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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Christian Politics

What should be the Christian's role in the political realm?

With the ever changing political climate of our nation, it is difficult to determine where exactly we fit, as Christians. We understand that the world's ideals will not always line up with our own, and yet we still owe it to ourselves to be aware of political happenings in our world.

With the advent of social media, it appears that Christians are more vocal than ever about their beliefs regarding one's place in the politics of the nation. Often, the Christian becomes actively involved in the politics of a particular party or candidate. But, where are we to draw the line of involvement?

My thought would be that maintaining an active knowledge of the issues most relevant to the individual person is the best place to start. From that point, actively seeking candidates that support one's views is another relevant way to engage. Above all, understand that regardless of who is in power, God ultimately has control. This is a key aspect of the Christian's involvement, and one many are quick to forget.

Whether Democrat, Republican, Independent or other, in God's sovereignty, rulers and leaders are placed where they are by the will of God. We may not always see an immediate, direct reason for this. There is a grand orchestration of events for which we will have little knowledge on this side of Heaven. For the Christian and politics, an element that should not be disregarded is that of our trust in God through Christ to bring about the world's redemption, by the means he deems necessary.

1) Relevant Personal Issues
A relevant personal issue would be something in the political realm that has a direct, immediate effect on an individual's way of life. It could be related to an event close to them, or something that actually has a direct effect on them.

For example, I have an active interest in immigration and immigration reform because Juliet is originally from Mexico, and we have had to deal directly with that process. She migrated legally, through all of the paperwork and headache, and is eligible now for citizenship, once we save up the money.

Now, an active interest in immigration means that I want to know what is going on related to the US relationship to Mexico. I have a special place in my heart for my wife's country of origin, and care to see it is fairly treated in governmental dealings.

By that same notion, while I would not directly support illegal immigration, I can certainly understand what drives people to do it. The legal process as it stands now is a mess of paperwork and fees, and had Juliet not already been fully fluent in English and Spanish, it would have been a nightmare of a language barrier as well.

I watched a very interesting documentary on Netflix the other day called, "The Other Side of Immigration," that I would encourage anyone interested in this topic to view. It offers a personal look at the struggles faced by rural Mexico, and the reliance on the ability to migrate to the states for livelihood in many cases.

So, as seen in the example, the Christian can assess what is close to them, and support or oppose those issues.

2) Candidate Support
This area for the Christian is often much more difficult. It is also the primary reason so much discord is sown amongst the church and the world. When Christians oppose another candidate so much that they become hateful, the light of Christ is lost. It is difficult to be salt and light to the world if we are showing hatred of a candidate or ideals.

Now, there are some issues which from a Biblical standpoint it would make sense to support. But, just as in non-essential doctrinal issues we are to have charity with one another, so too we must have charity in how we approach disagreement on a political issue. This past election is a great example of how it is possible to be charitable and weigh the candidates and issues, and how it is also possible to attack others' views in our opposition. The anger displayed by Christians during this election only served to cast us in an even dimmer light. Ironically, there was no "perfect Christian candidate" to be found. Yet, for all the complaining and arguing, you would think Christians were fighting to elect Christ himself on whichever side of the political spectrum they fell.

There is no rule anywhere that says a Christian must vote for the Conservative/Republican candidate, or a Liberal/Democratic candidate. Historically, we see the conservative stance on moral issues often is in line with the Christians' views, but that also is not always the case.

Christians who view a candidate solely on the candidate's religious affiliation also set themselves up for inevitable disappointment. Were a Christian to check the doctrine of both Romney and Obama from last election, and honestly assess what they claimed to believe, one would find neither fit the bill for foundational Biblical Christianity. And, in the political realm, that has to be ok. There is not going to be a Christian candidate in the fullest sense of the term. Each president has had some religious affiliation, but none to my knowledge have ever been inherently, and perfectly in line with Biblical Christianity.

This is where the separation between church and state can be observed. While it is true many of our founding fathers expressed some belief in God, it is also true that a stated belief in God is not the same as a belief in Christianity. Many religions profess a belief in a god, but it is not the God in whom Christians claim belief. And so, we find that judging a candidate simply on their faith or religious affiliation is often a fool's errand.

We must remember that were any of us to already be perfected humans, incapable of sin, we wouldn't have needed Christ. Since that is not the case for anyone dead or alive today, save Christ himself, we must cast aside the prideful notion that there is a "perfect" candidate or position on an issue. There is no perfection in the world as it currently exists.


