Man, The Image of God #1: The Mystery of Man

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? (Ps. 8:3-4)”

Scholar Carl Henry wrote: “Who is man? This remarkable creature, whose amazing conquest of space and time has yielded unabridged dictionaries indexing the whole of reality, has fallen into frustration—ironically enough—when defining himself”- (Baker’s Dictionary of Theology, p. 338). This month we begin a new section to summarize what the Bible has to say about mankind, our nature, purpose, and the affects that sin has had upon us.  

Within this definition, we discover a conflict between how we view ourselves and how our Creator views us. David in Psalm 8, considered the moon and stars with its vastness and complexity and felt his insignificance. Society likewise teaches us to feel insignificant and small. However, it also teaches us to focus on our flaws when we look at ourselves in the mirror – moles, scars, bulges, etc.  Then we look at those around us and see how beautiful they are compared to our blemishes. We also look up the ladder of success and note their achievements and compared to our stumbling bloopers. But is this how we should define ourselves?

As one studies Scripture, how God actually views us, we discover that how society has defined our insignificance is a farce.  Paul and others inform us that while we are to remember our insignificance within the vastness of creation and our limitations compared to God, yet at the same time, we are God’s masterpiece (Eph. 2:10). We are His crowning achievement. Psalm 8:6 states that God has made us just a little lower than God Himself since we have been made in His image (Gen. 1:27).

So what if you have failed in the past? So what if you’ve tried hard but continue to experience failures? Remember even Moses was once a basket case! You are NOT an accident. You are at the spot you are in life right now for a reason and God promises to cause your situation to work out for your good as a Christian. You are the works of His hands.

Charles Stanley said, “Jesus has chosen to put His unmatched presence into these scarred, earthen vessels. He is at home in these tattered earthly tents. We need not be ill at ease, but instead we can relax and enjoy His fellowship, knowing that He died for us while were yet hopeless sinners (Rom. 5:6–8). He has permanently accepted us into His family, with all our undesirable baggage”- (The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, Ps 139:1–24).

In His service,

     Matt

Worldview #2: Doesn’t Evolution Disprove the Bible?

There is a common thought process in public schools, universities and much of society that evolution disproves the Bible, since the two are diametrically opposed. 

The Bible Says	Evolution Says
Creation was planned for a purpose.	Nature evolved by accident and chance.
Living things were made separately, each one after its kind.	All living things came from a single life-form by evolution.
Man was a special creation, different from the animals.	Man is just another animal, evolved from ape-like creatures.
God’s work of creation was finished in 6 days.	Evolution has continued to make new kinds of living things throughout time, and is still going on today.
Nature was created perfect but became spoiled because of Adam disobeyed God.	Nature is always growing better and more perfect by evolutionary change.[i]

So how does one deal with the obvious differences? I believe that the answer lies in the study of science! Science is “systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/science).

Darwin argued the evolution could be observed. He observed finches’ beaks changing to fit the conditions. If the conditions were dry, the finches would develop long beaks in order to get to their food supply. On the other hand, when there was a significant amount of rain, the finches’ beaks would shorten.

However, there are two problems with this example of evolution. First, if the conditions changed back, so would the finches’ beaks, thus, it was not a permanent change. Second and most importantly, the finches remained finches. This is NOT an example of a change of species; this is a change within its kind, something that the Bible does teach (Gen. 1:11-25). Just think about it, has a doctor ever come in and told a pregnant woman, congratulations, you just gave birth to a giraffe? That’s absurd, and everyone knows it! Therefore, I challenge anyone to find a single example of a living creature changing to a different species that can be observed!

Thus, Darwin’s observations did NOT verify evolution of one species from another. Instead, he actually proved the Bible where God commands each living creature to reproduce after its own kind, allowing for variations within a species, but not the evolution of new species.

A second scientific fact that must be considered concerning evolution pertains to life coming from non-living molecules. The scientific law of bio-genesis states that without exception, life always comes from life! The law of bio-genesis can be observed, repeated, verified, and is subject to experimentation (the qualities required for a law in science).

Evolutionists however, propose that small inorganic molecules combined to form amino acids then proteins and eventually living cells. Yet this has never even been observed, let alone repeated, verified, nor is it subject to experimentation! This point also disproves evolution in favor of the Bible in that it was not some accident that a few molecules came together to generate life.  Instead, there had to be a Creator to initiate life on earth.

Therefore, evolution does not fit into the category of science, since there has been no observation, verification, nor experimentation of evolution EVER taking place. However, evolution does fit nicely into the definition of a religion. It is a system of beliefs, which lacks scientific proof! The Bible on the other does teach creation which can be observed, verified, and is subject to experimentation!

In His service,

         Matt 

[i] E.H. Andrews, From Nothing to Nature: A Basic Guide to Evolution and Creation (Durham, England, 1997), p. 6.

Elder’s Corner: Mercy and Not Sacrifice

I found the following devotional that I would like to share with you. From Daily Scriptures readings and meditations (http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/).

What does the commandment "keep holy the Sabbath" require of us? Or better yet, what is the primary intention behind this command? The religious leaders confronted Jesus on this issue. The "Sabbath rest" was meant to be a time to remember and celebrate God's goodness and the goodness of His work, both in creation and redemption. It was a day set apart for the praise of God, His work of creation, and His saving actions on our behalf. It was intended to bring everyday work to a halt and to provide needed rest and refreshment.

Jesus' disciples are scolded by the scribes and Pharisees, not for plucking and eating corn from the fields, but for doing so on the Sabbath (see Matt. 12:1-8). In defending His disciples, Jesus argues from the Scriptures that human need has precedence over ritual custom. In their hunger, David and his men ate of the holy bread offered in the Temple. Jesus also quoted of the Sabbath work involved in worship in the Temple. This kind of work was usually double the work of worship on weekdays. Jesus then quotes from the prophet Hosea 6:6: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” While the claims of ritual sacrifice are important to God, mercy and kindness in response to human need are even more important. Do you honor the Lord in the way you treat your neighbor and celebrate the Lord's Day?

"Lord, make us to walk in your way: Where there is love and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance; where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor annoyance; where there is poverty and joy, there is neither greed nor materialism; where there is peace and contemplation, there is neither care nor restlessness; where there is the fear of God to guard the dwelling, there no enemy can enter; where there is mercy and prudence, there is neither excess nor harshness; this we know through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (Prayer of Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)                      

—Enrique