This second-guessing of the Gospel account is nothing new. Theological scholars have been speculating about the truth of the New Testament narrative for decades, and they likely will continue.

They do their speculating by studying writing styles, the culture at the time the Gospel was written, comparing narratives and studying the writings of ancient historians.

And they have concluded, for instance, that Jesus never spoke the Lord's Prayer. They have concluded that Jesus was not born of a virgin. Instead, they say, after his death, Jesus' disciples spread the rumor to compete with a king of the time who, the king's followers said, was born of a virgin.

Finally, they have decided that the resurrection never happened. Rather, they say, Jesus' body was probably left on the garbage heap called Golgotha.

Who are these people who feel they have the right to ravage the Gospel stories? They are respected scholars and university and seminary professors who finally decided the public ought to know this stuff.

Most of you were probably just as happy not to know. But, when scholars get organized, it's tough stopping them.

They are organized through the Jesus Seminar, a California-based inquiry group studying the life of Jesus. They meet several times a year -- more than 100 scholars who hear lectures, discuss the finer points of history and then vote on various Gospel passages.

They use marbles, dropping a white marble into a box if they believe the passage is definitely believed to be the words of Jesus, a red marble if the passage is somewhat likely, a gray marble if it is probably not authentic and a black marble if it is definitely not the word of Jesus.

That's simple enough, unless you take into account the years of study each of these men and women have invested in their discipline. If we knew all they have sacrificed to reach this zenith in their careers, we might be inclined to believe them.

But after all, this stuff is only speculation. I mean, these are all nice people and they might even still go to church once in a while. But one wonders why the world needs this historical scholarship. They say their work will strengthen people's faith because it will get them into their Bibles again. But as another scholar told me, "Faith in what?" In effect, they have gutted the Bible of meaning.

What we have left of Jesus, after the Jesus Seminar finishes with him, is a half-crazed Jewish zealot wandering a barren desert. He is arrested for preaching ideas contrary to the prevailing religion. Then he is tortured and killed in the most degrading way. I know that's not your idea of the kind of God you want. That is also not the kind of divine being I would worship.

But this isn't about facts -- it's about faith, and that is a mysterious concept. Do we believe because we have proof? Or do we believe precisely because we do not have all the facts?

Not having the facts makes faith not only possible but necessary. There would be no religion if we had all the facts. For instance, Buddhists believe Buddha emerged at birth talking a blue streak. In every religion there are things we might call into question.

In the end, we will see that the Jesus Seminar was probably necessary and that it enlightened us at least a bit. In fact, this stuff is fascinating, and if you watched the "Frontline" program this week, you know for yourself how puzzling and complex history can be.

So let's not get too excited. For Christians, the resurrection really happened. If you feel it's important to believe in a bodily resurrection, go ahead. What it boils down to is whom you will believe -- the people who lived at the time Jesus was alive or a band of theological scholars who are digging in an obscure history.

Clark D. Morphew
April 11, 1998