Newsweek's Meacham Straightens Out Christian View of Virgin Birth

The cover story of Newsweek is The Birth of Jesus. It is subtitled, “Faith and history; How the story of Christmas came to be.” Some people get excited when they see something of a biblical nature featured in a mainstream publication. I get annoyed.

Without even cracking the article I can predict what the take will be on any truthful account of whatever the subject matter happens to be. I can tell you that they will cite anywhere from four to six experts of a pointedly liberal persuasion whom they will identify as scholars and theologians. They will then be presented as if they characterize mainstream thought and belief. Then they will quote their token individual whom any Bible believing Christian might recognize as being a real Christian, but their role in the article is minute and often subtly mocked. This story is all of that.

While Jon Meacham, the author, notes that 80% of the American public believes in the virgin birth, in the next line states, “others, perhaps fewer in number are equally passionate about their critical understanding of the faith.”

“Perhaps” fewer in number? Wait a minute. If eight out of ten people believe in the biblical account of the birth of Christ, that doesn’t leave much room mathematically for there to be any question about whether the “others” who disbelieve are fewer in number. Do the math.

So in truth, the view that Meacham offers which takes up nearly the entire article is by far the minority view of the American public. So why is it presented as if it were the “reasonable” view? You know the answer to that.

The rest of the lengthy article is spent, not evaluating with any semblance of balance the historical record, but only bowing before liberal “scholars” all of whom exude an anti-supernatural bias that necessitates they discount the scriptural account. The purpose of the article then is to show that anyone who believes what the Bible says must be an imbecile or a fool.
The arrogant spokesmen for the spirit of the age are blind, I know. Still I suppose that we lowly people of faith should be grateful that such mental giants as the majority of the press seem to think of themselves, give us any consideration at all. Fat chance. One day they will know; for their sakes I hope it is sooner rather than later!