January 11, 2008

Dear YouthWorker Journal:

I am writing today to take exception to something printed in your January/February 2008 issue.  Specifically, what was written in Mr. Barry Shafer’s article, “Lessons from the town of Bedrock,” page 28.

Mr. Shafer asserts: “To the Greeks, ‘belief’ wasn’t merely intellectual.  Their word for ‘believe’ indicated a level of belief that synergized with behavior.” Although the author did not specify what Greek word he was referring to, I assume it is πιστευω, since it is a form of this verb which appears in John 6:68-69, which he cited in the previous paragraph. On what basis does Mr. Shafer make this assertion? I looked it up in three different leading Greek lexicons. None of these lexicons give any hint as to even a shade of meaning to this word that would even suggest a synergism with behavior. It sounds like Mr. Shafer picked up what I would call a “theological urban legend” and put it in his article. Of course, I could be wrong. I don’t know everything. If Mr. Shafer can produce some scholarly, peer-reviewed evidence to support his assertion, I would love to read it. If not, he should avoid making assertions about what “The Greeks” thought.

The implication of Mr. Shafer’s assertion is all too clear. If “believing” has a component of behavior, then Christ did not do everything to give me salvation. I must participate in my salvation by participating in my faith through my behavior. There is a theological term for this concept. I’m sure you are familiar with the term, “synergism.” Obviously Mr. Shafer is also familiar with the term, since his very assertion included the phrase, “…synergized with behavior.” Now, while I believe Christ did everything, and there is nothing I can do to contribute to my faith or my salvation, I fully support the right of Mr. Shafer, and your magazine, to print your own theological opinions. The issue I have is in trying to cook up “scholarly sounding” assertions that have no basis in reality. You are entitled to your own theological opinions, and you are entitled to put them in print, but you are not entitled to make up facts to support your opinion.

Or, possibly, I misinterpreted Mr. Shafer’s point. Maybe the author was only trying to spur God’s people on to do good works as a response to faith. I have no problem with this. If this is the case, he should simply do that. There is no need to connect good works with faith. There is no need to make false, “urban legend” assertions about what the Greeks thought. Again, it sounds like Mr. Shafer heard this assertion in a Bible study somewhere, or picked it up from the Internet, or something, and since it sounded good at the time, he printed it as if it were fact. That’s pretty lousy journalism. Again, maybe I’m wrong, and if Mr. Shafer can produce scholarly, peer-reviewed evidence regarding this meaning of πιστευω, I will gladly and humbly offer an apology for this letter, and consider myself enlightened.

Sincerely,

Mark Wuggazer

Director of Youth Ministry

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

Birmingham, MI

P.S. In the unlikely event Mr. Shafer decides to take up my challenge to produce evidence for his assertion, I will accept only scholarly, peer-reviewed research published by a reputable publisher. I will not accept his or anyone’s arguments based on an interpretation of Scripture. He didn’t present the assertion as an interpretation of Scripture. He presented it as a fact of history. Therefore, in order to be convinced of his assertion, I will need solid, scholarly research regarding the use of πιστευω in biblical and (preferably) extra-biblical koine Greek literature.

You may wonder why I am taking so much time and effort to write this letter about such a small point. It’s because I actually like your magazine, and I see how many people like myself read it. How many people read that assertion and then went and used it in a Bible class they were teaching? How many people ultimately were deceived? Worse yet for me personally, I have to ask: How many times have I read assertions in your magazine that were poorly researched theological urban legends without realizing it? I ask you, plead with you, to be more careful in your writing and editorial work. You have a great deal of influence. Use it wisely.