In 1996, I went to South Africa for a summer with a student Christian organization. This organization had a small room for their club on campus at University of Durban-Westville. The students in the Christian club were Zulu, Sesotho, Colored, and Indian. They were about the only multi-ethnic club on campus in a post-apartheid South Africa that had de-segregated only two years prior. Their common bond was Christ.
Each day, many of the students would come to their small room in order to eat lunch together. My campus director had briefed me on a practice that I found to be true during those lunch sessions. In the meeting room, those with food already, offered me part of their lunch. I was free to take part of what they had, but in turn, it was socially correct for me to offer my food to others in the room or those who would arrive later. Often, students would eat parts of several lunches, rather than just their own. The idea was that if we offer part of our own meal, then someone else will have part of their lunch to make up the difference. Sometimes, if it didn't work out as planned, a person simply might give part of their lunch away and not eat a full meal.
The principle was quite Christian like. In the scriptures, Jesus says that a true friend demonstrates his love for another by offering his or her life for them. Maybe offering part of my sandwich isn't making the ultimate sacrifice through death, but it is a little sacrifice to my own desire, which is to be fully fed for the day. In turn, I trust God will meet my needs either through the provision of another or through the supernatural strength I need to live without all of my needs.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Creation, Genesis, and God's Love
I grew up in a non-Christian family and believed in evolution until I became a follower of Christ. The ideas of an old universe and evolution still feel "natural" or "normal" to me. To think that the universe is 14.5 billion years old doesn't seem far fetched to me, because it is what I grew up believing. On a similar note, to think that when I die, I will be buried and cease to exist doesn't seem unusual to me either. This is what I grew up with. I don't believe that anyone will ever cease to exist, but it doesn't seem like some crazy idea to me. It is what I grew up with. I suppose it would be similar to what it might be like to be a Hindu, Muslim, or Morman who begins to follow Christ. There are certain beliefs that change over time, but those beliefs of upbringing don't seem out-of-the-ordinary.
However, I am now a follower of Christ and I believe in the reliability of the scriptures. They are without error. I've reviewed evolution as a lay person and found that there are competent scientists on both sides of the argument. Not just Christian, it should be noted. There is a growing and more general "Intelligent Design" viewpoint in science that is getting harder and harder to ignore. For example, Hugh Ross, who happens to be a Christian, argues that evolution is highly problematic due to the fact that the four amino acids which make up genes and chromosomes don't like to hang around in the same temperature. An evolutionary theory of our existence would mean that amino acids would have resided very far away from each other in completely different weather environments. For them to casually come together is problematic. All this to say, I don't currently believe in evolution, even though entertaining the possibility doesn't seem strange to me.
The main problem I had for years was dealing with the fact that the universe "looks" old. It looks like it is 14.5 billion years old. Astronomers, who happen to be Christians, have a much harder time dealing with this issue than evolution. We've never seen a new species appear out of nowhere in support of evolution. However, we do see that the universe looks like it is 14.5 billion years old. Due to this problem, I've long supported the ideas of Hugh Ross, who is an astronomer and a Christian. He obtained his Phd. from University of Toronto. His theory is that each day mentioned in the Genesis account of creation represents a "time" or "age". Day one would represent 10 billion years. The next couple days would represent 4 billion years, and so forth. Reading the text, it doesn't seem all that far fetched. I am familiar with those who adhere to a literal "6 day creation" who believe the earth and the universe is about 6,500 years old. The scientific arguments they set forth aren't all that convincing, even though I think they treat the scripture really well.
Recently, however, I heard a position which is new to me and I'm really intrigued by it. I don't even know what "position" to call it. The man I heard this from is a Phd. or Thd. candidate in something at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. This man is a literal "six" day creationist. This means he believes God created the universe and the earth somewhere around 10,000 to 20,000 years ago and that he did it in six days. He says the text says it was six days and that to honor God through a literal interpretation of the Bible that we should believe exacly what is written. But, here is what I found very interesting. He pointed out something I had never considered before. He said, "When God created Adam, how old was he?" Our small audience didn't answer. Our speaker went on to say, "Adam was one day old on his second day of existence. BUT, he was 20 or 30 or 18 or 45 years old or something like that. He wasn't an infant. So, he was created 'with age'. On his first day of existence, he might have been 25 years old, according to his physical body." I went up to the speaker after the speaking engagement and asked, "So, is what you are saying, is that similar to Adam being created 'with age' that the universe could have been created in just six literal days, but 'with age'?" He said, "Yes, this is exactly what I'm saying."
