'Living Fossil' Not So Primitive After All

[ted]

I'm beginning to see your point. The Bible was the authority on creation, that is, if we couldn't prove otherwise. And since we 'still' can't prove creation (although we may be getting closer) we shouldn't discount the Bible yet for there still a chance it rings true later.

My point was two-fold:

1. The Bible is God's Word. There is enough there for us to make a decision for Christ, and I think that is it's main reason for being preserved throughout the ages. I don't think that a science book can compare regarding God's Word. I'll get into the many versions in a few minutes...

2. I think that the establishment of "fact" is only but a small piece of the picture as to what actually makes it into science books and text books.

When determining what exactly makes it into a science book, there must be pieces of information which are left out, especially if the book is destined to make it into schools. This creates a picture which is constantly incomplete. The requirement for brevity demands that the size of a volume intended for schools has to be limited. If we toss in the ever-changing nature of scientific research, we can easily see how science books must change if they are to stay up to date. It is this ever-changing nature of these books which cause me to trust in the Bible as the ultimate authority in God's Word, rather than science books.

In no way am I discounting the advances in science which we find. I think science is humanity's way of understanding what God has created. Due to our limitations connected with being human, as compared to the wisdom of God, I think we fail to see that we will never truly understand everything He has created. We simply cannot keep pace with His knowledge at the moment.

Someone mentioned about the evidence regarding evolution is like trying to take a drink from Niagara Falls. I think that is the perfect analogy for understanding God's Word and His creations. Never mind the "why" of it all, just trying to understand everything he has created here on earth in the physical sense has kept us busy enough thus far. I think we'd be discouraged if God was to reveal, if only for a second, just how much is still out there to learn.

Also, like it or not, we have another problem when trying to understand all of this: God has His secrets! Deu 29:29 says as much. So, at this point, we can only discover so much no matter how much we find. This is not to say that we should just drop the shovels and give up, but it does mean that our understanding at this point will be limited. That is one reason why I do not engage in the argumentative nature of these threads, but instead try to calm them down. I see no reason to get all upset at each other concerning something we may never truly understand until God decides to reveal more to us.

As to the thought that we shouldn't discount the Bible just yet, I think we should get even closer to it for our answers. If we were to discard it simply because we feel that we have enough to prove it wrong at this point, it would be tragic. I think God has created a perfect balance of physical structure combined with a revelation of His plans for our eternal future within it's pages. To lay it down in favor of a few peer-reviewed papers that seemingly put it to shame would be the ultimate defeat for humanity.

I can't speak for everyone, but I agree, the bible has not changed in wording. However, that has never been my contention since I believe it is inerrant. On the other hand, I think the frequency and the shear number of changing interpretations would give changes in scientific theory a run for their money, but unlike changes in science, I don't know that the bible interpretations always improve in accuracy. Otherwise, guys like David Koresh, Jim Bakker, and Fred Phelps would never have an audience. On a more realistic note, where I live, one of the mega churches is a big end of times church (Hagee?), and if you want to get a rolling discussion going around here, bring that up. Lastly, I note there are countless denomiantions of Christianity, and I daresay the number is increasing, not increasing.

Here, Myco touches on another point that I wanted to address.

Sadly, the Word has been changed, or covered, by man over time. This of course is different than saying that the Word has changed. Mankind has begun to change the Word, ever so slightly, to fit our justifications and whims. Thus, we begin down a road which we do not want to travel. Amazingly, this very thing was predicted thousands of years ago.

The good thing about all of this changing is that God will not allow it to go on for long.

The Bible gives us the story of the Tower of Babel, and of mankind's mistake in trying to do things on their own in the past. In much the same way, God will come again to establish His will on earth. I am somewhat amused by comic book versions of the Bible and the like. I shudder to think that mankind would be so stupid, but then I am comforted in knowing that each blasphemous notion brings us closer to His return.

So, in one way, we can point and say that "God's Word is changing" due to the amount of recently published "versions", but is it really changing, or is it a simple matter of mankind manufacturing something to fit it's whim.....to justify it's behavior? By printing a new version, has God's Word really changed, or has it only been disguised temporarily?

So today, we see huge advancements in scientific research which seemingly lower the value of Scripture as a reliable resource of information. I'm sorry, but I have to laugh at some of it. I see these advancements as I see a turtle who has found itself on it's back- struggling to right itself and simultaneously swatting at the hand which attempts to help it on it's way.

In most of these arguments, I do not capture the facts which discredit the Bible. All I see is the ever increasing questions thrown around to cause confusion. I see no evidence to discredit what the Bible says, and have seen not one thing that brings the Word of God down to it's knees.

What I do see, however, is an ever-shifting base of knowledge which may never catch up to even the smallest of God's thoughts. Perhaps some of our more knowledgeable members can describe to us what it means to build a home on shifting sand or ground which is not stable?

Again, I do not say this to discredit honest scientific research. Without it, there would be no cool things like air conditioning or space flights. I just feel that people, over time, have taken the incomplete results of it and ran in the wrong direction. Sadly, there are even some who wish to skewer the results to fit an agenda which seeks to prove that God does not exist. This, to me, is the ultimate example of dishonesty, and I wouldn't trust them to give me directions to the nearest supermarket.

The same can be said for some "Christians" who have become blinded in their ways. The Bible warns us of their kind, as well- wolves in sheep's clothing they are.

But, my points are simple: The Bible will be justified completely one day and I hope that all of us here are humble enough to understand that. No matter our advancements, we must retain the ability to understand that God will not be mocked for long. I suggest that we keep that in mind as we search for the answers to questions which keep us up at night.

Ultimately, mankind's understanding of God must never take the place of God in our hearts. One of them is incomplete, and I'm placing my bets on God being the One who knows more about Himself than we do.

We have been given a simple plan for salvation, but yet we still feel there is more to the story.

God has given Jesus to us on a silver platter, but we somehow would rather have Him served on gold. Not only that, but we struggle to show why gold would be a better material than silver for such a presentation. It's truly amazing to think that we would worry more about the platter than the Gift.

May He touch our hearts today.

Peace,

t.

[ted]

Interesting read, hone.

I can't say I disagree with it.

I hope no one thinks that I am anti-science, because I am not. Without mankind's never ending thirst for ways to understand life as we know it, many advances would not have happened. I just happen to think that we sometimes get in trouble when we decide to take on God like it's some kind of battle of the wills.

Simply put, we will lose every time, if that's what it comes to.

Our evidence that seemingly disproves what the Bible says remains wanting against that which God has given us concerning His will.

t.