Posted on 07/28/2019 6:02:04 AM PDT by Kaslin
In an imaginary “ranking” of Christian topics that elicit the most fervent discussions, Jesus Christ is No. 1. But near the top is the Shroud of Turin — believed by millions of Christians to be the authentic burial cloth of Jesus. This “ranking” was inspired by you — Townhall readers who wrote over 500 impassioned comments in response to my July 21 piece, “Shroud of Turin: New Test Concludes 1988 ‘Medieval Hoax’ Dating Was a Fraud.”
I purposely read all your comments to gain insight into my role as an adviser and fundraiser for a groundbreaking exhibition about the Shroud of Turin at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. This spectacular museum, among the largest and highest rated in the city, is located only three blocks from the Capitol. And just prior to the January 20, 2021, presidential inauguration is when this high-tech Shroud exhibit is scheduled to open.
Threaded throughout hundreds of your responses about all aspects of the Shroud was one overarching theme summarized by these three comments:
“Anyone who requires physical evidence to underpin their faith doesn’t understand the concept of faith.”
“JESUS CHRIST died for all. HE is what is important. Making such a fuss about this piece of cloth is a distraction from HIS work of SALVATION.”
“I respectfully submit that the only ‘relic’ which really matters is the one which was left us on that first Easter morning: The tomb is empty! He is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!”
Of course, “He is Risen” is also the foundation of my Christian faith, (made slightly more complicated by having been born Jewish). But I feel compelled to discuss and explore the comment that reads in part, “…such a fuss about this piece of cloth...”
And my response is simple: The Shroud of Turin exists because HE exists. An answer that echoes what God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).
Thus, the existence of the Shroud of Turin raises two questions that I will attempt to address: First, what exactly is the Shroud? And second, a deeper dive into “Why does the cloth exist?”
The Shroud of Turin is a 14.5-by-3.5-foot linen cloth with a linear front to back mirror image of a crucified man. The Shroud has the distinction of being the most studied artifact in the world, yet the cloth’s numerous mysteries remained unexplained by modern science.
At this moment the Shroud lies in a fireproof box in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, as it has continuously since 1578. (But secretly relocated between 1939 and 1946 when Italian authorities feared Hitler was seeking possession.)
Dating the Shroud has been controversial and the subject of my July 21 piece.
Among Shroud historians, there is no dispute that in 1352, over 200 years before the Shroud was housed in Turin, Geoffrey DeCharney displayed the cloth in Lirey, France marking the beginning of the Shroud’s documented "modern" dating.
There is also much circumstantial Shroud evidence through art, artifacts, and coins that pre-dates 1352. Moreover, scientifically verified botanical evidence found on the cloth in the form of pollen, dust, flowers, and even the weave and type of linen traces the Shroud back to first-century Jerusalem.
The cloth with its mysterious properties has survived wars, invasions and the ravages of time including numerous fires — most recently in 1997 at its home cathedral in Turin.
Most harrowing was the 1532 fire in Chambéry, France. Miraculously the entire cloth was not destroyed but left those distinctive linear markings along both sides of the Shroud that we see today. Hard to imagine, but the linen cloth was stored in a silver box, folded in 48 layers, when drops of molten silver burned through the cloth’s outer folded edges.
The point is, against all the odds, the Shroud exists. And, as stated earlier, because He exists. There is also a significant Bible-based reason found in the Gospel of John known as “Doubting Thomas” (John 20:24-31).
But first, a “guest” who will explain this passage needs a proper introduction:
It turns out that the many Townhall readers who commented about not needing the Shroud’s “physical evidence to underpin their faith,” represent a large swath of Christian believers. I learned this when asking Russ Breault— my fellow Shroud exhibit team colleague, and a world-renowned Shroud expert and speaker — if he had experienced similar attitudes after over 30 years of hosting his popular “Shroud Encounters” to sell-out crowds.
Breault replied:
“I get that statement all the time! When someone says, ‘I don't need the Shroud for my faith,’ I usually say, ‘That is fantastic! But that doesn't mean the Shroud was not meant for someone else.’ ”
Breault continued: “In the Doubting Thomas story, Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who ‘believe yet have not seen,’ but Jesus did not condemn Thomas for his unbelief. In fact, a week after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared a second time, and the first person he spoke to was Thomas, who was not there to witness Jesus’ first appearance. Jesus then quotes Thomas' words back to him, ‘Thomas, thrust your hand into my side and place your fingers into my nail wounds and be not faithless but believe.’
At this point, Thomas — forever known as "Doubting Thomas" — makes the strongest profession of faith in the New Testament saying, "My Lord and my God." Then Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who can believe without seeing. So we are blessed if we can believe without seeing, but we are not cursed if we can't get there without some additional evidence.