Wow. What an idea. I have no idea whether it is right or not, but I've never heard this position before. This is proposing the idea that the universe was created in six days, but with 14.5 billion years of age, just like Adam was created instantly and was already an adult. I need to look at the text more, but it sure seems to be challenging my interpretation of Genesis over the years. I stated above that I've followed Hugh Ross' version of the old universe/no evolution hypothesis. This idea I heard about the other night feels like a fresh perspective that is also respectful of a literal interpretation of the scriptures. I write this entry to raise this question and ask you what you have to think about the matter. I'd really appreciate those of you who have theological training or scientific training to respond and let me know your thoughts. If you know someone who has theological or scientific training who can respond, please point them towards this entry.
My final thoughts, however, are these: The beauty of God and His creation cannot be surpassed. His majesty and His glory are found everywhere. His love shines even in the most difficult of circumstances and there is always a plan behind everything He is doing. I don't know how old the universe is, but I do know one thing. God created this vast expanse of stars and galaxies. Yet, He's right here with me now as I type this entry. He is holy, majestic, big, huge, and beyond compare. Yet, He's right here with you as you're reading. So majestic, yet so loving. This is the kind of God I want to be connected to.
However, I am now a follower of Christ and I believe in the reliability of the scriptures. They are without error. I've reviewed evolution as a lay person and found that there are competent scientists on both sides of the argument. Not just Christian, it should be noted. There is a growing and more general "Intelligent Design" viewpoint in science that is getting harder and harder to ignore. For example, Hugh Ross, who happens to be a Christian, argues that evolution is highly problematic due to the fact that the four amino acids which make up genes and chromosomes don't like to hang around in the same temperature. An evolutionary theory of our existence would mean that amino acids would have resided very far away from each other in completely different weather environments. For them to casually come together is problematic. All this to say, I don't currently believe in evolution, even though entertaining the possibility doesn't seem strange to me.
The main problem I had for years was dealing with the fact that the universe "looks" old. It looks like it is 14.5 billion years old. Astronomers, who happen to be Christians, have a much harder time dealing with this issue than evolution. We've never seen a new species appear out of nowhere in support of evolution. However, we do see that the universe looks like it is 14.5 billion years old. Due to this problem, I've long supported the ideas of Hugh Ross, who is an astronomer and a Christian. He obtained his Phd. from University of Toronto. His theory is that each day mentioned in the Genesis account of creation represents a "time" or "age". Day one would represent 10 billion years. The next couple days would represent 4 billion years, and so forth. Reading the text, it doesn't seem all that far fetched. I am familiar with those who adhere to a literal "6 day creation" who believe the earth and the universe is about 6,500 years old. The scientific arguments they set forth aren't all that convincing, even though I think they treat the scripture really well.
Recently, however, I heard a position which is new to me and I'm really intrigued by it. I don't even know what "position" to call it. The man I heard this from is a Phd. or Thd. candidate in something at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. This man is a literal "six" day creationist. This means he believes God created the universe and the earth somewhere around 10,000 to 20,000 years ago and that he did it in six days. He says the text says it was six days and that to honor God through a literal interpretation of the Bible that we should believe exacly what is written. But, here is what I found very interesting. He pointed out something I had never considered before. He said, "When God created Adam, how old was he?" Our small audience didn't answer. Our speaker went on to say, "Adam was one day old on his second day of existence. BUT, he was 20 or 30 or 18 or 45 years old or something like that. He wasn't an infant. So, he was created 'with age'. On his first day of existence, he might have been 25 years old, according to his physical body." I went up to the speaker after the speaking engagement and asked, "So, is what you are saying, is that similar to Adam being created 'with age' that the universe could have been created in just six literal days, but 'with age'?" He said, "Yes, this is exactly what I'm saying."