3) God is in Control


God is in control. Whatever is going on in the world, God is in control. As Paul states in the book of Romans,

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1

This verse should be the verse all of us consider before posting distaste with anything in the political realm. If we profess as Christians to observe Biblical teaching in our lives, how have so many ignored this concept and taken to political bashing? Paul makes it clear that (and I can't stress this enough) God is in control. God knows who will win the election before they know it themselves. God puts those in power to bring about his good plan in the world on a macro level, far beyond what our finite eyes can see.

Do we sometimes have to tolerate Presidents and leaders who espouse views not in line with our own? Of course we do! And, we should understand that in the Biblical context of things, that is to be expected and accepted.

I am of the humble opinion that when a Christian takes to bashing a politician or leader in the world, on the sole basis that they perceive them to be a threat or unworthy candidate, that Christian needs to be aware of how their position is going to appear to those who are not of the faith. Does a viewpoint paint a negative view of someone? Jesus said love our enemies. Does it slander the name of a person? The psalmist reminds us that there is none righteous in the world (Psalm 14:3). Paul reminds us that all have sinned and fallen short of God's standard (Romans 3:23).

We are going to disagree with those in power at some point. We are going to feel upset and hurt by decisions made at times. But, we can also view that leader as a creation of God. Whether the leader acknowledges or knows it, God loves them and wants them to return that love. Maybe some do, and maybe some don't. Some will do it in non-Biblical ways, but mere acknowledgment of God's authority can often lead an individual on a path that ends with Christ. It is often a long journey. It also does not always end that way. We must be assured that in everything, we have the word of the one with ultimate authority, and the one by whose authority and grace we are saved in our faith in Christ. It is this authority that we should be concerned about. Political leaders will come and go, but God is everlasting, and our relationship to God, is of much more importance than our view of a candidate's stance on a political issue.

I encourage my Christian brothers and sisters to watch how we speak of our government. We will not always like what they do. For some, we may never like it. But, we need to remember that our actions as Christians are often what can bring someone to belief. Our treatment of those who believe and those who don't believe needs to be equal, and charitable. Our commission is to go out in the world and make disciples, but it is hard to win disciples if our efforts are focused on speaking badly of others.
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The Bible has a few things to say about our relationship to government and earthly rulers. See these verses below:

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:15-22

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:1-5

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." Jeremiah 29:7

"For Kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over all nations." Psalm 22:28







Sunday, August 11, 2013

Exploring God: My Favorite Christian Resources

Future of Preaching...



It is nearly time for Austin, TX to start "Exploring God." The billboard campaign throughout the city is complete, and over 300 churches in Austin are preparing for their cohesive sermon series in September on some of the great questions asked of Christians about the faith.

In the midst of preparing for this campaign, I am browsing once again through the various resources I've enjoyed for growing my spiritual walk over the past few years.

When taken as supplemental to the Bible, these Pastors, Websites, Books and other media can be a wonderful resource for maturing in our faith.

Some resources are for a more advanced study, while others will be basics worth noting. I'll try to be fairly comprehensive, but this is also somewhat opinion based. In general, the resources mentioned will be supporters of scripture as the word of God, and discerning doctrine within the faith. Some are challenging, and some are not. Some are funny, and some are very serious.

In any case, I'll break them down here, and may periodically add to the list if a new resource catches my eye. This may be a good post to bookmark for future updates. I don't expect everyone to check every resource (I can barely keep up with them all myself usually), but they provide a great outlet for discussion and spiritual growth.

PASTORS, PREACHERS, AND TEACHERS, OH MY!
Odd as it may sound, there are actually some differences here. Far from the old days of just referring to your local priest, there are now many shepherds of God's flock whose specialities lend them to various aspects of preaching. Some are great uplifting preachers, some are Bible teachers, and others are a great mix of both. These are my current favorites.

Pastor Brian Lightsey of Life Church Leander (Leander, TX)
It would be hard not to mention my home church, as it is a great source of spiritual growth. A Bible based preaching style, with a healthy dose of teaching, make Brian a great overall resource. There is a sermon archive online, so if you can't make it out to visit, you can still hear online!

Main Page: http://wwwyourlifechurch.org
Sermon Archive http://yourlifechurch.org/sermons/

Pastor Mike Fabarez of Compass Bible Church (Alisa Viejo, CA) and Focal Point Ministries
Mike is my favorite radio pastor, and a challenging listen. He is more likely to bring conviction to hearts than many of the other resources that I will list. He is as Bible-based as they come, and not afraid to approach the difficult doctrines of scripture. There are some great series archived on the website, so browse for a topic that appeals and dive in! For a quick watch, check out his short video blogs on numerous faith topics.

