| December 20, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 34
|
There are many evolutionary theories, but I've never heard one that did not conflict with God's word: "And God spoke all these words... For in six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day" (Ex. 10:1, 11). I believe God. The Bible recognizes that there have been changes within certain definite limits. All humans from the Pygmy to the giant -- red, yellow, black, brown, white -- have descended from Adam and Eve. Some creationists refer to these changes as "special evolution." Certainly we recognize such change, but we deny that fish and birds, snakes and horses, men and monkeys all have a common ancestor.
It is not our purpose in this writing to examine the evolutionary theories, but rather to examine some of their evil fruits. These godless theories constantly bombard us via Readers' Digest, Time Magazine, National Geographic, our daily newspapers, and even Little Golden Books. They blare from our radios, TVs and movies. And they probably affect our thinking more than we realize.
Unscientific Scientists. Robert Clark and James Bales in "Why Scientists Accept Evolution" show that "the eminent evolutionists of the 19th century accepted evolution because of their anti-supernatural bias, and not because of the weight of scientific evidence." They explain that modern scientists continue to accept evolution "because it was already accepted by others who went on before them and under whose direction they obtained their education." Today most scientists and laymen alike accept evolution because "certain men who were supposed to know accepted it" before them. Many scientists sincerely believe in evolution, but they know that it has not been proven scientifically, nor can it be.
Religious Infidels. Perhaps it is in the real of theology that evolution has had its most obvious impact. Modern theologians have sat at the feet of evolutionists in the universities and seminaries and accepted such theories rather than leave themselves open to the charge of being unscientific. These theologians fully understood the non-supernatural implications of evolutionary theories and consistently proceeded to deny other supernatural aspects of Christianity such as the virgin birth, the miracles of Jesus, His bodily resurrection, the inspiration and infallibility of the Scriptures, etc. Their preaching and teaching in mainline Protestant churches, seminaries, and religious colleges has produced a bumper crop of religious infidels.
Inhumane Humanity. As our educators, philosophers, psychologists and molders of public opinion have constantly drilled into our minds that we are refined apes rather than creatures made in God's image, our moral values have declined accordingly. When we do not value our fellow man as a creature bearing the Divine image, we cease to properly respect the sanctity of human life and liberty, and crime rates rise as a direct consequence.
Sexual promiscuity is another direct effect of evolutionary doctrines. Teach an entire generation that they are nothing more than mere animals and you can be assured they will behave accordingly.
In addition to a reduction in moral scruples, evolutionary teaching has had a second impact the abortion issue. Formerly some evolutionists taught, and some high school textbooks still reflect, the influence of a recapitulation theory. Drawings depict the development of the human fetus by stages through which the human race supposedly passed in developing from ameba to man, leaving students to falsely conclude that a human fetus can be destroyed in the early stages of pregnancy with no more seriousness than killing a fish or a bird. The drawings are highly inaccurate and the implications based on them are false to the core.
Eternal Consequences. And so we see that the effects of evolutionary thinking are indeed far reaching, but we would be remiss in our duty if we did not also note that the theory of evolution will have eternal consequences.
It has been the reason that many have turned their backs upon the word of God and made shipwreck of their faith. It has caused many to turn their eyes from God and look to brute beasts as the explanation for human existence. It preaches that we are mere animals with no destiny beyond the grave. Thus evolution would rob us of our faith, our heritage, and our destiny as children of God, and leave us totally unprepared for the day of judgment.
--CRJ
Everybody is wise after the thing has happened.
The Bible says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). The Hebrew writer tells us that Christ "became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:9). This really should forever settle the question, but for the benefit of the student who is asking himself this question, "Does the Bible anywhere state that those who disobey God will be lost?" we cite 2 Thess. 1:7-9 (KJV), "...the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."
These and many other passages show us that God must be obeyed if we are to be saved. While I was growing up as a youth in a Southern Baptist congregation, I recall many times hearing preachers say that certain commands of God (baptism, for example) were essential to OBEDIENCE, but not essential to salvation. My friend, God's word teaches that OBEDIENCE IS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION!
We do need to realize, however, that our obedience does not put God in debt to us. We cannot buy eternal life, nor in any way earn it. It is the free gift of God, Rom. 6:23. God did not determine to save men because they were good, but because they needed salvation so desperately, Titus 3:5.
Then, what part does obedience to God's commands play in the salvation of sinners? It, like faith, plays a part in salvation only because it is one of the conditions God has laid down. The salvation is a gift. But the receiver of that gift, must be willing to accept the conditions laid down by the Giver. The grace of God has appeared to us, teaching us how to live acceptably, Titus 2:11-12. Those who reject God's teaching have rejected His grace.
--CRJ
After Jesus' sermon on the mount, "great multitudes followed Him: and behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.' Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be cleansed.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, 'See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'" (Matt. 8:1-4).
There are two interesting aspects of this incident, the leper's approach to Jesus, and the Lord's response. Note first, the leper came to Jesus with confidence. He had no doubt that, if Jesus willed to heal him He could do so. "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Leprosy, in that day, was considered an incurable disease. Occasionally, lepers did get well and thus the law provided for their ceremonial cleansing in such cases, but no doctor was recognized as having an effective treatment for the disease. The leper in our text believed that Jesus could do for him what no other person could do.
Secondly, the leper came to Jesus with humility. He did not demand to be cured. He did not insist that he had a right to be healed. He recognized that his cleansing was an option, not an obligation, of the Lord. "If You are willing, You can make me clean."
Thirdly, he came to Jesus in reverence. The text says, the "leper came and worshiped Him." And, obviously, Jesus accepted that worship. Neither men nor angels are to be worshiped, but it is proper to worship the Divine Son of God.
Now, let us note the response of Jesus. Jesus acted with compassion. He wanted to cleanse the leper, and thus He fulfilled the request of the leper. He did what no other rabbi would have done, indeed what no other devout Jew would have done -- He "put out His hand and touched" the leper. To touch a leper was to make Himself ceremonially unclean, thus to necessitate certain ceremonial washings, etc.
Also, we note that Jesus instructed the leper to comply with the requirements of the Law of Moses, offering the prescribed sacrifices. Remember that Jesus lived and died while the Law of Moses was still in effect, and He never violated that law no encouraged others to do so. Today, we live under the New Testament system and the sacrifice of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and spiritual uncleanness.
--CRJ