Wow. What an idea. I have no idea whether it is right or not, but I've never heard this position before. This is proposing the idea that the universe was created in six days, but with 14.5 billion years of age, just like Adam was created instantly and was already an adult. I need to look at the text more, but it sure seems to be challenging my interpretation of Genesis over the years. I stated above that I've followed Hugh Ross' version of the old universe/no evolution hypothesis. This idea I heard about the other night feels like a fresh perspective that is also respectful of a literal interpretation of the scriptures. I write this entry to raise this question and ask you what you have to think about the matter. I'd really appreciate those of you who have theological training or scientific training to respond and let me know your thoughts. If you know someone who has theological or scientific training who can respond, please point them towards this entry.
My final thoughts, however, are these: The beauty of God and His creation cannot be surpassed. His majesty and His glory are found everywhere. His love shines even in the most difficult of circumstances and there is always a plan behind everything He is doing. I don't know how old the universe is, but I do know one thing. God created this vast expanse of stars and galaxies. Yet, He's right here with me now as I type this entry. He is holy, majestic, big, huge, and beyond compare. Yet, He's right here with you as you're reading. So majestic, yet so loving. This is the kind of God I want to be connected to.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Moses and God's Helpers
On a certain occasion, Moses and the Israelites fought the Amalekites in battle. When Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning. If his hands dropped down, then the Amalekites would start to win. Eventually, Moses grew tired. His hands began to drop. Aaron and Hur came to his side and held up his arms until sunset. The Israelites continued to fight and ultimately beat the Amalekites.
Do you ever feel too tired to win a battle in your own life? A troubling marriage. A project at work that seems too difficult. An addiction. A death in the family. God often provides us with friends who can help, just as Aaron and Hur helped Moses. A listener. A sounding board. A prayer partner. A counselor. Maybe one who can "tell it to us straight".
Often, we try to figure things out on our own. We rationalize this by telling ourselves that we trust God instead of men and women. In reality, we reject the very ones God has sent to help us. Moses and the Israelites couldn't have beaten the Amalekites without the help of Aaron and Hur. Let's remember that God sends us helpers to fight the battles we can't win on our own.
Do you ever feel too tired to win a battle in your own life? A troubling marriage. A project at work that seems too difficult. An addiction. A death in the family. God often provides us with friends who can help, just as Aaron and Hur helped Moses. A listener. A sounding board. A prayer partner. A counselor. Maybe one who can "tell it to us straight".
Often, we try to figure things out on our own. We rationalize this by telling ourselves that we trust God instead of men and women. In reality, we reject the very ones God has sent to help us. Moses and the Israelites couldn't have beaten the Amalekites without the help of Aaron and Hur. Let's remember that God sends us helpers to fight the battles we can't win on our own.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Movie Tickets
A man received two free movie tickets as gratuity for his volunteer service to an organization. He rarely watched movies and had no need for the tickets. One day, during lunch, he gave the tickets to a friend. The man and his friend were both happy over this small blessing. His friend had little need to be polite and try to turn down the gift, because the movie ticket never belonged to the giver in the first place. Let's give and receive everything in this life as though they never belonged to us in the first place. Then we can give and receive with joy.
The Cupbearer and God's Love
For various reasons, Joseph (one of the major characters found in the early history of God's people) was thrown into prison by the Egyptian official he worked for. While in prison, Joseph happened to meet the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. Joseph interpreted a dream for the cupbearer correctly and determined that the cupbearer would be released from jail in three days to once again work by Pharaoh's side. Joseph told the cupbearer to remember him and tell Pharaoh about him so that he could be released from prison, for he had been falsely accused. Then get this. The cupbearer forgot to tell Pharaoh about Joseph, in order to have him released. Pretty frustrating, huh?
The reality is that this is another instance of God's love. God could have given the cupbearer another dream to remind him to tell Pharaoh about Joseph. But, God didn't do this. God leaves Joseph in prison. However, down the road, it is Pharaoh who has two dreams that deeply bother him. When the cupbearer hears about this, he tells Pharaoh about this guy he met in prison who could interpret dreams correctly. Pharaoh calls for Joseph to come to him. To make a long story short, Joseph interprets the dreams correctly, Pharaoh puts him in charge of all of Egypt, and Joseph saves the entire land and his family from dying during a seven year famine.
Now, what if the cupbearer had remembered Joseph's request to tell Pharaoh about him the first time? I am only speculating, but it seems to me that he might have merely released Joseph and Joseph would have returned home. Who knows what might have happened. But, is it possible that God delayed his release so that Pharaoh himself would call upon him? Is it possible that God was sacrificing Joseph out of his compassion for Joseph's family and the whole land of Israel?
