Creation and Evolution - a good article

This article is found on "Calvin Institute for Worship" website.

In it Scott Hoezee, who is the Director of Calvin Seminary's "Centre for Excellence in Preaching", cautions: "that preachers who ignore or disrespect scientific findings often alienate Christian scientists and educated young people. The more we set science and faith against each other, the more God looks capricious. You end up worshiping a God who seems quite content to trick you with stars or dinosaur bones that only look old."

There are some great resources and audio clips at the end of this article.

Creation and Evolution RESOURCES

Just came across a great resource. This is extremely helpful!!! http://www.faithaliveonline.org/origins/. This is a website that gives further resources behind each chapter of the book entitled "Origins: A Reformed Look at Creation, Design, and Evolution." Debra Haarsma co-authored, is a prof. at Calvin College. And Faith Alive publishes this book. This gives us an indication of how much Creation by Evolution is gaining acceptance in the CRC. The last part of the website is questions Christians ask: "but what about....?" Here's an example:

Would humans be less significant if God created us through common ancestry with animals rather than through special miracles?

"The idea of human evolution raises concerns about human significance. If we evolved from animals, are we nothing more than animals? Even if humans share a common ancestry with apes and other animals, our line of descent diverged from other animals at some point. Something differ- ent happened in our line of descent that did not happen to apes or other animals, something that makes us unique among life forms on earth.

Our significance, however, does not primarily lie in our biological uniqueness but in how God chooses to relate to us. In Genesis 1-2 God...."

I BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE WORLD, part 2

To listen to the message "I believe God Created the World, part 2", click here.

If people are interested in diving deeper, I recommend the book "Creation or Evolution: Do we have to Choose?", written by Denis Alexander. FYI: this book is endorsed by the likes of: J.I. Packer (says that this is the clearest and best informed, and fairest treatment on this topic that you can find), and Francis Collins (says its brilliant and highly readable).

Also a website, of which you can just poke around and find books, DVDs, podcasts on various topics - www.testoffaith.com. On this website you find a book that is meant for small groups who want to study this in further detail, and a DVD film that is meant to introduce you to the book - interviews with people who write chapters in the book.

Both the book and the website come at this from the same angle that I am endorsing: in the end, the bible does not rule out either option (young earth nor old earth) - the bible doesn't even rule out that humans (who are created in the image of God) had evolutionary forebears. Therefore, we should have no fear of examining - with respect - the best Science brings forward.

I BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE WORLD, part 2

If you listened to part 1 of God created the world, what in your opinion should be addressed in part 2? I want the starting point this week to be Colossians 1:15ff. and John 1. Jesus is the creative agent of creation, he is the designer, the way things work in this world is the actualization of his imagination.

What do you think of Intelligent Design? I am tending to agree with some who say that Intelligent Design is another version of "god of the gaps" - in that we take whatever Scientists can't explain (irreducible complexity) and we use this as proof of God. Seems to me to be a dangerous idea (as soon as the good work of science explains what you've been pointing to, you God is gone). Delighting in unexplainable phenomena as proof of God seems non-sensical. Because in the end, don't we delight in everything as created by God, even what Scientists have been able to explain? And if Scientists can't presently explain something, does that change anything? Doesn't it just mean they haven't yet been able to describe the details of the actualization of Jesus' imagination.

dan

I BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE WORLD, part 1

to listen to "I believe God created the Word, part 1", click here.

I BELIEVE GOD CREATED THE WORLD, part 1

Moving on to new topic - preaching two sermons on Creation, starting next Sunday. This being part of our "Faith Roots in the Public Square" series, it's only appropriate that we take seriously Evolution and Science. So....any thoughts on this? What do you think should be addressed? Right now I'm looking at a few different Scriptural starting points: the Genesis creation story, and Jesus declaration in Revelation that he is the "Alpha and the Omega" - the beginning and the end. Another passage would be John 1 - "in him nothing was made that was made". Any other Scriptures come to mind? What do you think must be addressed by somebody who is going to preach on Creation in today?

"I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, part 2"

To listen to "I believe in One God, part 2", click here.