Bible Articles

C A R L   B.   G A R N E R MADALYN'S BIBLE I know where she got the Bible, but I don’t know why she kept it. It was sold last week for $2,000 in an auction in Austin, Texas. The auction was held for the purpose of paying off atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair’s debt to the IRS for back taxes. I don’t know why the buyer would pay that much for it; curiosity, I guess. Other items sold for inflated sums, perhaps for the same reason. The auction received considerable attention in the news because Madalyn and two of her children have disappeared. Did they make off with millions of dollars of the Atheist organization’s funds? Were they kidnapped? It has been over three years since they were seen, and their belongings went on sale before a curious public. There is an irony in this sale; especially her Bible. It is well known that she did not respect it, but a group of young girls from Tulsa, Oklahoma gave it to her in 1968, five years after her successful effort to limit prayer and reading of the Bible in public schools. Why did she keep it? Did she ever read it? [She has often shown that she is sufficiently familiar with the Bible to perceive the hypocrisy of those who claim to believe it.] There are other ironies in this story. They illustrate many of the principles taught in the same Bible that she kept for almost thirty years. They are worthy of our attention. RELATIVE VALUE OF BIBLE AND ATHEISM This is not the first time a famous skeptic has seen his own views finish a distant second behind the Bible. Voltaire often claimed the Bible would soon be out of print. He died centuries ago, but the Bible is still being printed--nearly 40,000 copies are sold every business day. At a charity auction, a collection of Voltaire’s books sold for less than ten dollars. In Madalyn’s auction, her Bible sold for $2,000, while a collection of books promoting atheism sold for $10. I’m not sure what that proves, but I agree with Patrick Henry who said, “The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.” Consider the following quotes from men of historical prominence: Immanuel Kant: "The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced." Napoleon: "The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power conquering all who oppose it." Sir Isaac Newton: "There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history". Charles A. Dana: "The grand old Book still stands; and this old earth, the more its leaves are turned and pondered, the more it will sustain and illustrate the pages of the Sacred Word." Yes, the Bible has and will stand the test of time and opposition. FLEETING VALUE OF POSSESSIONS Over 400 people gathered for the disposition of O’Hair’s possessions, which included a 1985 Porsche 944. By any standard, this was an automobile with considerable worth at one time. Even though it had been driven only 45,000 miles, it was sold to a local car dealer for $2,750. He said it was “just too cheap.” Once this car had been a treasured possession, but now its value is such that it could be bought at a bargain price. News accounts tell us the auction was not able to erase their debts to the IRS. Like yours and mine may some day be, her possessions were gathered up into 360 large boxes, garbage sacks containing clothes and 54 big boxes of books.” I don’t know how much she paid for her clothes, but they were sold by the sackful, and brought only pennies on the dollar. Jesus had said, “a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth,” Luke 12:15. How easy to see now. STRANGE POSSESSIONS Some things just don’t seem to be compatible with being an atheist. Several of her small keepsakes had religious themes. She owned several boxes of Christmas decorations. She kept the Bible given to her by those young girls. Religious books were prominently displayed in her home library. But her fame came from her opposition to prayer in public schools. Many have described her as a woman of many contradictions. In Jesus’ prayer for unity among His disciples He prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me,” John 17:20-21. It is unfortunate that the unity for which He prayed has not been attained. Mrs. O’Hair was right when she said that religious division is the most tangible evidence that God and the Bible are irrelevant to man today. Those who choose religious discord over biblical unity will have to account for their rebellion against God. It is significant to note that Madalyn didn’t take that Bible with her when she disappeared. No doubt about it; she should have taken the time to study and give heed to that Book. It could do her a lot of good.