C A
R L  B. G A R N E R
MADALYN'S BIBLE
I know where
she got the Bible, but I donıt 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 OıHairıs debt to the
IRS for back taxes. I donıt 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 organizationıs 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 Voltaireıs books sold for less than ten dollars.
In Madalynıs auction, her Bible sold for $2,000, while a collection of
books promoting atheism sold for $10. Iım not sure what that proves, but
I agree with Patrick Henry who said, ³The Bible is worth all other books
which have ever been printed.² 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 OıHairıs 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 ³just too cheap.² 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.² I donıt 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, ³a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which
he possesseth,² Luke 12:15. How easy to see now.
STRANGE POSSESSIONS
Some things just donıt 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 Jesusı prayer for
unity among His disciples He prayed, ³That 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,² John 17:20-21.
It is unfortunate that the unity for which He prayed has not been attained.
Mrs. OıHair 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 didnıt 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.
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THE
SCHOOL