hate language, this is God’s loving word who desires people to have life in His name. 

The ABC presenter noted the banner that was positioned behind where Belinda Groves was speaking. It says, ‘Everyone’s welcome here’. 

Yes, we want our churches to be welcoming and loving and kind. Please God, may they be a community where people from any background can come and be welcomed and hear the gospel. For the most part, our churches are.  However, welcoming everyone into our churches, as Baptists do, does not mean embracing every belief and practice that walks in the door. No Christian Church can function that way; indeed no sporting club, school, or political party can function according to that principle. It’s the very fact that God’s love yet profoundly disagrees with us that shook the world and led to the cross and gives hope. I sinned, and yet he loved me. I rebuffed God’s ways, and yet he leads us to repentance and new life by his Son. 

If Baptists choose to say no to the orthodox view of marriage, they are free to do so, but in doing so they have made a choice to tear themselves from this Baptist fabric. It’s not what anyone wishes, but God’s gospel of love and forgiveness and reconciliation matters so much that it’s incumbent upon churches to guard the faith once for all delivered. 

The process undertaken by the New South Wales/ACT  Association took longer than many of the key Church Councils throughout church history. I can’t think of how many meetings and conversations and Assemblies were held over the past 10 years that finally led to Saturday’s decision. People may or may not like the process, but one thing is certain, it was pretty exhaustive and exhausting, and rightly followed Baptist principles of the churches making decisions together for the sake of the gospel and gospel unity, health and mission. 

I don’t know of anyone rejoicing over Saturday’s decision to remove the 2 churches. It was a sad day. It’s appropriate to grieve the loss of these churches and be thankful that a clear majority of churches chose to stick with Scripture and the good of future Christian witness. As the media take hold of the issue, it’s pretty obvious how the game will be played and who will be painted as the bad guys. So I reckon the Apostle Peter offers a timely word, ‘don’t be afraid’.

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us…Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1 Peter 2:12; 3:13-15)

Jeremy Clarkson got scammed?

/ MurrayCampbell

Jeremy Clarkson is a funny man. At times he’s crude and sometimes refreshingly honest in a nonconformist way. His latest opinion piece for The Times is pitching against French restaurants ripping off tourists, ‘These scams aren’t enough if you ask me. Gullible tourists are being sold cheap wine but why stop there‘. The piece is the work of an imaginative mind and with humorous analogies and a serious point as well. As he pokes the bear on scamming and the human ability to be conned, he throws out images like this one, 

‘I could substitute the steak in the pie with chlorinated bear meat from Lithuania and no one would know.’

That’s funny. And depending on where you find yourself on the epistemic spectrum, you’ll either roll with Clarkson’s final jab or take offence. Or perhaps, like myself, you find yourself in a third space, namely, that was a rather naive take, Jeremy Clarkson.

He suggests (no doubt with a drop tongue in cheek),

‘Go big. That’s my message if you are considering becoming a celebrated conman. Take a lesson from the biggest fraudster of them all: Jesus. I can walk on water. My mum was a virgin and my dad’s God. And I’m going to start an industry selling this guff that will last for 2,000 years. Top man.’

There are plenty of classic and famous examples of scamming. The problem with Clarkson’s crescendo piece is that it’s plain simple wrong. A scam is a lie designed to steal from those who are conned. Jesus didn’t take, he gave his life. Also this, the believers in Jesus Christ don’t lose, they gain; not some cheap substitute but something more valuable than any bottle of vintage French wine.

If the whole Jesus episode is a scam, it’s not a very clever one.  Think about it; if you’re required to die a gruesome death in order for your scam to succeed, then you won’t get to see your success. And that makes you either really stupid or certifiable. Unless of course, you rose from the dead, in which case the entire scam theory is dismantled.

I came late to Top Gear, but I’ve now watched many episodes, and I follow The Grand Tour and will soon watch Clarkson’s latest season of his farming show; it’s all great television. My knowledge of cars could fit Inside the boot of a matchbox car, but who cares. The shows are hilarious, captivating, and often stunning viewing, and a tiny bit educational. So I’m not coming from the angle of an anti-Clarkson. As the world knows, Jeremy Clarkson loves to throw verbal hand grenades. Some ignite while others like this one are a dud. 

The idea that Christians are victims of the world’s greatest con job is a little bit laughable. Christians aren’t ignoramuses. I guess maybe some are and that’s okay because God isn’t only interested in the intelligent. But you have to be an eyeless and earless underground mole to actually believe Christians are not aware of the extraordinary nature of Jesus’ claims and character. That’s the entire point of Christianity. People don’t stop storms with a word and provide 5000 instant meals, but Jesus did. Dead people stay dead, but Jesus didn’t. 

There are two forms of scepticism that are prevalent today. There is an old-school type of scepticism, one which Jeremy Clarkson is repeating, and there is a newer and more formidable scepticism taking hold, especially among Gen Zers.

Old fashioned scepticism was cool and trending. The 4 horsemen of the new (now gone) atheism presented a confident and brash unbelief.  Scepticism was viewed as a sign of the mature mind. The more I doubt, the smarter and wiser I am!

There is a shift taking place as to how and why scepticism continues to be a prominent theme. The old age of scepticism was about assertiveness and confidence in ourselves and our ability to know what is true. That kind of scepticism is still around (alla Jeremy Clarkson),  but a new type of scepticism has emerged and it’s based on fear. We are sceptical because we are unsure who to trust. Which ideas and words are reliable? 