Therefore, perhaps the Shroud is a silent witness to the world offering all of humanity the same opportunity Jesus gave to Thomas. In some proverbial sense by looking at the Shroud, we too can thrust our hand into His side and place our fingers into His nail wound and find our faith in the process.”
Thank you, Russ! And now my final thoughts for Townhall commenters.
If blessed with great faith, you are free to ignore or downplay the image on the Shroud showing Christ’s great suffering and victory over death. Yet, take comfort in knowing that the Shroud is there to supplement or reinforce the faith of others while potentially witnessing to the ever-increasing number of Doubting Thomases found throughout the world.
In the end, I believe that the Shroud exists as proof of God’s greatest gift to mankind —the Lord Jesus Christ — who lives and reigns forever and ever. Alleluia!
(Now, let the comments begin!)
Why thank you MDO 😁 It’s not easy to answer something like this on an Internet forum, but I will try.
I think you know, both Metmom and I are evangelicals, who came from a catholic background. I will try to be brief, because I think it is a simple concept. I believe one of the prerequisites to be saved, is repentance. A complete turn around in their life. Will they be perfect? No way. Will they continue to let sin reign in their mortal bodies, after their so called “conversion experience?” The concept tells me, no they won’t. Paul said don’t use your freedom, as an excuse for wickedness. I believe he meant it. One cannot go into it, with the idea, that since they are now saved, they can go live like hell. No they can’t, and why would they want to, since the Holy Spirit takes up residence in their heart of hearts?
This, I believe, is the true meaning of faith without works is dead. Remember, we cannot see the inner heart of a person. We only see the outside, but I think if someone says they have saving faith, but has no repentance, and their life stays the same, or gets worse, they might be lying to themselves, and may not be saved at all. It’s between them and God, since only He knows the heart.
Our good works do not cause our faith. Our good works are the result of our faith. OK, maybe it wasn’t so brief, but you have my opinion. 👍😀☝️
Yet you defend it.
And the only information I had on it was from the posts of the trolls.
Dude...really?
You bring nothing to the discussion.
You must be born again by faith in Christ to be saved.
When you are saved, God seals you with His promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of the inheritance God has reserved for us in heaven, where we are seated with Him already IN CHRIST. We are NOW seated there.
Judicially, we are pardoned from ALL our sin by trusting in Christ and His finished work on the cross.
Positionally are are already in heaven by virtue of the fact that we are in Christ and that’s where He is.
We cannot do anything to unsave ourselves when God has sealed us. We did not do works to attain salvation and we do not do works to keep our salvation. It’s a free gift that we do not do ANYTHING to earn or merit or whatever else you want to call it.
You are insulting!
How DARE you ask someone to make a judgement call like that!
--Catholic_Wannabe_Dude(I am highly incensed!!)
When one rabbithole is found; there are probably more in the area to be stumbled upon.
Therefore the question becomes:
Is the Promise a lie or not.
I don't see why ANY Catholic would try to slither away from a PROMISE made to them by MARY.
Are they REALLY trying to offend JESUS by not respecting His MOTHER??
Probably not, but I'd bet he does ANYONE quite well!!
“This shall be a privilege for you and all Carmelites, that anyone dying in this habit shall not suffer eternal fire.”
I don't imagine the website that SELLS these things really cares if yer a Carmelite or not.
Lots of replies, actually.
Lots of dancing around and hair splitting and excuse making but no answers.
HMMMmmm...
Affirmative sir. I know it’s weird, but I am showing it’s 9:15 AM, on Wednesday, in my humble abode, but it’s 9:15 PM, Tuesday in the Chicago area. It’s weird.
IOW, moving the goal posts.
Or perhaps the term *red herring* is more accurate.
So THIS is where the MORMONs get the instructs for their 'garment'!
(I know it is not found in any of the Scriptures that SLC has approved.)
Your long, explanatory replies here make this exercise unneeded; as they provide such perfect examples of it.
So you get Christ ‘inside’ by eating his flesh and blood at your religion’s Eucharist? You so clever
632 posted on 7/31/2019, 9:16:40 AM by Mark17
Then perhaps a GREEN scapular would suit your refined tastes better...
“This scapular is not like others [it is not based on a religious habit] but merely two holy images on a single piece of material. Therefore, no special formula is required to bless it or enroll someone in its use. It suffices that it be blessed by a Catholic priest and worn by the one whom we desire to benefit by Our Lady’s intercession. If, on the other hand, the person is unable, or even unwilling, to wear it or carry it, it may even be slipped, unknown to them, into their clothes, possessions, home or work environments, etc."
I'd bet that Mel Gibson hopes it's true!
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