Jonathan wrote: > When I was younger there were a few arguments > that one used to determine where one stood on the > evangelical spectrum. Ten to fifteen years ago it > was evolution versus creation, the end-times, and > the use of the 'sign' gifts.
I assume you mean you when you say, "that one used to determine where one stood on the evangelical spectrum." I have never noticed these issues as ever identifying evangelicalism, but I have noticed some who have been impassioned by these issues. Jonathan wrote: > Nowadays the litmus tests seem to be either abortion > or your favourite: homosexuality. These certainly are evangelical issues, because of the culture crisis. However, abortion has been a big issue for much longer than 10 to 15 years. I first protested an abortion clinic back in the 1980's. Jonathan wrote: > (Since the Bible rarely refers to homosexuality > [less than 10 references and none by Jesus] I have > always wondered why you seem to mention homosexuality > in almost every other post of yours? I have even wondered > if you yourself struggle with homosexual tendencies. > The saying is, "You doth protest too much.") LOL. Every other post? A little hyperbole in use here maybe? The idea that I must struggle against homosexual tendencies because I preach against it is a common objection that I have heard for over twenty years, usually from homosexuals. At the same time, others have objected because I have allowed homosexuals to attend Bible studies on a regular basis. They scream at me that believers are suppose to be separate. Some have even objected to TruthTalk allowing non-Christians on the list. No, don't worry, I have absolutely no homosexual tendencies. I perceive three big attacks against our society right now. They are the Islamic agenda, the homosexual agenda, and the abortion agenda. Sexual promiscuity in general is right up there with these, but it is encapsulated well enough in the homosexual agenda. Therefore, you will see me speak out against these issues. The homosexual agenda is hit a little harder by me on TruthTalk because I perceive that some on the list do not understand the danger it poses to Christians in this particular age. The homosexual agenda is a much greater danger now than it was at the time of Christ and the apostles of the first century. Jonathan wrote: > I used to be a literal 6 day young earth creationist. > ... It wasn't until I got a bit older and began to follow > up on some of 6 day young earth creationist's claims > that I began to realize how much 'bad' science was > involved. I then switched camps to the intelligent > design camp. There is a whole lot of bad science in the Creationist camp, because most of them believe in Creation because of the Bible, not because of science. Furthermore, the most visible Creationists are not scientists and emphasize popular, common sense ideas. I don't think you should feel compelled to join a particular camp. Learn to think for yourself. You are a very intelligent and articulate person. Accept what is good and spit out the bones. Have you ever read Robert Gentry's book, "Creation's Tiny Mystery"? His work represents one of the more scientific of approaches that a creationist has used. This is not to say that his work is without controversy, but I think his approach is very instructive about how a creationist might approach science from a creationist paradigm. I wish it was required reading at some point in high school when the evolution theories are considered in the classroom. If nothing else, it illustrates how a scientist investigates an idea and tests hypostheses. It also demonstrates the bias and bigotry that exists among scientists. Unfortunately, the creationists don't understand science well enough to value his work as they ought to, and the scientists are so against the idea of creationism that they ignore his work too. Gentry finds himself like many scientists who have been called of God, in no man's land, rejected by all groups. Jonathan wrote: > I believe that the book of Genesis is meant to be > interpreted theologically and not scientifically. But does this mean that the book of Genesis is not to be considered accurate in its historical comments? How can it be considered to be accurate about God in heaven if it is not accurate about earth? Jonathan wrote: > I believe that God was active in creating the cosmos > while allowing the cosmos to contribute to the process. > For example, look at Genesis 1:24 and 25. Verse 24 > is God saying 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures. > Juxtapose this with verse 25 which states that 'God made > the beasts...'. Here we see that God, being sovereign, > calls creation into being but at the same time allows for > the earth to be part of the process. But if this process of allowing earth to participate is meant to point toward evolution over a very long period of time, there seems to be a problem when angiosperms are created on day 3 but the sun, moon, and stars are not created until day 4. If we fall back on the idea that this passage is not meant to be scientific, then what exactly is the theological message in this? In regards to the "scientific" versus "theological" separation, perhaps I should point out that there are two accounts in Genesis of creation. I consider the first account to be the scientific one, whereas the second one is the theological one, the one which reveals the mind of the architect as he was planning out his creation. Surely they can't both be scientific because one has animals created first while the other has man created before animals. I take the repeated statements, "and the evening and the morning" to be indications of time and therefore pointing us to a chronological / scientific account. Jonathan wrote: > Until then I hope these basic thoughts suffice. Yes they do. Thank you so much for sharing. You are a very interesting person. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