Main Page- http://www.focalpointministries.org
Sermon Archive- http://www.focalpointministries.org/sermons-by-pastor-mike-fabarez/
Video Blogs- http://www.focalpointministries.org/video-blogs/
Systematic Theology (9 year study)- http://focalpointministries.org/product-category/focalpointu/

Dr. R.C. Sproul of Ligonier Ministries and Renewing Your Mind Radio Program (Sanford, FL)
Dr Sproul is actually fairly well known in pastoral circles as a leader in the reformed theology movement. This is a challenging resource for a number of reasons, but I think it is also quite valuable. Dr. Sproul covers topics of importance, and maintains a reverence and awe of God in much of his teaching that really causes me to sit back in the same reverential awe.

The reformed theology camp is based on Luther and Calvin's reformation teachings, and differs somewhat from the Arminian/Wesley camp. For this reason, some may choose not to use this resource, but as a person raised in Wesleyan tradition, I find great value in the differences. Currently, Ligonier Ministries is offering a series of eBooks by for FREE. Can't beat Free books!

Main Page- http://www.ligonier.org
Radio Broadcast- http://www.ligonier.org/rym/
Free Book Resource- http://www.ligonier.org/blog/rc-sprouls-crucial-questions-ebooks-now-free/?utm_source=LMorg&utm_medium=HomeFeature&utm_campaign=FreeCQ

Pastor Paul Sheppard of Destiny Christian Fellowship and Destined for Victory ministries (Redwood City, CA)
Pastor Paul is great for a convicting, but humorous listen. His preaching style is challenging to the soul, but often hilarious in delivery. Abrupt honesty about God's truth pepper the messages and offer fresh insight mixed with humor. For a great extra resource to start, Pastor Paul is the way to go.

Main Page- http://www.pastorpaul.net
Podcast Sermons- http://podcast.pastorpaul.net



R.T. Kendall of RT Kendall Ministries (Various)
I listened to a particularly engaging question and answer session set in Britain that was hosted by Kendall, and found his answers scripturally accurate and relevant. I perused a few other sermons of his, and find him a good resource, though I don't check it nearly as much as the others. He used to preach at Westminster Abbey in England, but I believe now does ongoing travel-preaching.

Main Page- http://www.rtkendallministries.com


SURFING THE WEB ON WAVES OF GREAT RESOURCES
In the social age, the internet has become a wealth of information about every topic imaginable. These are some sites, and ministries that I find valuable as resources.

Explore God
Currently, a great resource for young and mature Christians alike; as well as, people who are not Christians, but have some questions. This outreach is ongoing, and about to hit Austin (as mentioned above). It provides insight on numerous faith topics. Bible based insight taught with love.

Main Page- http://www.exploregod.com

Living Waters Ministry and Way of the Master (Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron)
This is a great evangelistic ministry which is lead by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron (of Growing Pains fame). Primarily, they focus on street evangelism, but have put out a few good short films worth a watch.

Main Page- http://www.livingwaters.com
"Evolution Vs God" Movie- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0u3-2CGOMQ
"Monumental" Movie- http://www.monumentalmovie.com
"Genius" Movie- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7pe3_VQbUM
"180 Movie"- http://www.180movie.com
"Unstoppable" Movie (not yet released as of posting)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8yXBG0Wm2Q

Answers in Genesis (Ken Ham)
One of my favorite resources for creationism. Ken is a polarizing figure to be sure, but always pushes for the authority of God in scripture. Christians who like to put evolution and God together may find his ministry challenging, as it is young earth Creationism. Personally, I see no reason God couldn't have created everything in six days, so I enjoy this ministry and its resources. He also heads up the Creation Museum, and is working on constructing a full size replica of Noah's Ark (see link below). A Christian man pushing for God's authority while holding a somewhat unpopular belief, his posts can sometimes be challenging as he spends most of his time defending the ministry.

Main Page- http://www.answersingenesis.org
Creation Museum- http://www.creationmuseum.org
Ark Encounter- http://www.arkencounter.com

Thru the Bible Radio Network of J. Vernon McGee
Audio of J. Vernon McGee's series, which is also in book form (mentioned below). J. Vernon's primary ministry late in life was going verse-by-verse through the Bible and commenting on sections. He is a great resource for those looking to dive into the Bible, who wish to have a guide along the way.

