In the belief of Karl Barth, C.S. Lewis, Reinhold Niebuhr, and apparently Donald Bloesch, the Creation account of the Bible is not to be trusted or taken literally. In my view, this is dangerous ground. If we are not to take the Creation as it is written in the Bible, how can we take any of the information recorded in Genesis, Exodus, or even the New Testament? Bloesch quotes James Orr saying, “the Genesis narrative is 'old tradition clothed in oriental allegorical dress.'”1 I think this minimizes the work of God in transmitting His Word.
It seems that a great deal of the problem facing modern objections is the obstacle of evolution and the perceived “scientific” age of the Earth. However, the evidence of an old Earth and evolution require a great deal of faith as well. In the past I researched the age of the Earth from both Creationist and Evolutionist perspectives. I found that there was a great deal of disagreement between Evolutionists, not just between the two groups. Evolutionary theory is not 100% reliable and most Evolutionists are not prone to favor a system that supports a belief in God. From the lack of a “missing link” to the unreliable dating systems used, it seems that those claiming to be Christians should trust in the Bible over the ideas of man. The Bible says clearly, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2.8 ESV)
Further, why should we believe in the Tower of Babel, the Flood, Joseph interpreting dreams, the giving of the Ten Commandments, or even the miracles of Jesus- especially the essential belief in the Resurrection following His crucifixion.
While I am not as well-schooled as the men mentioned above, and I am not as invested in thought, I have confidence in God and the truth of His Word. “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”2
“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.”3 (See also related Scriptures: Deuteronomy 12.32 and Revelation 22.18-19) If God took His Word seriously enough to give the warnings above in Deuteronomy and Revelation we should expect that He meant for us to take His full written Word as He had it transmitted. Then again, with the way Creation is discounted by so many within the church maybe this warning should be discounted as well. As for me, I will live trusting that His Word is true.
1Bloesch, Donald G. Essentials of Evangelical Christianity. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2006. 107.
2 The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001, S. Psalm 119:160
3 The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001 Deuteronomy 4.1
No comments:
Post a Comment