We live in an age of misinformation and disinformation and so we often have reason to be a little suspicious (which is a point Clarkson is making).  Scepticism has become a protective mechanism because it’s hard to know who to believe.  A dose of scepticism can be healthy. Asking questions and investigating is sensible. However, at some point, you need to put your faith somewhere. Scepticism can’t be the default for everything in life, otherwise, we are left believing in nothing It’s like stripping a building of its bricks one brick at a time soon enough there’s no building left. 

We can’t disbelieve everything, and neither is it safe or sensible to believe anything and everything. So what are we meant to do with Jesus and his claims?

I suspect that Clarkson’s objection to Jesus isn’t foremost an intellectual one, but something else, a moral or personal objection. For that’s how scepticism often works. As Aristotle famously laid out, our beliefs are formed by a combination of logos (reason), pathos (desire) and ethos (personal resonance). 

To use a car illustration, on both Top Gear and The Grand Tour, Clarkson, Hammond and May presented and evaluated 100s if not 1000s of different cars and vehicles. Did they make their choices of favoured cars based on the vehicles’ engineering and performance, and understanding every bolt, shaft and drop of oil? How often were cars judged, enjoyed or derided, based on appearance and personality? And for viewers, how often were we persuaded and believe their critiques based on ethos? Eat the fool, because we rarely commit ourselves to something big simply because of the engineering. 

There’s a story at the end of John’s Gospel where one of Jesus’ friends suggests that the resurrection of Jesus is a hoax. The other disciples had seen Jesus in the flesh and spoken with him, but Thomas assumed better. 

Thomas explained that unless he could see Jesus in the flesh and touch where the nails were driven into the body, he wouldn’t believe that Jesus was now alive. Shock, and horror, one week later, Jesus appeared in front of Thomas and he could no longer doubt. 

The issue for Thomas wasn’t primarily a scientific or intellectual one, but one of envy. Was he jealous because he was present when Jesus showed himself to his mates? 

Jesus’ response to Thomas is fascinating,

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus isn’t saying that facts don’t matter. Jesus isn’t saying, it doesn’t matter whether I’m alive or not. It matters because objective reality matters. It matters because if God can’t defeat death no one can. If God can’t dismantle sin and evil, then what hope have we? Rather, Jesus was outlining how people come to a true, reliable, and personal relationship with God. 

Jesus doesn’t have to repeat the resurrection. It’s a one-off and one that has been clearly attested to by multiple witnesses whose lives were so transformed by this Jesus that greed turned to generosity, and hate to love and hopelessness to confident hope. Jesus was telling Thomas, believe what I’ve told you. Accept the reliable testimony of those who have the crucified one now alive. As we know from the historical record, literally 100s of people saw him in the weeks following that first Easter.

A question is, why does Jeremy Clarkson choose not to believe? I don’t know. He’s certainly an intelligent man, but perhaps he hasn’t taken the Bible texts seriously and read them with care. I don’t know. 

The Australian historian, Dr John Dickson once set a challenge. He said that he’d eat a page from the Bible if someone could find a reputable ancient historian who seriously doubted the existence of Jesus Christ. To this day, no one has stepped forward.

Indeed, Professor Bart Ehrman, who is no friend of Christianity,  has this to say about those who doubt the historic existence of Jesus –

“There is a lot of evidence. There is so much evidence that …this is not even an issue for scholars of antiquity. There is no one teaching in a college or university in the Western World, teaching ancient studies who holds that Jesus did not exist.”

The point is, it’s not difficult to refute Jeremy Clarkson’s quip about Jesus and scams. The evidence for Jesus’ historicity, including his death and resurrection is substantial and throwing words around like ‘scam’ is intellectually lazy.  It delivers a certain punch line akin to someone drunk on too much cheap Parisian wine.

World-renowned British historian Tom Holland, in his volume Dominion, explores from the perspective of an agnostic, the way in which the message of Jesus turned the world.

“To be a Christian is to believe that God became man and suffered a death as terrible as any mortal has ever suffered. This is why the cross, that ancient implement of torture, remains what it has always been: the fitting symbol of the Christian revolution. It is the audacity of it—the audacity of finding in a twisted and defeated corpse the glory of the creator of the universe—that serves to explain, more surely than anything else, the sheer strangeness of Christianity, and of the civilization to which it gave birth. Today, the power of this strangeness remains as alive as it has ever been. It is manifest in the great surge of conversions that has swept Africa and Asia over the past century; in the conviction of millions upon millions that the breath of the Spirit, like a living fire, still blows upon the world; and, in Europe and North America, in the assumptions of many more millions who would never think to describe themselves as Christian. All are heirs to the same revolution: a revolution that has, at its molten heart, the image of a god dead on a cross.”

Something happened in those years around Galilee and Judea, such that we measure history and hope according to the Galilean. 

The Bible authors are so confident that the Apostle Paul wrote to an entire church, if you doubt the resurrection, go and talk to the eyewitnesses. And this, 

 “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.”

Is Jesus the biggest scam of all?  If so, it is certainly an audacious one and I’ve been sucked in.

The best way to find out is to read the accounts for yourself. If Jesus is the great fraudster, then either he didn’t think through his plan of being crucified very well… or perhaps his foresight is somewhat better than ours. Wherever you land, this one thing is certain, if God exists and his Son died for the sin of the world and then rose from the dead, this suggestion is too big to ignore.