Creation versus Evolution

Creation versus Evolution

 Recently I was listening to a prominent Adventist Speaker talk about the importance of knowing the History of Christianity.  He said that we also need to know Christian History in the light of the fulfillment of prophecy.  He went to Revelation 11, and identified the beast that comes out of the pit, as France during the French revolution.  What was happening then?  The French rejected anything that had to do with God in reaction to thousands of years of Catholic oppression.  The concept of God that the Roman Catholic had presented through all those years was untenable to the French intellectual elite.  How can God be a God of love, justice, and peace, and stand by observing all the suffering, injustice, and violence in the world?  Furthermore, how can God be a God of grace and forgiveness and yet be so cruel to punish sinners for eternity?  How can God say He is the God of the poor, while the wealthy nobility claimed to be favored by Him even when they were abusive and despotic toward their fellow men?  The despotic punitive picture of God did not make sense to the French, so they rejected God altogether.  As we can see modern atheism is not born about of scientific research and advancements, but out of theological concerns. 

 This rejection of God and the Bible then posed a challenge to explain the origins of our planet and humanity.  However, the most popular theory did not emerge out of a concern to give a scientific alternative to the question of origins, but as a necessity to understand creation from the point of view of a picture of God that was untenable to Charles Darwin.

 Contrary to popular conceptions, Charles Darwin worked on his theory of evolution from a theological premise. He expressed it like this: "There seems to me," wrote Darwin, "too much misery in the world. I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the [parasitic wasp] with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of cater­pillars, or that the cat should play with mice."

 Of course, a "benefi­cent and omnipotent God" did no such thing.   But, Darwin did not conceive that maybe there was a beneficent and omnipotent God that would allow Sin to run its course to run for His purposes.  Darwin – and the French before him – had no clue about the Great Controversy. 

 Darwin reasoned just as the French some half a century before him:  God cannot exist. Therefore, thought Darwin, without a God that speaks things into existence, things must have evolved.   And the way they must have evolved is by natural selection and survival of the fittest (mostly adaptability, not necessarily strength). 

 This posed a challenge for many Christian thinkers who thought that what Ellen White calls science so-called, had valid points in Evolution, so they merged both methods into Theistic Evolution.  This theory says that God used evolution to create the world.  Meaning, the 7-day creation story is nothing but a metaphor to describe what God did for millions of years.  In essence, they propose that God created the world or the universe, left it on its own to develop for a given period of time, and reappeared to bestow a "soul" on the humans who had evolved while He was away.

 This view poses other problems.  Among other things, it negates the origin of Sin and the need for redemption.  It also converts the gospels into fairy tales.  If God did not speak and it was done (Psalm 33: 9), then Christ could not have done it either. If there were no miracles, then there is no resurrection, and therefore any hope; for as Paul says, without resurrection we work in vain (1 Corinthians 15: 14). 

 The Bible is clear about the literality and legitimacy of the Creation story.  Take for example Hebrews 11: 3, 

 Hebrews 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 Paul here is clear that things did not evolve; they did not appear out of things that existed before.  God's Word made them appear.  God spoke, and it was done (Psalm 33: 9).  The following verses insist that the Genesis narrative was real,

 Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 

Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him, all things consist. 

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

John 1:2 The same was at the beginning with God. 

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 

Romans 1:20   For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

 The following quotes show that throughout all her ministry, Ellen G. White was uncompromising in her rejection of the theory of evolution. She wrote,

 "It is the worst kind of infidelity; for with many who profess to believe the record of creation, it is infidelity in disguise."—The Signs of the Times, March 20, 1879.

"[S]hall we, for the privilege of tracing our descent from germs and mollusks and apes, consent to cast away that statement of Holy Writ, so grand in its simplicity, 'God created man in His image, in the image of God created He him'? Genesis 1:27."—Education, p. 130.

"When the Lord declares that He made the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, He means the day of twenty-four hours, which He has marked off by the rising and setting of the sun."— (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 136).

 You can see that to a believer Creation should not be a theory, but a fact.  And, just as Creation is a fact, so is the Cross, since they are intimately related.  God's love is displayed on both events.  You cannot believe in one and reject the other.  That would be stupidity.

RR

Raul Diaz

https://about.me/raul.diaz

FALLACY

This commentary was published previously.

FALLACY 

A fallacy is a deceptive, misleading, false notion, or belief, etc.  John Dewey said, "I should venture to assert that the most pervasive fallacy of philosophic thinking goes back to neglect of context."  So, the origin of a fallacy is not doing due diligence.  Fallacies are the wrong conclusions based on the incorrect or incomplete information.  In informal logic and rhetoric, a fallacy is a usually false or inaccurate argumentation in reasoning resulting in a misconception or presumption.  Fallacious arguments are often structured using rhetorical patterns that obscure any logical argument.  By accident or design, fallacies may – and can be used to - exploit emotional triggers in the listener or interlocutor (e.g., appeal to emotion), or take advantage of social relationships between people (e.g., an argument from authority).   

