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Past Commentaries
Creation or Evolution: What's the Story?
Newspaper headlines reflect the controversy: "Creationism banished in Louisiana Textbooks," we read, and "Tennessee Legislation Would Dismiss Teachers of Evolution." The fight between religion and science is as heated now as it ever was. Few people are aware that the disagreement did not begin with Darwin's discoveries about evolution, nor has it been dispelled by the tremendous growth in scientific knowledge. In fact, Darwin, who had been a student of the clergy, himself proclaimed that "I deserve to be called a Theist. This conclusion was strong in my mind about the time, as far as I can remember, when I wrote the Origin of Species." He also stated that his "conviction in the existence of God (was) connected with the reason and not with the feelings. . ." (Charles Darwin: Autobiography and Selected Notes). How, then, did some members of the scientific community become so separated from the religious community? And, how can religious fundamentalists refuse to accept scientific knowledge when the case for evolution is so clear-cut? Does it seem preposterous to propose that scripture actually describes the scientific events which took place in the development of our earth and the life on it? A close examination, amazingly enough, reveals just that. In fact, the more scientific knowledge progresses, the closer it approaches the information passed down to us as scripture.
From the outset, these two sides seem to have no basic ground. Creationists claim that the earth was created suddenly about twenty thousand years ago, and that it took six of our present days to do the job-based on their interpretation of scripture. Scientists, on the other hand, point to clues on the earth itself and in our universe which indicate that the earth has been
here for about 4.5 billion years, and that everything came about quite slowly. Hardly two opinions easily reconciled! However, a careful reading of the first five verses in the first chapter of Genesis reveals a curious situation: not until after surveying the situation, creating light, and separating light from darkness (the first "day's" work) did God establish the Night and Day as descriptive periods. The cycle which could be called a period of one earth day did not exist until after much work had already been done, to create the light. It would not be logical to think that the work done before the "day" existed was actually done within that first day. Then, it is evident that it took more than one day for the work so far to be completed, and it must be assumed that the "days" are simply divisions which the ancients would have understood in those terms. Science, too, deals with one step at a time. Whole disciplines have arisen to study one or more aspects, such as astronomy to study the formation and workings of heavenly bodies, and botany to study the evolution of plant life on earth.
What does science say about the formation of the planet as a whole? Although descriptions tend to be long and complicated, one excellent description condenses to this:
". . .a cloud of dust and gas began to condense. . .(it) collapsed into a flat, spinning disc. . .The center of the disc thickened and darkened as it drew more and more matter. . .When the disc's center reached a critical mass, it lit up. . .As the center of the cloud lit up, an observer a safe distance away would have observed it to be swaddled in dark dust and gas (which) stayed dark. It, too, collected, clumped, knotted (forming) planets." (Jonathan Weiner, Planet Earth)
Looking back at those first five verses of Genesis, we read of an earth with no form, dark, then with light appearing separate from the darkness. Both descriptions are saying the same thing. The actual point at which the earth's round shape and current size would have been evident is not stated in either case.
Whether one believes the events to have been orchestrated by intelligent life, or to have just happened by chance, the story is the same. As the elements in the earth gathered and cooled, heavier elements gravitated toward the center (Roohk and Smith, Introducing Biology), so liquid water separated from vapor and the "waters which were under the firmament (were divided) from the waters which were above the firmament." (Genesis 1:7) The land appeared, and now the stage was set for the bringing forth of life. Even now, the sequence of events does not vary in the two stories. Plants came first, in a very necessary pattern, evident in both science (Burton and Dixon, Time Exposure) and scripture (Genesis 1:11-12). Tiny one-celled plants, invisible to the naked eye, became larger. Plants migrated from the oceans to the land, first smaller, less complicated species and then the larger trees. Plant life was followed by animal life, small water-living creatures, fish, land animals, and great beasts, each successive step larger and more independent of the water, but more dependent upon lower life forms for survival.
