Where Did We Come From
This lesson is not a lecture on Biblical Creationism but is an examination of the battle of naturalistic philosophy worldview and the Christian worldview and why it is important for Christians to be informed.
Review
We defined world view as the sum of our total believe about the world, the “Big Picture” that directs our daily decision and actions.
Worldview has to answer three questions:
1. Where did we COMEfrom and WHOare we?
2. What has gone WRONG. (What’s my problem, what’s your problem?)
3. What can we do to FIXthe PROBLEM?
Genuine Christianity has a way of seeing and comprehending all reality! It is a worldview
- The creation account answers the questions where did we come from and who are we.
Read Genesis 1 and John 1:1-14
- The fall answers what has gone wrong.
Read Genesis 3
- God plan is to redeem the world.
Genesis 3:21
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The Problem
- The modern world owes much to science and technology.
- Every day of our lives are enriched and made easier by the discoveries, inventions, and products that have been developed by thousands of brilliant and well-meaning men and women.
- As long as science and technology function within proper limits, they are of God’s greatest blessings.
- But when they exceedtheir limitsand reach into areas typically left for such disciplines as theology, philosophy, and ethics, then real problemscan ensue.
Read / Paraphrase Dave Mulholland’s story. (See attached PDF)
- What place does God have in the scientific worldview according to Dave & Katy’s story?
- Katy’s view of religion in relation to science was . . ?
- Describe Dave’s ability to talk with his daughter about the biblical perspectives of what they heard and say.
Where did we Come From?
The dominate view in our culture today is radically one-dimensional: that this life is all there is, and nature is all we need to explain everything that exists.
Every worldview has to begin somewhere, has to begin with a theory of how the universe began
At this point if might be beneficial for you to show a portion of “Inherit the Wind”. This 1960 film is a fictionalized account of the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial, which resulted in John T. Scopes' conviction for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to a high school science class, contrary to a Tennessee state law that prohibited the teaching of anything besides creationism. You can find it on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtNdYsoool8.
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Naturalistic scientists try to give the impression that they are fair-minded minded and objective, implying that religion people are subjective and biased in favor of their personal beliefs. - But this is a ruse, for naturalism is as much a philosophy, a worldview, a personal believe system as any religion is.
- Naturalism begins with premises that cannot be tested empirically, such as the assumption that nature is “all that is or ever will be”, a statement from the popular science program Cosmos.
- This is not a scientific statement, there is not conceivable way it could be tested. IT IS A PHILOSOPHY.
Carl Sagan’s trademark phrase “The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be” is used by Sagan to capitalize on liturgical forms. Sagan has led the charge in the presentation of a naturalistic philosophy presented in a liturgical form. Let me list some examples of how Sagan promotes science in the couch of religion.
Christians
- The Christians sing Gloria Patri: Glory be to Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end
- Christians capitalize the name for God.
- Christians are called the children of God in throughout the Bible, for example 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, . . .
- Christians declare that we have come from God: Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
Sagan
- The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be. Notice that Sagan uses a cadence to the cosmos and
- Sagan capitalizes the word “Cosmos.” A clear indication that he is gripped by religious fervor.
- Sagan teaches that “we are, in the most profound sense, children of the Cosmos.”
- Sagan says “Some part of our being knows this (outer space) is from where we came. We long to return.”
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Christians teach we have a moral duty before God. Deuteronomy 6:5-6 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding your today, shall be on your heart.”
- The God of the Bible teaches how we can be saved: Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
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Sagan says: “Our matter, our form, and much of our character is determined by the deep connection between life and the Cosmos.” And in return we have a moral duty to the cosmos. It is an “obligation to survive” an obligation we owe “to that Cosmos, ancient and vast, from which we spring.” - Sagan teaches that survival has nothing to do with moral failings but with pollution, war, and food shortages. Salvation is found in technological advances that will come to pass as man evolves. Sagan says “The receipt of a single message from space would show that is possible to live through such technological adolescence” for it would prove that an advanced race has survived the same stage and gone on to maturity.
If this isn’t a vision of salvation, what is ? The cosmos will speak to us. It is there and it is not silent. Is there any more poignant example of why Christians need to learn how to argue persuasively against naturalism?
- The Christian must be ready to separate genuine science from philosophy.
- Evolution, as it is typically presented in textbooks and museums, confuses the two, presenting as “science” what is actually naturalistic philosophy.
- Indeed, many secular scientist insist that only naturalistic explanations quality as science.
- Our first task, then, before we can even expect to be heard, is to shatter that grid, to break that stereotype.
- We must convince people that the debate is not about the Bible verses science.
- The debate is about pursuing an unbiased examination of the scientific facts and following those facts where they may lead.
- We must challenge the assumption that science by definition means naturalist philosophy.
- In what ways did Carl Sagan’s Cosmos attempt to provide a substitute for the Christian Religion?
- In what ways are American today being encouraged to believe in science as a religion?
Intro to Christian Creation Account
- The Christian worldview begins with the Creation, with a deliberateact by a personal Being who existed from all eternity.
- This personal dimension is crucial for understanding Creation.
- Before bringing the world into existence, the Creator made a choice, a decision; He set a plan, an intelligent design.
According the Apostle Paul’s writing, this design, which gives the world it formand structure, is evident to all.
Romans 1:19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
How?
In the form and complexity of the work he made:
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
- Even unbelievers know somewhere deep within them that God must exist.
- Therefore, “they are without excuse” (Rom.1:20).
- In other words, Paul teaches that those who look honestly at the world around them should be able to conclude that it was created by an intelligent Being.
Of course what follows needs to be a detailed explanation of the creation account from a Christian perspective. This is beyond the scope of this series. I would advise you encourage your class to visit Answers in Genesis at www.answersingenesis.orgfor further information.