A great example from the past was the fallacy that the world was flat.  Many accepted this fallacy without any evidence.  It was not until great sailors like Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan proved otherwise.  Columbus was said to observe how ships not only became smaller in the distant water but eventually disappear.  (Some believe Columbus read Isaiah 40:22, "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth.")  Magellan's crew completed a trip around the globe, proving the planet indeed is round.  

When we study the concept of worship in Revelation, it shows us the many fallacies that exist in Christianity.  The lesson asks us to consider various texts in Revelation and the reasons cited for worship.  We will see that the Devil has attacked every reason for worship by creating fallacies that most professed Christians believe.  As we will see these wrong beliefs rob the believer of the peace and healing that God so much wants to give them.  Space will not allow us to cover all instances of worship.  We will only do a few.

 

The first citation of worship in our lesson is from Revelation 4: 8 – 11.  The first reason to worship God is that the Lord Almighty was, is, and is to come.  God was, is and will be.  He is eternal.  However, many believe that Christ was created; this invalidates John 1: 1 – 2 that the Word was with God the Word is God.  On the other hand many believe that Christ will not return, they say, "We have heard that for years, He is not here yet." 

 

The other reason given to worship God in this text is because "… you created all things, and by your will, they were created and have their being."  In 2006 a news report said that Nearly 450 Christian churches in the United States celebrated the 197th birthday of Charles Darwin. The churches say Darwin`s theory of biological evolution is compatible with faith and that Christians have no need to choose between religion and science.  What has been done is to accommodate what the Bible says to what worldly science says about the creation of the Universe and World; this poses a problem.  If creation is an allegory so are the Gospels.  You see, the power that Christ used to create the world is the same power He used to perform His miracles.  If Christ cannot create the World in six days by speaking them into existence, He cannot change water into wine, heal lepers or resurrect the dead; this would make Christ either a lunatic or a charlatan.  His dying on the Cross was in vain, and we are no better off for it. 

 

The next text used in our lesson is from Revelation 5: 8 – 14.  The reason given there to worship is because, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (verse 12).  (The Book of Revelation has 28 allusions to Christ as the Lamb of God.)  Is Christ worthy to receive power, and riches, etc.?  Can He be trusted?  The Devil has attacked this belief by twisting the meaning of the Cross away from a revelation of God's character and achievement of a purified humanity, to pay a legal penalty. That God must inflict penalties and therefore executed His Son, and God will use His power to inflict pain and suffering on all those who don't accept the legal penalty paid.  While incarnate and walking among men on earth, did Christ behave in any fashion that would lead us to believe that He exacted revenge and inflicts pain on those who wrong Him?  Has the Father ever acted that way?  The answer to both questions is "No!" 

 

The next reference to worship is in Revelation 7:9-12.  Here the reason for worship is salvation.  It is clear from scripture that Christ saved the world (John 3:16; John 4:42; 2 Corinthians 5:19).  But, somehow there is a fallacy that God only saves those who believe.  And, those who do not believe God will destroy; this is a prevalent view, even among non-Christian religions.  Most religious leaders saw "9-11" attacks as punishment from God.  A reporter once asked Reverend Billy Graham's daughter, "Why would God allow the attacks?"   In a nutshell, she answered, "God could not protect us from the attacks because we asked Him to depart from us."  God had to let go, and we suffered the consequences of our own choices.  Let me ask you this? Who was in control of the attackers?  Was it God?  So, from who was the punishment?  The truth is that the devil has convinced us that God's motto is:  "love me, or I will kill you."  That is not God's motto is it the devil's. 

 

The last reference to worship we will look at is Revelation19:1-5.  In this verse, God is to be praised because "…true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants" (verse 2).  God is right, His ways and methods have been proved true. The false system has been exposed, and an end to sin and sinners has been experienced! How has this been corrupted and distorted as we approach the end of time?  In certain circles is said that "The Great Controversy doesn't exist.  Satan did not accuse God.  Therefore, God does not need to prove His character or trustworthiness.  Sin is a willful choice to rebel against God without Satan deceiving.  God merely must pay the legal penalty and punish those who remain in rebellion."  This fallacy leads to continued sinning and a rejection of God's healing of our hearts. 

 

It is not only vital that we believe but what we believe is also important.  Believing the truth about God will lead to eternal life.  Believing the lies that Satan says about God will lead to eternal death. It is as if God is like a Doctor saying "you are terminally ill, let me heal you."  But, Satan says, "You are not that bad.  You can live with your disease.  You do not need the medicine.  Who cares, you have to die of something.  He – the doctor – is saying that to make more money.  He is not a real specialist.  What if He misdiagnosed you?  He is trying to kill everyone that has that disease.  He is in cahoots with the pharmacists.  Just take something for the symptoms."  But, God does not hate you. He hates Sin.  But, those who cling to Sin will be destroyed with Sin. As previously mentioned Ellen White says, "In all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them" (Desire of the Ages 107).  I pray we let the Spirit destroy Sin in us.  

