I sent this to a couple of YEC brothers who doubted my faith because I told
them I believed in evolution and rejected a literal interpretation of
Genesis 1-11.Below is my response. I included some excerpts from Mike, Glenn
and Terry to illustrate my points
Because of my belief in evolution and my rejection of a literalistic
interpretation of Genesis, some have questioned whether I am a Christian.
The implication is that I am a skeptic, a heretic, or someone who is still
searching for God.
For the record, I am a Christian who affirms the Apostles and Nicene Creeds
and that God in Christ through the Holy Spirit has come to save Man.
However, there are in my opinion two kinds of Christian. There is the one
who pretends that the last 200 years of scientific and historical
investigation did not happen and that modern science poses no problems for a
literalistic interpretation of the Bible. Such people are quite happy to
accept and even use astronomy and physics, -when it shows that the universe
must have had a beginning-but not where it shows that the earth is very old
and part of an older universe. They accept geology, when geologists find the
oil that they can put into their cars. But they reject it when geologists
use the same techniques to show that the earth is 4.6 billion years old and
that life appeared on earth in stages and not all at once 6,000 years ago.
They accept biology, when it creates new crops and medicines and sends
criminals to jail through DNA evidence. But they reject biology when
biologists use the same analysis to show that modern forms of life evolved
from earlier forms of life and that in particular, humans and modern apes
share a common ancestor.
I believe that such a Christian is best deluded and at worst a hypocrite.
One cannot simply accept the parts of modern science that he or she likes
and reject the rest, simply because it conflicts with your interpretation of
the Bible. This attitude may win acceptance among like-minded Christians.
But the outside world will think that you are living in a fool's paradise,
and will think you no different from the person who asserts that the earth
is flat and immovable on the basis of Ps 96:10 and Isa. 11:12.
The second Christian understands that modern science has come to conclusions
about the physical world that make a simple, literal interpretation of
Genesis 1-11 impossible, and understands that new interpretations are
necessary, just as in the sixteenth century when it became clear through
science that the earth revolved around the sun and that Gen. 11:7, Josh.
10:13, Eccl. 5:1, and other passages could not be interpreted literally, as
indeed they were before Copernicus and Galileo. The ASA list serv is one
group where Christian scientists and nonscientists are trying to work out
such a new interpretation. Unfortunately, the first type of Christian has
continually accused quite a few of them of apostasy and worse. I would ask
that you consider the evidence and join the dialogue and help us on the list
serv work on these problems before rendering judgment.
Her are few excerpts from this dialogue that express the point more clearly
than I have.
(Good Stuff snipped)
These are not atheists or scoffers, but sincere, Bible believing Christians
who are truly concerned with wrestling with a difficult problem.
If this be skepticism or heresy, let there be more of it. We honor the Lord
of truth by dealing with it, not covering it up or by preferring the lies
that comfort us.
Shuan Rose, Attorney at Law
2632 N Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21218
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