Camels, Foxes and Lies Oh My: Is Fox News Pro-Christian?

One week ago today Foxnews.com published an odd article.   Fox has recently taken to publishing the odd article about archeology (which always catch my eye) and this one was no exception.  The basic gist of the article was that some scholars from the university of Tel Aviv have dated the oldest camel bones ever found and they dated them to the 10^th century BC, well after the era of the patriarchs and thus casting doubt on the reliability of the bible because camels figure in the narratives of Genesis.  This is the lead of the story as published on the Fox news website:

Archaeologists from Israel’s top university have used radiocarbon dating to pinpoint the arrival of domestic camels in the Middle East -- and they say the science directly contradicts the Bible’s version of events.

Now I don’t know if that is what the scholarly paper actually said, it wasn’t linked to and I couldn’t find it on the web, but what I do know is that there is overwhelming evidence that domesticated camels were present in the Middle East thousands of years before the 10^th century BC. There are dozens of carvings, inscriptions and artifacts showing or referring to domesticated camels kept both as pack animals and meat and milk producing livestock some of which date as early as the pre-dynastic period of Egypt (before approximately 3100 B.C.). The evidence is so overwhelming that Dr. Chris Scarre wrote this on page 176 of his 1993 work, Smithsonian Timelines of the Ancient World:

 “both the dromedary (the one-humped camel of Arabia) and the Bactrian camel (the two-humped camel of Central Asia) had been domesticated since before 2000 BC.”

 Let that wash over you, a world famous secular scholar, in a definitive secular work, written 20 years ago on the basis of dozens of archaeological discoveries has stated emphatically that camels, in all of their varieties were domesticated in the 3^rd millennium B.C. yet Fox news on the front page of their website claimed that archaeologists have pinpointed the date of the domestication of the camel and that their date (~900 B.C.) contradicts the biblical account of Genesis.

And this is not the first time that Fox has touted an archeological discovery that contains shocking information about or directly contradicts the bible.  Last year they were one of the first national outlets to publicize the so called “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife”papyrus (while even the Huffington post, certainly no friend to Christians, cautioned that the papyrus was immediately met with scholarly skepticism).

Now it really doesn’t bother me that Fox news attacks the Christian faith, or that they would actively engage in trying to shake the faith of believers, that is what we should expect from the world.  What does bother me however is that many Christians naively believe that Fox News is friendly to Christians.  I even heard a Christian radio personality, one of the relatively theologically sound ones, refer to Fox as “our network.”  But is it?

Perhaps you missed this tidbit from the O’Reily factor, where discussing Duck Dynasty (and I am making no theological endorsement of the beliefs of Duck Dynasty or the Church of Christ in anyway) where all of the panelist generally mocked the bible and the people who believe it, and regular Fox contributor Bernard Goldberg pointedly said “there is ignorance in  the bible” and that the Apostle Paul was an “ignoramus” (if you don’t want to watch the whole video click here for Todd Friel’s take on the discussion published in the Christian Post).

The Fox News website today did feature on its front page an opinion piece by Candace Cameron Bure on biblical marital roles, but it also featured articles titled “Mara Strips for Cards Talk”, “Olympics Get Sexy in Sochi”, “Christina Shows Off Skinny Bod” and “Hot New Spring Break Beach.”  Not to mention that it regularly features slide shows of “wardrobe malfunctions”, “best and worst (okay mostly best) celebrity beach bodies”, “The beautiful and talented __________“ (insert name of practically undressed young woman), as well as a weekly feature ported from a borderline pornographic “lad mag”.  I ask is this pro-Christian content?  Is this content of a safe or family friendly website? Is Fox a friend of Christians?

Now I am not saying that Fox is any worse than any other news outlet.  Nor am I saying that it should be legalistically avoided.  What I am saying is that believers should view it as what it truly is, worldly.  And while it is a matter of conscience if you watch, listen or read Fox News (full disclosure I occasionally read the website but never watch the TV channel or listen to the Radio network) we must never regard it as “our network”  it is worldly and friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4).  In fact we must view it is wholly opposed to the kingdom of God and use discernment when consuming any of its products.

An Open Letter to My Southern Baptist Friends

While I am generally speaking not a huge fan of open letters, as they are usually meant as a public critique of a prominent figure, I feel that this one has become necessary.  Not because I want people to pile on, but because I want this to be read by as many of my Southern Baptist friends as possible.

And by my Southern Baptist friends, I don’t mean likeminded SBC pastors I have never met, but my actual friends who are pastors in or otherwise affiliated with the SBC.  I mean the men who have invited me to preach in their pulpit while I was a seminary student, the men who stood beside me as we were ordained, and my fellow Grace Advance church planters who have planted churches that are part of the Southern Baptist Convention.  

I am not a member of the SBC, nor is my church so I pay little attention to internal SBC politics and controversies.  But there is one SBC controversy that is now spilling over into the broader evangelical world and the name of Christ is being defamed around the globe as a result.  As someone who ministers in Virginia, I have even heard it mentioned on the radio and my fear is that in the not too distant future it will find its way onto the TV news and into the papers.  It is not a complex problem and is easily solved.  It is the controversy surrounding Ergun Caner the former dean and president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, former provost of Arlington Baptist College and newly installed president of Brewton-Parker College, a small SBC college in Georgia.

Dr. Caner has in the past actively sought out the lime light and has spoken at the 2010 value voters summit, briefed marines on Islam and Jihad, and toured the country speaking in countless pulpits, SBC ad non-SBC alike.  He, by his own choice, has become a public figure and a recognizable face of the evangelical church.

And that is the problem, there is considerable evidence (video and audio recordings) that he may have lied habitually between the years 2001 and 2010 in front of many congregations and audiences about his life story, specifically that he was born in Turkey, raised in predominantly Muslim nations, didn’t speak fluent English at the time of his conversion and trained for jihad around the globe including in Beirut. Just google Ergun Caner (and I suggest you do if you are unfamiliar) and you will see the scope of the controversy.

My point in writing is not to render a judgment for or against Dr. Caner.  My point in writing is to plead with my Southern Baptist friends to demand an open public investigation into these allegations and that the results be made available to the rank and file of the SBC and acted on at the next National Convention.  A private investigation with embargoed findings is not acceptable when the alleged offenses have been so public.

If Dr. Caner is found to have lied habitually he should be stripped of his ordination and removed from his position as president of an SBC affiliated college.  Also the local church where he is a member should pursue church discipline with the intent to bring him to repentance.  Furthermore a resolution should be passed urging him to drop all law suits against fellow Christians (and especially SBC Pastors) pertaining to this matter.  If Dr. Caner has not lied but merely misspoken those in the SBC who have been outspoken public critics of him should be censured, and where appropriate church discipline should be pursued.  Additionally there has been pugnacious behavior on the part of several of Dr. Caner’s defenders and critics.  If it is found that they knowingly engaged in pugnacious behavior and baselessly defamed other pastors, the SBC should urge that they be removed from their pastorate and any other SBC affiliated posts.  This whole affair is a black eye on the SBC and the evangelical Church as a whole.

I would humbly ask my SBC friends to look into this matter and to urge your leaders to look into it, and to take decisive action.  This is a matter of character and integrity and not of theology, and it must be addressed as such, there is simply no room to agree to disagree.  Please bring this controversy to a swift and decisive conclusion for the good of the SBC, the witness of the Church and most importantly for the reputation of Christ.