Here's what Joseph himself had to say to his brothers (who originally sold him into slavery) about the matter. "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you." The cupbearer forgot and left Joseph in prison for a longer period of time. On God's part and even to Joseph's understanding, this was His loving action.
The reality is that this is another instance of God's love. God could have given the cupbearer another dream to remind him to tell Pharaoh about Joseph. But, God didn't do this. God leaves Joseph in prison. However, down the road, it is Pharaoh who has two dreams that deeply bother him. When the cupbearer hears about this, he tells Pharaoh about this guy he met in prison who could interpret dreams correctly. Pharaoh calls for Joseph to come to him. To make a long story short, Joseph interprets the dreams correctly, Pharaoh puts him in charge of all of Egypt, and Joseph saves the entire land and his family from dying during a seven year famine.
Now, what if the cupbearer had remembered Joseph's request to tell Pharaoh about him the first time? I am only speculating, but it seems to me that he might have merely released Joseph and Joseph would have returned home. Who knows what might have happened. But, is it possible that God delayed his release so that Pharaoh himself would call upon him? Is it possible that God was sacrificing Joseph out of his compassion for Joseph's family and the whole land of Israel?
Here's what Joseph himself had to say to his brothers (who originally sold him into slavery) about the matter. "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you." The cupbearer forgot and left Joseph in prison for a longer period of time. On God's part and even to Joseph's understanding, this was His loving action.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Wisdom and Football
Wisdom is like a football. I carry it, but I never stitched it together. I run with it, but someone else passed it to me. I score a touchdown, but someone else orchestrated the play. It’s most valuable when I hand it off to another player. It doesn't belong to me. It never came from me. And in the future, the game will go on without me.
Wisdom is like a football. It works best when we receive it and pass it along. Everyone carries a little bit of wisdom. A lesson learned. A grief observed. A parable received. An addiction being dealt with. The humility of wisdom is that it never belonged to us in the first place. We simply pass it along.
Wisdom is like a football. It works best when we receive it and pass it along. Everyone carries a little bit of wisdom. A lesson learned. A grief observed. A parable received. An addiction being dealt with. The humility of wisdom is that it never belonged to us in the first place. We simply pass it along.
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Tower of Babel and God's Love
Most people believe the Tower of Babel, found in Genesis 11, is an account of God's judgement. This couldn't be farther from the truth. The Tower of Babel is a story of God's love. In the account, God sees that human beings are trying to build a tower to the heavens. "So we might make a name for ourselves." Humanity said at the time. God said, "If we do not stop them, then they will be able to do anything." God comes down and confuses their languages. From there at the Tower of Babel, God scattered us across the globe. Things became difficult. No longer was it easy to accomplish our own goals. New cultures arose. New conflict arose.
Am I making my case yet? Do you see God's love? Probably not. At this point, I'm probably loosing my argument. But wait a minute. Check out my previous blog on "Bicycles and God's Love." What did we see? What we saw was a father and daughter working on a project together. They spent time together. The human father in the story had to let go of his own agenda in order to accomplish the task of building the bicycle with his daughter. They spent time together. They got to know each other more through working on that task together, painstaking and slow it might have been.
So, let's look back at the Tower of Babel. What did God do here? He threw a wrench in the whole thing. We were moving along just fine with one language. We were building buildings and could have accomplished anything we set our minds to. But, God came down and confused our languages and all of the sudden things aren't easy. Different languages. Different cultures. Now what do we do? Just like the father and the daughter building a bicycle together, we have to learn how to work together with different languages and different cultures. It isn't pretty. It isn't efficient. But, for those who are willing to spend a lot of time with people from other cultures, learning how to work with each other, there is a far greater reward than getting things done. We have the opportunity to get things done together. We have to spend time learning each other's languages and cultures. There is conflict, but conflict is what drives us into deeper relationships, if we'll take the time to help each other to a deeper understanding.
So, what was God's ultimate purpose in confusing our languages at the Tower of Babel? In a weird sort of upside down way, it was to bring us into relationships that would require us to spend more and more time together. Then, when we build things together, we can say, "Look, God helped us put this wonderful bicycle together and we really love Him and each other so much more than before."