Scripture pauses, in Genesis 13 to 19. Concentration seems to focus on something quite unrelated-and this is an area which, at first appearance, seems weak. Scientific positivists look at just this type of "inconsistency" and decide to ignore scripture altogether. However, once again, close analysis of the situation reveals that the scriptural description is consistent with the picture science paints. We are told of the sudden appearance of the sun, moon and stars in the sky. How is it possible for this to happen after plant life had already developed? Remember, light and the cycle of dark nights and illuminated days were present from the beginning. It is probable that Venus has an atmosphere similar to what the earth had aeons ago: Thick carbon dioxide, ammonia and methane (Roohk & Smith). We cannot photograph the surface of Venus without a probe because of this thick atmosphere, but light would have been able to illuminate the earth as it does now for us on cloudy days. As the plants used up the carbon dioxide and converted it to oxygen, the atmosphere changed. At some point the clouds thinned to reveal the heavenly bodies!
Animal life followed the plants because only plants can use raw materials to survive. Animals need processed energy, and after the plants had changed the earth sufficiently, animals could appear, breathing oxygen and eating the plants-and each other (Burton & Dixon). So, the scriptures return from this hiatus and continue with the development of animal life.
Perhaps the greatest conflict concerns the appearance of man. It is not easy for creationists to accept that man's physical existence is dependent upon the development of animal life, but that is what fossil records indicate: "The foreleg of a frog or a crocodile, the wing of a bird, the front flipper of a whale and the arm of a human being all have the same basic bone structure. The fossils that we find explain how these structures developed from the fins of early fishes." (Leaky, Human Origins) It is also not easy for scientific positivists to imagine that life may have actually begun in the manner which scripture describes, and yet findings show that is likely. (Popular Science, "Did Life Begin in Clay?") The further we look, the more the two versions of the beginning of earth and the life here closely resemble each other, until there is little arguement left.
In the final analysis, the disagreement seems to be unfounded and actually irrelevant. No one can prove that God set man apart, interfered with his development and created a creature like Himself. Unless one has experienced some great spiritual awakening and seen for himself some expanded reality, these things must be taken entirely on faith. Or, must they? Scripture was not meant as a completely detailed description of how the world works. It is not a scientific treatise, but a guide for living. God would not populate our world with misleading clues, planted fossils, and a universe structured to lie to us about its origins! The scriptures are given as guides for living life fairly in the present and gaining eternal life. The description of the origin of life which we find in scripture is accurate-and bears witness of the wisdom contained within the written word.
What Did Christ Teach?
Many people think of Christianity as a negative in today's world. Their point of reference is historical acts perpetrated by powerful people who have acted in the name of Christ but who have behaved in an obviously non-Christian way. Others have been accosted by Jesus Freaks on street corners and blasted with "HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED?!?" by crazed-eyed Bible-waving individuals who may not understand the meaning of the phrase. Some have had strict church-related ideologies forced upon them since childhood and throw a guilt-ridden existence aside for an atheistic or agnostic life, throwing out the baby (God) with the bathwater. And all the while Christianity is reported to be on the downswing, while other ideologies or no ideologies replace long-honored Christian traditions in the public eye. I would not be the first to observe that this is extremely unfortunate, since real Christianity is not found on a flagpole or even in some pulpits.
Most people seem to have some level of spiritual understanding. We want to believe we go on beyond this life. Anyone who has experienced information and events not of this physical world knows that we unquestionably do. What God tells us through scripture is that we all experience life after physical death, but beyond that eventually the Earth will be destroyed along with everything that causes evil. The Kingdom of God will continue eternally-and it is something that all desire. Jesus teaches us what we need to know in order to be saved! He also said that he did not come to save the righteous but sinners, and additionally stated that if there are 99 righteous people and one sinner who is saved there will be more rejoicing over the one who is brought back. I assert that we, as Christians, would be well served to be diligent about our own behavior and more tolerant of others. Christianity is for everyone!
