God's Word (without apology)

Last night at youth we discussed impact of our worldview in interpreting scientific evidence.  A participant in the conversation bravely asked something like, "Can you be a Christian and still believe in evolution?"  Though many young people in our group go to Christian private schools, belief in Darwinian evolution is largely believed and advocated by teachers and students alike.  I explained God has allowed a wide latitude of beliefs and practices among His people, and a belief in evolution does not strip anyone of their position as a follower of Christ.  The grave concern I have for all who do so is their willingness to substitute the ideas and philosophies of men for the plain Word of God.

Evolutionary thinking is not the problem here.  The issue at stake is the authority of the Bible.  I have never heard anyone use the Bible to remotely prove their case for evolutionary theory - because evolutionary theory did not arise from the scripture.  Still some make room for it, explaining away plain passages as metaphorical in the first 11 chapters of Genesis.  IF it is God's Word, let it be God's Word without apology.  Let the Word of God speak for itself, even if all the learned men and women disagree with it.  If the Bible contains the words of life, woe to us if we deny them!  There are deep philosophical and personal reasons for people to deny the existence of God and the veracity of God's Word, but let no follower of Jesus be named among them.  This kowtowing to oppositions of science (1 Timothy 6:20) is a disgrace to God and does Him dishonour.

Can you be a genuine Christian and believe in evolution?  Sure, just like you can be a born-again Christian and a scientist.  Following Jesus and a keen interest in science are not mutually exclusive, for God is the One revealed by scripture who made men with minds who have freedom to choose.  Yet there is an erosion in the church and in Christian schools where evolution is no longer a theory, select portions of the Bible explained away as myths and fables, and God is not really necessary.  Brothers and sisters, humanistic and naturalistic philosophy and the denial of scripture has been a virtual millstone which has dragged countless down to hell, and I will (God help me!) stand on the divinely inspired Word of God without fear.

Luke 3:28 (written by a doctor, by the way) traces the ancestry of Jesus Christ all the way back to Adam, the man God created from the dust of the ground and breathed into a living soul.  Paul spoke several times of Adam, as did Jude.  This is clear evidence one cannot intelligently chalk Adam's existence up to myths and fables - whilst claiming the Bible is the Word of God!  Again, the issue isn't evolution, the age of the universe, the moral morass which seems to plague society, or the use of figurative language:  the core issue is a devaluing of God's Word where men (men who profess Christ) twist and distort the Bible to accommodate themselves.  The world doesn't care for the Bible anyway:  why change it to suit their unbelief?

The God of Life

I recently saw a trailer for an upcoming movie titled "Life" which seemed cliche:  scientists go to Mars seeking "life" and initially celebrate after discovering it, but it turns out this form of life is a deadly threat to humans.  It struck me as amusing how man's quest for "life" beyond our planet is not only found in science fiction films, but is the aim of many scientists today.  I don't know what is crazier:  the fact we haven't found living organisms on other planets or the fact the earth is absolutely teeming with them.

Pretty much everywhere on the earth, life is found flourishing.  Trees, grass, mammals, bacteria in the dirt and in the air, from the deep places in the sea to the highest mountains, in birds which soar above the clouds or human beings in aeroplanes, life on earth is everywhere.  Places completely unsuitable for human life are packed with other living creatures quite at home.  Look inside both living and dead things and there is an abundance of microscopic life beyond measure.  Life on our planet gives rise to more life.  There has never been a known case of non-life producing life.  Creation must have a Creator, and it logically follows a Living Being is responsible for all the life we see.

Yesterday I saw a video of a man named Robert Lang who once worked for NASA as a physicist but now uses his math savvy and skills as an origami artist - folding intricate designs out of paper.  He is able to fold paper to replicate the clear likeness of animals and insects after solving complex mathematical equations.  His designs have also been used in advanced technology in aerospace and the automobile industry.  When I see those folded bits of paper into familiar three-dimensional objects, I know they are the product of an intelligent mind, quality materials, and skilled hands.  Beautiful and intricate as they are, however, they are virtually nothing compared to the complex living creatures they resemble.  To create a living creature which can reproduce offspring according to its kind, grow, speak, or have instincts unique to a species is infinitely more complex than patterns composed of dried pulp.

When I saw those intricate origami shapes, I wondered in amazement:  how can people hail Robert Lang a genius because of his incredible designs and mathematical prowess folding paper (and I applaud his immense talent), yet deny the existence of God?  Doesn't all life inspire awe in the One who created atoms, DNA, chromosomes, living creatures, our earth and atmosphere, and things too small or far for our amazingly designed eyes to see?  No three-year-old child could understand or possess the dexterity to perfectly execute the simplest of Lang's designs, though having a keen mind and functional hands.  The mathematical odds of the life we have on earth just "happening" are beyond astronomical.  The Bible says the "heavens declare the glory of God," and He is the God of life - the One who gives eternal life to all who trust in Him.

