PD> From an TE or creationist perspective, does
> this verse tell us that:
>
> 3. that Christ's preeminant power holds all
> things together as opposed to natural
> processes?
LH>I would put it this way: The fact that Christ's preeminant power holds
>all things together is the REASON we see regular, "natural" processes.
"But when man sinned, he introduced a disruptive element which has so
upset the mechanism in certain areas that God must now intervene
redemptively to maintain it against a total breakdown. In these areas
natural science will find itself up against imponderables with which it
is not equipped to deal, for here God is at work in a supernatural way."
Arthur C. Constance, Science and Faith, Academie Books, 1978.
What are your thoughts WRT the general creationist perspective that
Christ's "holding all things together" is actually related to the need
to restrain the general disintegration of His "good" creation from the
supernatural effects of sin?
Many creationists believe that man's fall, and the resultant effects of
sin in general, started supernatural processes that need to be partially
or wholly restrained until Christ's redemptive work for His creation is
complete. Christ's "holding together" referenced in Col 1:15-17 points
to that intervention.
Of course, this presupposes that the Bible teaches a complete
uncorrupted creation at some point in time. Hence, Christ's current
supernatural intervention would not be viewed as creative in nature, but
rather it would be redemptive or sustaining.
If creationists are wrong, then I believe that TE must answer several
questions ... i.e. how to account for regular, destructive "natural"
processes in Christ's good creation and what natural processes are in
fact sufficient to provide the "holding together" required?
How do "natural" TE "creative" processes account for the holding
together of all creation and against what forces?
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Rv:4:11: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for
thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
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Paul Durham
Oakland, Maryland
pdd@gcc.cc.md.us