Am I making my case yet? Do you see God's love? Probably not. At this point, I'm probably loosing my argument. But wait a minute. Check out my previous blog on "Bicycles and God's Love." What did we see? What we saw was a father and daughter working on a project together. They spent time together. The human father in the story had to let go of his own agenda in order to accomplish the task of building the bicycle with his daughter. They spent time together. They got to know each other more through working on that task together, painstaking and slow it might have been.
So, let's look back at the Tower of Babel. What did God do here? He threw a wrench in the whole thing. We were moving along just fine with one language. We were building buildings and could have accomplished anything we set our minds to. But, God came down and confused our languages and all of the sudden things aren't easy. Different languages. Different cultures. Now what do we do? Just like the father and the daughter building a bicycle together, we have to learn how to work together with different languages and different cultures. It isn't pretty. It isn't efficient. But, for those who are willing to spend a lot of time with people from other cultures, learning how to work with each other, there is a far greater reward than getting things done. We have the opportunity to get things done together. We have to spend time learning each other's languages and cultures. There is conflict, but conflict is what drives us into deeper relationships, if we'll take the time to help each other to a deeper understanding.
So, what was God's ultimate purpose in confusing our languages at the Tower of Babel? In a weird sort of upside down way, it was to bring us into relationships that would require us to spend more and more time together. Then, when we build things together, we can say, "Look, God helped us put this wonderful bicycle together and we really love Him and each other so much more than before."
Bicycles and the Love of God
A couple friends of mine shared a story they heard from a pastor. The pastor told them this. One day, he and his younger daughter set out to assemble her new bicycle. At first, the pastor was dedicated to the task. Get it done. Get it done efficiently. It would have been much easier to put it together by himself. At a certain point, he realized that putting the bicycle together wasn’t the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal was to spend time with his daughter.
After finishing the bicycle, his daughter rode off, circled the neighborhood, and announced that she and her father had assembled her brand new bicycle! Can you picture it? Can you see the joy and the admiration? In this real life parable, we are the young child and God is the father. He could do everything without us. Instead, He enjoys spending countless hours with us, putting bicycles together.
After finishing the bicycle, his daughter rode off, circled the neighborhood, and announced that she and her father had assembled her brand new bicycle! Can you picture it? Can you see the joy and the admiration? In this real life parable, we are the young child and God is the father. He could do everything without us. Instead, He enjoys spending countless hours with us, putting bicycles together.
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve's first response after the shock of disobeying God was to disconnect, run, and hide in shame. God's first response was to seek them out, put warm clothes on them, and get them out of the Garden, saving them from an eternity of sin--literally Hell on Earth. Likewise, a child's first response following disobedience is often to disconnect, run, and hide in shame. Many children even go through a phase of lying. Daddy sees the child take a cookie without asking. The child denies he took the cookie. After a little finagling, Daddy pulls the cookie from his son's pocket. This example is similar to Adam and Eve's responses to God when he confronted them about taking the fruit. Eve says, "The Serpent made me do it." Adam says, "This woman you put here gave it to me." Everyone's pointing fingers. Eve at the Serpent... Adam at Eve...
Do you ever feel like you're running from God, trying to hide? Feeling shameful? Or, maybe it is a little more sophisticated, like Adam and Eve who started pointing fingers? I have one thing to say to you: You don't have to hide or lie anymore. God loves you for no reason at all, simply because He wants to. Romans 5:8 says that, "God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." No need to run, hide, or lie. Most often we do these things because of our own self-condemnation.
God, however, is not constrained by our self-condemnation. In 1st John 3:20 it says, "For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything." Why does God love you? Simply because He wants to. And where did this love take Him? To the cross. Believe this and eternal life starts today!
Do you ever feel like you're running from God, trying to hide? Feeling shameful? Or, maybe it is a little more sophisticated, like Adam and Eve who started pointing fingers? I have one thing to say to you: You don't have to hide or lie anymore. God loves you for no reason at all, simply because He wants to. Romans 5:8 says that, "God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." No need to run, hide, or lie. Most often we do these things because of our own self-condemnation.
God, however, is not constrained by our self-condemnation. In 1st John 3:20 it says, "For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything." Why does God love you? Simply because He wants to. And where did this love take Him? To the cross. Believe this and eternal life starts today!
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