Main Page- http://www.ttb.org

Dan Lietha Cartoons
A cartoonist associated with Answers in Genesis, his "After  Eden," and other cartoons are good for a laugh and learning.

Main Page- http://www.answersingenesis.org/aftereden/index.aspx
Other Cartoons by Dan- http://www.danltoons.com

Rick Henderson of Church is Messy
I just discovered some articles at this website today that are worth a look. He definitely shares my assessment that doctrinal discernment is something all Christians need to address at some point.

Main Page- http://www.churchismessy.com

TURN THE PAGES OF THESE BOOK RESOURCES
Generally, these are books that once I engaged them, kept my full attention. Most are non-fiction, but I will include any fiction books that appeal as well in the realm of Christianity. These are books that have generally helped shape my theology and supplemented my Bibles studies well. Enjoy!

"The Explicit Gospel" by Matt Chandler
By far, the best Christian resource I have read outside of the Bible. This is a challenging, and covicting read, and essential for all Christians wanting to grow in their faith, and fully understand what Christianity is about. It is broken down into two main ideas, the Gospel on the Ground and Gospel in the Air, and is a worthwhile read.

Book Page: http://theresurgence.com/pages/the-explicit-gospel

"Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart" by J.D. Greear
This is my second favorite Christian resource I have read outside of the Bible. It is a book designed to help the Christian-whether long time believer or new believer- understand the work of salvation in their lives.

Book page: http://www.jdgreear.com/sinnersprayer

"The Christian Atheist" by Craig Groeschel
It's been a few years since I've read it, but I recall enjoying it enough to buy copies for family members that Christmas. A good addressing of Christians and interaction with the faith and church. Also discusses Christians who claim Christianity, but don't put their faith into action.

Book Page: http://christianatheist.com

"The Serpent of Paradise" and "Who are You to Judge" by Erwin W. Lutzer
Challenging, but engaging book by an author and pastor of Moody Bible Church in Chicago. The book covers the means by which God can use Satan (a creation) for greater good (see Book of Job). Erwin's writing style is engaging to me, and many of his books are great to check out. This was my favorite, with his book "Who are You to Judge" coming in a close second place.

Author Page Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Erwin-W.-Lutzer/e/B001IR1JO0

The Serpent of Paradise book order page- http://www.christianbook.com/serpent-paradise-incredible-rebellion-serves-purposes/erwin-lutzer/9780802427205/pd/42700

Who are you to Judge book order page- http://www.christianbook.com/judge-learning-distinguish-between-truths-lies/erwin-lutzer/9780802409065/pd/409067

"Secrets from Beyond the Grave," by Perry Stone

If there is one "afterlife" book to read this would be my choice. I'm not a huge fan of Stone's charismatic theology, but this was a well documented, Bible- based exploration of concepts of Heaven and Hell. As with any afterlife book, much is speculative, but I remember this being a decent one to read. I probably owe it a re-read sometime soon.

Amazon Book Page- http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Beyond-The-Grave-biblical/dp/1616381574

"The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare" by Dr. Ed Murphy
Juliet recommended this to me, and I made it most of the way through. It was a great Bible-based resource on a very real aspect of the Christian faith. Spiritual warfare, as much as Christians like to avoid the topic, is a real thing, and this is a good scholarly assessment of it.

Amazon Purchase Page: http://www.amazon.com/The-Handbook-Spiritual-Warfare-Revised/dp/0785250263

"Thru the Bible" by J. Vernon McGee
When my grandmother passed away I found this collection, and began browsing them. Though Dr. McGee has long since passed away, his writing and radio series "Thru the Bible" remains a great Christian resource. He goes verse by verse through the entire Bible, summarizing and analyzing each verse with great commentary. It's somewhat outdated in the commentary, but still Biblical and engaging. His radio broadcast of the same series is free on the Thru the Bible site for those who prefer to listen. His unique voice is a southern treat.

Thru the Bible Radio site- http://www.ttb.org
Thru the Bible Book Set- http://www.ttb.org/SHOP/Products/Set-of-5-Volumes-(without-Index)__11100P-VOL.aspx


I hope many of you will check out some or all of these great resources. They have strengthened my spiritual walk over the past couple of years, and I know they will for others as well.

Enjoy and God Bless!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Equivalent Faith Required

The Pug was a product of an alternate adaptation method ...



