To me, there is mystery in everything, and there are answers in everything. I think there’s more deception and misunderstanding than answers though, because we think we “know.” In reality we’ve only begun to know.
I’ve always loved reading. I wandered in the wilderness of books like a lost child. Almost everything that I learned about God or Jesus, came from books by atheists and Bible critics. All that I knew about creationism, I learned from evolutionists. My rebellion against God was against the image that his persecutors put into my mind. I had no idea that God was real or who he was, but the effect was the same.
The only thing that could change the wrong beliefs that I held, was Jesus on the cross. As I read the Bible, at first from a hostile view, I began to see it had been misrepresented to me by the atheists and evolutionists. Jesus fulfilled prophecy and a plan that only God could conceive and complete. God became a man, and when Jesus died, it was God dying for me and because of me. It was as if his suffering and death began to kill my mistrust of him.
Belief in evolution undermines trust in the Bible. I was taught in a science class that we have no souls, and that’s what I believed. It made a chaos of my teenage years. Nothing short of a miracle could have saved me, but that’s what I received. It is the Bible that shows that Jesus is the Messiah. The words of Jesus show that he accepted the book of Genesis.
One thing that helped me to believe Jesus, was realizing that we were all looking at the same facts. Different scientists interpret the facts differently based primarily upon the way they have been taught to see them. Then also, people see things the way they want to see them. Second Peter 3:3-6 foretells how modern geology would willfully misinterpret the evidence for the flood of Noah.
The very idea of evolution is to create a way to interpret everything without accepting God. I’ve been an evolutionist, and I’ve called myself an atheist. The reason I eventually accepted Creationism is because it’s the best explanation for everything. The reason I’ve ventured beyond “normal Churchianity” is that ‘s where the Bible leads me. Much that’s been taught by both secular and religious institutions is true , but not everything. Anywhere there’s a disagreement, there’s more to learn.
Congratulations. Now that you know that the truth of the Bible is real, do you need any help believing that Jesus meant what he said in John Chapter 6? I’m referring to Jesus’ real and true presence in the consecrated bread (Eucharist).
The conversation recorded in Chapter 6 of John is complex, and very deep. Your comment deserves a more detailed reply than I have time for at the moment. For the moment, I’ll just say that in whatever sense Jesus meant his words to be understood, I believe him. I feel fairly sure that I understand what he meant, but that’s where I would need time to explain. John 6:40, “This is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life…”
How does what you believe Jesus meant stack up against what those who knew Jesus or his apostles or disciples believed it to mean? I guess I’d encourage you to read the earliest Church Fathers. God bless.
Most scientist do agree on evolution. The evidence is indeed overwhelming for support it while the evidence to support “goddidit” isn’t very good at all.
While scientist
Jim,
Apparently, I didn’t receive your complete comment. The debate between Creation and Evolution is a great deal like a court case. For the most part, we are looking at the same evidence. Our interpretation of the evidence is where we differ the most.
Just as with a court case, sometimes the person in the right doesn’t win. Sometimes the best lawyer wins, and that’s often because they manage to suppress some critical bit of evidence. Evolutionists have excelled at being able to censor Creationism in some critical areas such as education.
That is why I said in this post, “Almost everything that I learned about God or Jesus, came from books by atheists and Bible critics. All that I knew about creationism, I learned from evolutionists.”
Why would you be reading outside books when you have the bible. Wouldn’t the bible (God’s word) be all you need?
I’ve studied evolution very thoroughly and I’ve listened to and studied the argument made by creationist. I’m afraid the creationist come up with some pretty laughable arguments. If you really think it comes down to the best lawyer. I would say the creationist need to get a lawyer and stop representing themselves. They’re doing terribly evidence wise.
For one example I heard recently..that atomic particles (like carbon) had their rates of decay changed during the flood. Do you see why creationist end up looking foolish now?
I’m not trying to poke fun, but in reality, most christians interpret the data just like most athiest do. As far as educational systems go, I say we go with what is pretty clear scientifically. I would say that’s evolution at this point. Do you have any really good argument for creationism? (I assume you’re a young earth creationist).
Jim,
The Bible was the last place that I expected to find the truth. I need to make a partial list of the books that I read before I read the Bible, and became a Christian. I think you would be surprised. I continue to read many different things, and I usually see how they fit with the Bible fairly quickly.
I would be classified as a young earth creationist. The strongest evidences that I know of for my position, are the earth’s sedimentary layers. I have two posts in the April archives called, “all the Mud.” I realize that I haven’t made my case yet, but I’m working on it. There is much more.
Spiritual truths must remain simple – so simple
that even the least amongst us will understand,
and having once understood, they’ll realize
they have the freedom to choose. All too often
the message comes across like an ultimatum.
We simply need to plant the seed
that only love can grow.
Peace to you,
Uncle Tree
(just another stick in the mud)