The real question is, what did Christ teach us? There are many statements that Jesus made which are left untaught, and many teachings that are not really from Jesus. It takes a lifetime to sort these out, if possible, but I believe it is important to be on the right track. Going carefully through the assembly of written works which we know as the Bible, and looking at the history of some of these, it is clear that some of it needs to be taken with a grain of salt if we are to focus on the message God sent through Christ.
The importance of what Jesus gave us cannot be underestimated. Before Christ, God had given a set of clear instructions in the Ten Commandments that men tried to detail out so there would be absolute fairness and no chance of misunderstanding-but the laws of men were not what God intended, and were often misused. Jesus came to give us back simplicity in our understanding of what God requires-and to offer himself as redemption to those who sin. He also gives us a new description of the word "sacrifice." For what God wants is a sacrifice of self in our dealings with others. To swallow one's own pride and to be generous even to our enemies is much more difficult than sacrificing an animal. To give to the poor instead of building great things for ourselves is a great sacrifice-but one most flattering to God, since He created all of us. If we are to honor God, we must honor one another.
So, read the scriptures with these things in mind:
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Mark 10:19
“You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.”
Matthew 9:13
“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ (Hosea 6:6).”
Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.”
Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
And with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 19:21
“If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor,
and then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Matthew 5:14,16
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. . .In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 22:36-40
“ ‘Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets hang on these commandments.”
Matthew 24:12,14
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. . . And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations.”
So, what is there in the Bible that we should be careful of? Jesus himself pointed out many of the Old Testament teachings that were not right. An eye for an eye is one that comes to mind. He also pointed out that many in the future would err in their teachings-and gave specific cautions on some things to avoid. (Do not go into secret inner rooms, for example-a message not often taught by ministers). The Gospels of Matthew and Mark were taught and recorded not long after Jesus' death. Luke was well researched and written after the apostles had been teaching for several decades. John's gospel and writings (such as Revelations) were written when the apostle was well into his 90's. Hebrews was written by Apollos, who had been a Levite priest and writes from that perspective. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote teachings that coordinate well with the content of Matthew and Mark, as you would expect from one that close to Jesus. And, of course, Peter's teachings are also closely related to what Jesus taught - he is, after all, the "Rock" upon which Christ SAID he would establish his church. Paul's teachings and letters are difficult. It is clear that he was instrumental in spreading the word that Jesus was the Messiah and in establishing a wide base of churches-but Paul also writes in some passages widely accepted as scripture that he is recording his own feelings and not instructions from God. He also states that he did not consult with those alive when Jesus was teaching to learn what Jesus had taught. This logic escapes me - and yet, many churches in the Christian world today seem to rely heavily on Paul's teachings while ignoring what Jesus is actually recorded to have said. There are other works, such as the gospels of Thomas and Mary, that have surfaced since the Bible was endorsed. These contain teachings which seem to coordinate with what we already know of Jesus' ministry - and come from writers who were again close to Christ's real life.
My prayer is that you will have the Spirit of God with you when you read scripture on your own and that you may walk with God and He with you.
Discourse on Tithing
The concept of tithing, or giving ten percent to God, is ancient. It is perhaps the most significant source of income for many churches, but I believe the concept has been misused by some and misunderstood by most. I also believe more people would be participants in this very important ritual of sacrifice if they understood it in it’s original meaning.
To begin with, let’s define a tithe. The scriptures make this definition: a tithe is ten percent of one’s INCREASE. So, in ancient times, people were asked to tithe based on the increase of their assets. For instance, let’s consider a sheep herder who keeps a flock of 50 animals. At the end of the growing season he might have 20 bundles of wool and 60 sheep. His tithing would be 2 bundles of wool and 1 sheep (based on the 10 increase during the lambing season). The church has received a tithing for the support of the dedicated priests, who are not in the business of growing or shepherding-and the church is well served, since more than 10 families would be tithing in any given district. The church has the opportunity to grow. God promised his generous blessings to the people for adhering to the law of tithing, and everybody wins.
