As a Christian committed to the Scripture's revelation of Truth, I am a firm Believer in Creation. As an educated man of the 21st century, I know there are serious issues with fundamentalist interpretations of Genesis which require a belief that the earth is only several thousands of years old. This TFTD is neither long enough to attempt an answer nor purposed around resolving those issues. I am writing about my frustration over the unwillingness of people of all persuasions to have an honest debate about these issues which would allow those of us without degrees in biology or geology to grasp the arguments. Books and articles from both evolutionists and creationists usually adopt a belligerent view of the 'other side,' that destroys the search for understanding.
I am presently reading a book by Dr. Michael Behe, professor of microbiology at Lehigh University, called The Edge of Evolution. Behe is an ardent supporter of Intelligent Design, the theory that there is an outside influence (he does not give that force a name or label) that guided the process of development of complex life here on the earth. He comes to that view from his observation of natural phenomena as a scientist. He is a Christian with a Roman Catholic background who does not read the Bible with a literal and fundamentalist perspective. Yet, his work is widely scorned by most scientists, not because of poor formation of his theories, but because he allows for the existence of something or someone outside of our system influencing the system. Yes, that something quickly becomes "God" and it seems that "God" is not allowed to be included in the discussion. If a scientist allows for a Designer, he is accused of having a "medieval mind,'' or called 'too lazy' to seek for the 'real answer.' But, it is not just evolutionists who vilify those with differing views. Creationists do the same thing to those who hold differing ideas about the origins of the universe. All too often contempt invades the debate and each 'side' dismisses the other with labels, often personal and petty, that ends the conversation. Those of us on the outside who would benefit from a real conversation by the experts are left with our questions.
It is hard for me to trust the literature from both Creationist and Evolutionist viewpoints written for those of us who are not scientists because it appears to me that rather than working towards discovery, the aim is more often to dig the trenches dividing the sides deeper! (I surely could be wrong on this as my reading is obviously limited)
By now many of you are even acutely uncomfortable with this TFTD! Am I right? Some of you are wondering, "Has Jerry abandoned faith in the Scripture?" My answer? Not at all! But I do know this - understanding what the Bible teaches me requires an ongoing discovery of how God intends for us to read it. The Word is clear that the world came from the Mind of the Creator, who because He made us at His command. As the Creator, He has the right to own us and hold us accountable to love and serve Him. But I am acutely interested in understanding the processes of the world God made, how He made it, and the intricacy of the design that makes Creation work. And I am convinced of this: honest science is not the enemy of faith, anymore than honest faith is the enemy of science!
If God is the Source of Truth and Knowledge as we profess that He is, won't He stand up to inquiry? Dogma is dangerous, wherever it comes from. As a man who loves Jesus Christ, I want to honor the Truth He represents! I want to become an even better Christian by understanding the magnificent world He has made. So, let's keep the conversation honest, acknowledging the points where it becomes difficult, admitting to the intersections where we collide philosophically, and respecting our minds - which God gave us right alongside of our hearts.
Here's a word from the Word to ponder today - "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything." (Colossians 1:15-18, NLT)
__________________________
To God be the glory,
Great things He has done,
So loved He the world
that He gave us His Son;
Who yielded His life
an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate
that all may go in.
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Let His people rejoice.
O come to the Father,
through Jesus, the Son,
And give Him the glory,
Great things He has done!
- public domain
No comments:
Post a Comment