RR

Raul Diaz

https://about.me/raul.diaz

Christ our Substitute

Christ our Substitute

The dictionary defines the noun substitute as one that takes the place of another or replacement.  This definition implies the existence of particular requirements.   For example,

1.       The substitute should come from the same pool of person substituted.

2.       The Substitute should have similar if not equal training (same could be said of properties or characteristics).

3.      The substitute must be available to do substitute when necessary.

4.      The substitute should identify with the person being substituted.

A substitute teacher replaces the regular teacher if the latter is unavailable.  In some regions, the qualifications for substitute teaching may not be as strict as those for a regular teacher.  However, for most districts, a college degree is required at a minimum.  Some districts require the successful completion of competency tests.   Other districts insist on full teaching qualifications.  Implied in these requirements is that the substitute teacher must be an adult.   In summation, schools are looking for people with similar academic preparation and work experience.  

In the game of basketball a substitute player is a member of the team, that plays as well or almost as well as the one substituted.  Also, as a member of the same team, the substitute has the same interest and goal as the player being substituted.  So, there is identification.  

When we say that Christ was our substitute, this must mean that He must have fulfilled the above requirements.  As God incarnate, He became one of us, so He came from our pool.  He grew up as we grew up.  He was trained as we were (or as we could be) trained.  He was touched with our infirmities and tempted in all things as we are (yet without Sin; Hebrews 4:15).  Many times the Bible says, that Christ was moved with compassion to serve others.  So, He identified with us.  Evidently, if He was doing the job, He was available. 

All of the above would qualify Jesus to be a substitute, but not our Savior.  To save us Jesus identification went beyond a mere sympathy.  Jesus became us.  The idea is that when Jesus came to this earth, we were all in Him, just as Levi was in Abraham when Levi paid tithes to Melchisedec.  We see this idea echoing in Romans 5 and 6 when Paul contrasts the two Adams.  In the following verses, Paul reveals the premise,

Rom5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Rom5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Rom5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Rom6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Rom6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

When Adam sinned, we all sinned.  We were all in Adam.  But, when Christ conquered Sin in the flesh, so did we.  We were in Christ, which is why we die and are buried with Him.  So, we have resurrected with Him also; which is why Paul says that in Christ we are in Heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).  The above explains why Paul says in Galatians 3:13 that, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'"  Jesus can do this because He is us.  Paul repeats the same concept in 2 Corinthians 5:21,

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Christ did not merely replace us.  He did not merely die our death.  His identity with us was complete.  He carried our Sin and us in Him.  So, He suffered the curse that we should suffer, but we suffered it with Him. And, since He was victorious, His victory is our victory.  And, since in Christ we are victorious, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1 NKJV).  But, do we believe it? 

RR

Raul Diaz

https://about.me/raul.diaz

The Seven Steps

The Seven Steps

Stairs are so familiar today that many of us take them for granted.  They have been around for so long we cannot think of anyone inventing them.  But, stairs are one of the oldest buildings in architectural history; they have always played a central role in the history of humanity.   However, it is difficult to tell precisely when they were "born." Many believe their appearance was thousands of years before Christ. Like everything else, the design of stairs seems to change with the change of architectural eras, reflecting the trends used in different ages and revealing the talent of those who designed them.

It seems that whoever created the first stairs did so accidentally.  Allegedly, the first stairs in the history were wood trunks fitted together; these kinds of stairs were used to acquire strategic positions for survival.  Stairs were first used to overcome the difficulties presented by the terrain, such as valleys or mountains.  The goal was to be able to pass these difficulties as soon as possible; to move up often meant moving to a place of greater security.  At the time this could have meant the difference between life and death.  

So, like many other inventions, stairs first emerged as a solution to a problem.  However years later first granite staircase it was found in China leading to the sacred mountain in Tai Shan; this indicates that one of the utility men gave to stairs was for religious purposes. Confucius in one of his stories said to have gone up this ladder to the top in the year 55 BC.  The ladder was used as a metaphor to describe reaching the height were divinity dwells and establishing a connection between earth and sky. Other examples of stairs built for religious purposes are the biblical Jacob's ladder, the tower of Babel, the pyramids of Egypt that had stairs, the celestial ladder of Shantung in China, and the stairs in India (a peculiarity of the stairs in India is that they also had scientific utility). All these stairs have something in common; they symbolize the rise of the light, the sun, and a path into God's way.

Some say that Lucifer's six-fold assertion of becoming like God is like a metaphorical ladder.  We read this statement in Isaiah 14: 12 – 15,

 Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Isaiah 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

God tells Lucifer the reality of his existence and contrasts it with what Lucifer had purposed in his heart.  Again, Lucifer's statement is sixfold, making it six steps in the metaphorical ladder.  The seventh step is where Lucifer falls, being "brought down to hell."

We see a contrast with Jesus in Philippians 2: 5 - 9.  Let us read the passage,

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

 Paul uses six statements to describe what Christ did as a man.  All six statements are about Christ descending, so the seventh step is the Father exalting the Son of Man above all.  What a complete contrast!  The Devil ascended six steps up the ladder only to fall.  Christ descended six rungs down the ladder, to later be exalted.  Paul exhorts us to be like Christ (Philippians 2:5).  Will we?