So, there is a video that just came out done by Living Waters ministry. This ministry is known most for Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron’s use of street ministry to challenge people’s perception and belief in God. Often, they will ask questions (some leading) to people on the street in an effort to bring about the point that we are all guilty of breaking at least one of God’s commands, and thereby guilty fully before God, and in need of Christ’s salvation.

At times, I think it’s a great method, and you can often see the look of change in people’s eyes. Other times it just makes people more mad to be challenged in their belief, and they move on.

As I watched this newer video they produced, it occurred to me that many of the things Atheist and Agnostic people claim are in fact based on faith in something. For a group who tends to shy away from faith in anything greater than themselves, I found this intriguing.

I’ve discussed elsewhere my thoughts on evolution, creation, and general perspective on how we all came about. It’s no secret I fall more into the realm of a literal 6 day creation, if nothing else because I believe God has the capability and power to do so, and the Bible tells me so. I use the latter phrase more jokingly serious, as I know most out there see that as the ultimate cop-out to a great scientific discussion.

Still, I can’t help but question some of the scientific discussions going on out there in relation to evolution. We hear on documentaries all the time about this or that happening millions and billions of years ago. If it is a Christian-produced documentary, we may be more likely to hear thousands of years mentioned, but quite often even they have adapted the scientific consensus of life and changes in life happening over the past millions/billions of years.

One argument that appeals to me for intelligent design, is made mention of in the article, “Chance, Evolution or Intelligent Design,” by Louis Markos Ph.D.

In one section, he suggests:
“...DNA could not have been assembled either by chance or by a blind accumulation of small changes.
Chance could not have done it, for our DNA is frontloaded with carefully coded information. That information is not random; it’s specified. It adheres to a pattern that is separate from the physical components of the DNA and could not have arisen from them.
Blind selection also could not have formed the DNA, for the process by which DNA replicates itself is irreducibly complex. That is to say, it could not have come about by a series of small steps, because it has no survival value until all the components are in place.”


This idea is what propels me further towards the assumption that evolution on a macro scale, or on a random animal kind into a human kind scale, would not have been possible. The components must all be functioning together for the organism to function.


Now, admittedly I have little interest (other than in an apologetic context) in Darwin or any of his findings, and have therefore not read his “Origin of Species” book. But, I’ve listened to, and heard countless arguments by scientists and atheists condemning any possibility of intelligent creation. And, in some cases, I’ve seen some great discussions from the scientific community supporting intelligent creation, even if their “intelligent being” isn’t necessarily admitted by them to be the Christian God of the universe.

*For a great watch on Netflix, I would recommend God of Wonders, which presents some good cases for Intelligent Design.* 

So, as I’m watching this short documentary by Ray Comfort, I’m realizing that during these interviews, when he asks the individuals to provide even one instance (of the 1000s they say they can point to) of a kind changing to another kind (i.e. monkey to man), there is no one who can provide an example. One guy gets close by pointing to a fish that turns into an entirely different fish, but as Ray points out, “it’s still a fish!”

When Comfort asks the interviewees why they believe that evolution is true, they point to a professor, textbook or scholarly article that informed them. Much like Christians can point to the Bible for our reference, these evolutionists can simply point to others who went before, and their blind faith in the findings of those individuals. They have a trust in the scientists that have provided data supporting evolution, in the same way that Christians have faith in the tangible evidence for faith in Christ.

As Mike Fabarez of Focal Point Ministries points out in multiple sermons, Christianity is not illogical. There is evidence both physical and otherwise that points to the truth of Christianity, and its historical accuracy (paraphrase). In truth, we have thousands of manuscripts for the New Testament, and the entirety of the Old Testament to work from. And, the scholars working on these documents (originally and today) are not adding or changing information to suit an ulterior purpose.

My purpose in comparison is that both sides use some amount of faith, and evidence to the same extent. Evolutionists have Darwin’s writings and Richard Dawkin’s preaching to look to, and a blind faith in things that happened millions of years ago that no one can physically (directly) observe. Christians have faith in Christ and in the writings of the early church; as well as, the entirety of the Hebrew Old testament writings, and faith in their inspiration by God, despite us personally not having been there.