How can this possibly relate to us in this day and age? God’s requests and promises are eternal, and must apply to us. But many churches ask congregation members to give ten percent of their full dollar income. Is this really the same thing? I don’t believe so-and it is possible that the churches are suffering as a result, as are the sensitivities of members who feel deep guilt at not being able to meet what they are told are the expectations of God. Church members may not be tithing at all because they cannot meet the demand of a full dollar tithe, or may be dropping out entirely feeling that they cannot deserve to be in church-nor want to at that point.
Let’s step back for a moment and take a breath here. Consider the income of a business. Before any company is expected to pay taxes to a hungry government, it is allowed to consider operating expenses. Leases, communications, employee wages, business operations are all deductible before profit is calculated. But families who have rent or mortgage payments, utilities, food and clothing, are expected to pay a full ten percent of every dollar they see coming in the door BEFORE those expenses are paid? I don’t think this is at all what God expects.
What about an elderly couple living on a small government pension? Some subsidies are based on a calculated amount meant to provide only the most basic rudiments. To sacrifice ten percent of this income would mean appealing to the church for utility payments, food, etc to make up the difference-and yet many ministers appear to expect that type of sacrifice. No, I believe in tithing-but in a way that is available to everyone to meet the expectations of a tithing law, and in a way that may actually bring more dollars into the church. More people should realize that their reasonable participation is acceptable to God.
And now, let’s consider the actual demands of living in today’s society. What I am going to say may surprise you, but we are a greedy world. We want what we see everyone else having-and interpret those things as needs. What we actually do need is shelter, food and clothing. A certain amount of communication is also necessary, as is transportation. We need to have our trash disposed of, and electricity and safe water as well as healthcare. But do we really need several telephone services in our lives? Do we need to live in large homes and eat catered frozen meals? Or could we make due with a little less? Could we do some things for ourselves? Do we have to purchase clothing from high end retailers at the mall, or could we find less expensive sources for similar garb? Or-horror of horrors-not ALWAYS dress in the latest fashions?
For some people in certain positions in society and business, some of these expenses are necessary. It is up to the individual and families to make these assessments of their own needs. I live alone but have two televisions. Why? Because there is no other company in my environment and when I am working in the back of the house I really need a second television running to remain sane. It is a situation I prayed about-and a television I found at the Goodwill for $20. Here is my philosophy on tithing:
Tithing is not really a committment (a “pledge”) made to the church based on anticipated income. Tithing is more realistically an evaluation of real income compared to actual expenses, evaluated periodically. Once a modest level of existence has been calculated, tithing is done on the balance-the real “increase” in assets that month. You may find your own life needs calculations at varying periods-or that you may actually be able to make a pledge to your church, which might encourage you to adhere to the committment. I have a very small online business which brings in an average of $20 per week in gross orders. Each time an order comes in I tithe on that full amount before expenses or taxes. Why? Because I can pay for the small online fees each month with my general utilities, buy what supplies are needed with my grocery budget, and use the income from orders as pocket money. I may have to forgo a package of Fritos or even a gallon of milk in order to tithe this way, but I feel it is a sacrifice God expects. It’s not my only tithing, but one that comes up several times a month-and one that could never be pledged. I’ve never gone hungry. Panicked, maybe, anticipating that nothing will come in to support my needs-but somehow the money always comes in the door just when it's most desperately needed. Praise God!
Some may be able to make pledges based on secure income prospects, but many people do not have that luxury. I’m sure those who do so are blessed for it, but the widow’s mite is as important to God as the rich man’s thousands of dollars-even though the minister may not sound that way at the pulpit. I’m not taking this stand to apologize for being poor, but to wake up ministers, congregations and individuals to the possibility that God will accept and bless tithing at a level that is not severely crippling to the well being of those who are doing the giving. God does, however, expect a tithing and expects us to be fair in our evaluation of how much we donate.
Finally, I must say the most reasonable sermon I ever heard on tithing was given by a priest who asked church members to tithe 10 percent of their disposable income. 5 percent was to go to the church directly, and 5 percent was asked to be given to the member’s favorite charities or directly to the poor. That certainly sounds like something more in line with what God expects. Amen
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