For most of my life, I've heard about people who believe the earth is flat, but I'd never met one. Until now. The problem is, that individual is a family member. A not-very-distant one. What should I do, and what does that have to do with being a Christian?
For me, it's a struggle.
The very essence of being a Christian is loving one's neighbor. Christ told us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. There was no caveat. The Apostle Paul said loving one's neighbor is the fulfillment of the law. What law? God's law. If you love your neighbor, you are fulfilling God's perfect law. But that's easier said than done.
The problem with flat earthers is they don't just believe something that isn't true. They actually evangelize others to believe it too. And the movement is growing.
In my family member's case, he takes certain Bible verses that seem to indicate the earth is flat if read literally and uses those to bolster his belief in the flat earth. Yikes!
Paul exhorted his protege Timothy to refrain from quarreling. I've done my best to do that since becoming a Christian 30 years ago, and I've been pretty good about it for the most part. But I find myself easily irked when I encounter ridiculous ideas, particularly ideas that turn common knowledge on its ear. And it seems the more ridiculous the idea, and the closer in relation to me of the person pertaining to that idea, or the more I respect the individual holding the idea, the more difficult it is for me contain myself. I wince, both inside and outside. Figuratively and literally.
An acquaintance of mine once said to me, "If you love someone and you see them going down the wrong path or subscribing to incorrect views, your love should motivate you to confront them about their beliefs and attempt to persuade them of their error."
It sounds like wisdom, but personal experience has taught me that such attempts are rarely successful. A lot of people have some really wacky ideas!
I know this is my weakness. It has nothing to do with others who espouse questionable ideas. Still, I'm at a loss as to what to do about it. Maybe it's nothing. Maybe love doesn't always motivate an individual to correct incorrect thinking.
Or maybe it does and I should just man up. But if this is true, I'll need lots of backup prayer to ensure I don't lose my mind.
What's your take?
Allen Taylor is the author of I Am Not the King.
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Allen Taylor
The use of the bible to bolster a flat earth doesn't really help anything - the Bible isn't a science book. But that doesn't mean that the entire premise your family member is espousing is incorrect. I don't know how much you've checked into the topic, but there are some very compelling arguments in favor of a flat earth. I know it might sound INSANE, but ask yourself: why does YouTube feel the need to post a notice on every single flat earth video on its platform? Are they afraid someone will hurt themselves if they believe in something other than "conventional wisdom"? Or what? (you'll see what I mean when you click on the video I shared below) But, to be honest, the proofs that are most compelling to me are: 1. Water ALWAYS finds its level, and 2. PERSPECTIVE, as in our visual perspective The way our brain and eyes work is very interesting. This shows what I'm talking about - https://youtu.be/P_0euH6Wk4U?si=g-ZXKAouLvDMC-hi If you want to show your family member how much you love them, in my opinion it would be to take an honest, unbiased look at what your family member is saying (assuming you've not done that yet). If you still don't agree, then fine, no harm, no foul; just agree to disagree with them. BTW - did you know that "Flat Earth Dave" is offering 3 bitcoins to someone who can offer proof of the globe? Sounds crazy, right? Maybe...but nobody has taken him up on the offer... Warning: Flat Earth is a deep rabbit hole, and there are a lot of non-Christian beliefs and ideas that have attached themselves to the topic, but it is still worth taking a look at, in my humble opinion. ;-)
Anita, this is the best response I've had yet. My response: Well, the video experiment you link to is flawed in a number of ways. First, the string drops by the end of the video and is no longer straight. That ruins his credibility as no serious scientist would allow that to happen without explanation. Secondly, it doesn't address why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. But to get the larger point, I like your recommendation. My own response to the question will follow next week. ;-)