So, we reach here an impasse in which both sides could technically argue that each are using the same methods. Therefore it is up to the individual to make a decision for belief in one or the other. And this is where I think the Christian dialogue takes over in providing an answer to many more questions related more directly to who we are as people, and where our lives are going. For the one with faith in science and evolution, what is the end goal? Discovery? How does that affect one's overall existence? Can it bring an individual any closer to fulfillment? To God? Christianity can take impersonal concept/force (evolution) and provide a personal, knowable savior (Christ). For me, this makes the choices easier to distinguish between. Though, some would still argue that knowing Christ does not automatically discredit an evolutionary belief. And, I suppose if God really wanted to demonstrate his power of creativity, he could have kickstarted the evolutionary process. But, more likely to me, creation was made, and was "very good." No death or disease was there, and so the idea of survival of the fittest does not fit well within the "garden" context.



 Now, once sin had entered the picture, adaptation and mutation into lesser forms, and forms with shorter life spans, does make some sense, as God did say,

"...but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it, you will surely die." Genesis 2:17

This verse can confuse some who expect that in the following chapter when Adam and his wife do eat from the tree, they don't immediately drop dead. What is meant in this warning, is that they would die physically (death would become a reality for all mankind) and spiritually (they would be separated from fellowship with God). So, over time, we see that man dies. The lifespans of the early people were much closer in relation to God's perfect creation, so initially we see man still living quite a few years. After the flood, God shortens man's lifespan to closer to 120 years max (Genesis 6). And, over time, as sin's effect has perpetuated itself on our world, we now see that life spans are rarely above 100 years old.

Science says we are living longer, but compared to historical figures like Noah, Abraham and Moses, our lives are quite short. This is a product of sin's curse on the earth itself, and God's curse to man for disobeying. Look around the world today. There are many more disasters and sinful actions of people causing death and destruction throughout the world. This would not have initially been the case post garden, as much of it is a product of time, and the ever increasing sinfulness of mankind.

In addition, animals appear to be changing in a negative, not positive way. We do not see change or addition on the evolutionary scale into a higher form, but to lesser forms. By this, I mean that we see adaptations on a micro scale occurring from the original dog kind to what my pug looks like now. For example, did pugs have long snouts originally? Yes, and now they've been bred into flat-faced dogs. So, I'm more prone to think that the original designs were just fine, but our sin caused the curse on the earth to begin a process of micro changes in animal kind over time. But, for humans,

"Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7

we have a direct correlation to our creator who breathed life into the first man. Our intelligence was not gained over time in some evolutionary process. We were too precious to God for that to have been his method. God created us "in his image," in that instant. In fact, since God is really the only being in the universe who can say, "tree," and have a tree show up with no previous seed or raw material.

My point is that while some evolutionary change over time is possible, the idea that God created us in perfection originally, and made the whole of creation perfect initially, seems to negate any sort of death or suffering being a part o the original creation prior to the fall. Take a look at the picture above from Dan Lietha. It is a great representation of the macro evolutionary viewpoint's primary failure in relation to the Biblical timeline. If natural selection and survival of the fittest played a part in creation, then by the time man comes along, we would be atop a massive pile of bones of animals that had evolved and died before us. It doesn't fit well with the Genesis account, and it doesn't fit well in the context of God's appreciation for his creation.

In a previous blog post, I spoke about the essential and non-essential Christian doctrines, and how we are to interact with other Christians regarding these. When it comes to the Genesis account, and to the discussion of evolution and intelligent design, we need to refer back to the section of that blog which mentions that in everything, we have charity with one another. We cannot approach these disagreements within the faith in anything other than charity to one another, because much of this discussion does not directly affect whether or not Christ has saved an individual. Within Christianity, disagreement on this, while unfortunate, is not entirely detrimental to the spiritual standing of a believer.

Personally, I find that the scriptural story of creation is so tied into what Christ eventually did for us, that believing it at face value, strengthens my personal faith walk. For others, just simply seeing God’s power, however he may use it, is enough for their walk. Still, until the scientific community learns to create something from nothing (ex nihilo), I’ll stick to God’s evidence as presented in the Bible, and my relationship with God through my salvation in Christ. At the end of the day, even the most brilliant scientist is a human, and subject to the same curse of sin by which those of us who put our faith in Christ’s promise are forgiven. To me, this is a much more powerful truth on which to focus. Also, I don’t really like monkeys...;)


Take some time to watch the documentary by Ray Comfort that was mentioned above in the post at this link: http://www.evolutionvsgod.com 

-Challenge your views and plan your next museum visit to the Creation Museum (a ministry of Answers in Genesis and Ken Ham): http://creationmuseum.org