The Pool Cue Lesson

Years ago, God used a piece of wood to convict me of my lack of faith in Him.  When I bought a pool table second-hand, a few old cues were included by the seller.  One of the cues was warped to the point it was not worth repairing.  As I went to throw it away, however, I was impressed by the solid feel in my hand.  This wouldn't be a bad club, I thought to myself.  If someone broke into my house, I would feel capable of defending myself with this in my hand.  So I discreetly stashed my improvised personal defence system in my bedroom.

It wasn't long before I started thinking:  hasn't God promised to defend me and my family?  Was it possible I was trading divine protection and safety for my own strength?  Wouldn't it be better to do my part to responsibly secure the home with locks and lights and entrust myself to His care?  My club wouldn't do me any good if I was asleep, but the God of Israel does not slumber or sleep.  A club offered limited protection against a gun in the hands of a desperate thief.  If I cried out to God couldn't He strike an intruder with blindness as He did the men of Sodom or make people with evil intentions hear sirens and flee like the Syrians outside the walls of Samaria?  There is a limit of my strength and skill to fight, but there is no weakness in my God.  Strengthened with faith through remembering my God, the club went in the bin and I slept peacefully.

Do you believe God can protect you and your family, believer?  Or have you exchanged the divine protection God provides with reliance on your ability to shoot with precision or swing a club in the dark?  Psalm 118:6-8 says, "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? ⁷  The LORD is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. ⁸  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  If fear of man or government control is our motive in arming ourselves, we may be displaying a lack of confidence in God.  Isn't He the one who sets up kings and deposes them?  Hasn't Christ commanded if His disciples are persecuted in one city they should flee to another (Matt. 10:23)?  He did not tell them to hunker down in compounds but to make disciples of all nations.

The only weapon I have in my house today is the Word of the Living God, the Sword of the Spirit:  the Bible.  It cannot bludgeon trespassers or make thieves flee, but it reveals the character and power of my God who loves and protects me.  Its pages are packed with instances of God miraculously saving His people.  Thieves can break in and steal, and murderers can kill and destroy.  But if I am God's and He is mine, I can joyfully entrust myself to His protection.  I am an overcomer through Jesus Christ, and those who do His bidding God can employ as His battle-axe and weapon of war (Jer. 51:20).  Our fight is not against flesh and blood or governments but against spiritual powers of darkness which can only prevail when we rely on our strength and wits instead of the power of God.  Praise the LORD for His protection, for our Good Shepherd will faithfully keep His flock forever.

Works in Progress

"The golf swing is just about the farthest thing from a perfectible discipline in athletics...The most reliable swings are only relatively repeatable.  They never stop being works in progress."

Butch Harmon (citation below)

When it comes to golf, I have never been more than a dabbler.  I have never been committed to playing and improving at golf as I have with others sports like baseball or ten-pin bowling.  I have never had professional lessons, have never been a member of a club, or played competitively.  To me golf is a fun activity over the past decades I have had various levels of engagement with, and my seasons of playing "regular" golf once a week is dwarfed by long stretches when I wasn't playing.

I don't believe a sane person steps onto a golf course and expects to play at the level they played in previous years without practice.  As a teacher of professional golfers, Butch Harmon knows what he is talking about.  Players at the top of their game, people who have dedicated their lives to hitting a golf ball with accurate precision, do not maintain their skill without hard work.  It is easy to develop bad habits.  It is relatively simple for a pro to know what to do, but even they end up in deep rough, bunkers, and hit into the water.  Executing a shot under pressure is hard.  Overcoming injuries is part of every sport, and navigating the changes age brings and remaining mentally strong separates decent golfers from great ones.

This need for constant maintenance and labour to maintain a consistently good golf swing reminds me of the effort a Christian must expend in following Jesus.  No matter our age, perceived level of maturity, or role in the church, we are all works in progress.  Watching golfers walk through beautiful scenery over a weekend and making millions of dollars seems quite the life, but it is good to have an awareness of the kind of dedication and practice required to reach such a level of play.  To play golf at a high level requires years of practice, thousands of practice shots of all kinds, and continual coaching.  As we follow Christ we also must examine our hearts and minds, confessing and repenting of sin, and pressing on in faith.

Our hearts and minds are more difficult to manage than a slice or hook.  What often happens with us dabbling golfers is we learn to manage our slice rather than correcting it through mechanics.  We stop aiming at the target itself because we project our former tendencies into the current shot.  The Gospel enables us to be overcomers, to live our lives in perfect alignment with God - not to put up with sinful behaviour we dismiss like a "power slice" - as if that's our intention and we wouldn't rather hit straight and true.  God's will is for us to examine our own hearts, repent of our sin, and choose to do what is right.  This takes effort and the result is humility, grace, and honour to God's glory.   We make a lot of mistakes, and God keeps loving us.  There is nothing good in us, but thanks to God's grace we can grow and persevere through trials.

We are all works in progress, and praise the LORD it is He who does the work in us as we partner with Him.

(Dweck, Carol S. Mindset. New York. Ballentine Books. 2006. Print.)