RE: [asa] Creation-Fall-Restoration Paradigm and Pragmatic Questions

The same pragmatic questions might be asked about, at what point is it (or
isn't it) hypocrisy to read or teach Bible stories of creation and Noah's
flood to children (or adults), if one doesn't believe that those stories
represent anything like a literal truth as they are normally presented? In
an adult class setting, is it hypocritical to be silent about one's
alternative views on these subjects, or is it wiser not to speak up in order
to avoid causing offense?
 
I found myself in the situation to a small degree just a week ago in a
Sunday School class, in a conversation with a church member who was praising
the Creation Museum and talking about how silly it was that creation could
be so ancient. It wasn't the time or place for a long argument, so I just
made a passing comment that whether the universe is old or young, it doesn't
affect the truth of it being created by God. Given a little more time and
interest on the individual's part, I would have gone on to a few other
things.
 
 
Jon Tandy
 

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of David Opderbeck
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 11:50 AM
To: AmericanScientificAffiliation
Subject: [asa] Creation-Fall-Restoration Paradigm and Pragmatic Questions

I was recently speaking with a pastor who's starting a really neat group
study on the Church's social responsibility. He is working in a fairly
conservative evangelical context, but is admirably (IMHO) trying to get away
from the "culture war" mentality. His study is a broad one, following the
familiar "creation-fall-restoration" theme starting with the creation
narratives in scripture.
 
So here is a question related to recent discussions here: do we need to
feel uncomfortable with this paradigm generally, if we're asking questions
about exactly what "fall" and "restoration" might mean outside a YEC
context? Is it hypocritical to affirm and support a study using this
paradigm if you would have to do some major nuancing of what "fall" and
"restoration" mean -- or even if you might prefer a term like "completion"
to "restoration?" (I don't think the study in question, BTW, deals with YEC
or any other such specific questions -- I think it focuses more on the "what
does this mean spiritually" kind of theme). If you are blessed, or cursed
as the case may be, with the need and means to ponder such questions, do you
flag it as a question, or let it go and participate without raising it?
When does harboring private reservations turn into hypocrisy or even
unbelief?

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Received on Wed Sep 5 13:27:01 2007