When written by journalists like Newsweek”˜s former editor Jon Meacham or TIME reporters such as David Van Biema, the articles were often balanced and genuinely insightful. Meacham and Van Biema knew the difference between theological liberals and theological conservatives and they were determined to let both sides speak. I was interviewed several times by both writers, along with others from both magazines. I may not have liked the final version of the article in some cases, but I was treated fairly and with journalistic integrity.
So, when Newsweek, now back in print under new ownership, let loose its first issue of the New Year on the Bible, I held out the hope that the article would be fair, journalistically credible, and interesting, even if written from a more liberal perspective.
But Newsweek”˜s cover story is nothing of the sort. It is an irresponsible screed of post-Christian invective leveled against the Bible and, even more to the point, against evangelical Christianity. It is one of the most irresponsible articles ever to appear in a journalistic guise.
I have great respect for Al but I wonder if, by criticising them, we give stories like this legs when they would otherwise expire of inanition. Does Newsweek exist? Its circulation declined so precipitously that it became digital only in 2012 and ceased print. Less than a year ago it began to print again but as a shadow of its former self, having declined from a circulation of around 3.3 million at its peak to perhaps 70,000 today. Its journalistic standards have, some would say, declined commensurately. We should heed the words of Jesus: leave the dead to bury the dead.
A good article from Al Mohler. I note Terry Tee’s point about Newsweek’s poor circulation (perhaps the poor standard of Eichenwald’s article indicates why?) but it may be that more people read Mohler’s article than Eichenwald’s. They will certainly find a strong witness in the former that may turn some towards the light .