A controversy is brewing this Christmas, and this time it’s not about me forgetting to buy someone a Christmas gift. This controversy concerns Andy Stanley’s teaching on the virgin birth; the mega-pastor’s popularity often makes him a target – sometimes for good reason, sometimes not. Does it matter whether the virgin birth is factually accurate? Does it matter if a person believes in the virgin birth?
Is the Virgin Birth critical to Christianity? – YES!
Christianity does not hinge on the truth or even the stories about the birth of Jesus, it really hinges on the resurrection of Jesus. – Andy Stanley
Andy Stanley defends his approach by asserting that the bodily Resurrection of Christ is the prime doctrine of Christianity and the virgin birth is extraneous. The Resurrection is indeed fundamental, but contrary to Stanley’s opinion, the virgin birth is also critical to Christianity.
Christmas is the celebration of the truth that distinguishes true Christianity from every other religion in the world. Every religion demands that man works up to achieve a higher plain or heaven; Christianity declares that God came down to man to give eternal life. It’s completely unique – that the Creator would be made like His creation; that the Almighty would be made a weak baby; that the Lord of all would be made a servant.
Without the virgin birth, Jesus was not begotten of God, not the Son of God, and not divine. Therefore without the virgin birth, Christianity is false. Furthermore, because Jesus was born of the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15. Galatians 4:4), he did not inherit the sin nature of Adam (Romans 5:12-14). The virgin birth is THE reason why Jesus could be our spotless sacrificial Lamb.
To be fair, Stanley professes to believe the virgin birth, but his pick-and-choose theology is a growing trend in Western Churchianity. While it is wise to acknowledge cultural views & doubts, it would be foolish to discard Biblical doctrine because it lacks popularity. Much of Christianity strives to stay relevant in our Post-Christian culture by permitting men to embrace truths they find attractive and dispose of truths that require faith or submission. It is analogous to a wife striving to keep her marriage by permitting her husband to have affairs. Make no mistake; Jesus is not desperate. He preferred a few fully devoted followers over multitudes who just wanted to see miracles. He prefers a few of genuine faith than multitudes that selectively believe.
Is the Virgin Birth critical for salvation? NO… and YES!
One blogger compares Andy’s approach to Paul’s secular apologetic method at Mars Hill (Acts 17:16-34). There is undoubtedly Scriptural merit in using secular views to reach secular people (1 Corinthians 9:20-24), but there’s a tremendous difference between Paul using secular views that validate NT truths and Stanley validating secular views that disparage NT truths.
Can a person come to saving faith in Christ without believing the virgin birth? That’s a tough question. One can certainly be saved while IGNORANT of the virgin birth, but can he be saved while REJECTING the virgin birth? A better question would be, “Does the person believe that Jesus was God in flesh?” The answer will clearly define who has genuine faith in Christ (1 John 4:2-3). Jesus made validating His deity the focus of His ministry and accepting His deity as the subject of faith. It is first part of the great mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16). And Paul’s quintessential verse on salvation requires BOTH belief in Christ’s deity & His resurrection (Romans 10:9).
Your Thoughts:
- Has the virgin birth been a difficult doctrine for you?
- Where is the balance of teaching the Word of God and not putting the cart before the horse?
- What dangers have you seen in dismissing or presenting too much doctrine?
