The Genesis Debate
From what a lot of my non-Christian friends tell me, one major stumbling block to them believing in God and the Bible, is the whole creation issue. Evolution, God creating the world in 6 days, and then resting on the 7th. etc. etc. It just doesn't seem to tie up with what science tells us. Or does it?We just started our series of Bible studies on Genesis at PUNJ, and I really have so many burning questions. Truly, Genesis is probably one of the most intriging books in the Bible (to me la at least). We're using this book for our Bible Study 'Beyond Eden' by Phillip Jensen & Tony Payne, and the introduction to this series of studies has whet my appetite for more. Let me share with you a few paragraphs...
"When we approach the first book of the Bible, and especially its first few chapters, there are always questions on our lips. Were the seven days of creation seven, 24-hour days? Does the order of creation square with modern theories about the evolution of species? Is there basic conflict between Science and Christianity? Is this creation account a space-time event or a myth intended to convey a purely religious meaning?
There has been fierce controversy. The Atheists hurl barbs at the 'head in sand' Creationists. The Creationists retaliate by exploiting gaps in evolutionary theory. Other Christians distance themselves from the Creationists, arguing that the integrity of Genesis can be maintained without a 24-hour day, 4004 BC creation. And it goes on. More importantly, in evengelism, we trade arguments about carbon dating and the latest in archaeological finds, and Jesus is lost in a sea of quasi-scientific confusion.
As we begin to study Genesis, we cannot help but have these concerns in our minds- concerns that owe more to biology and astronomy than the Bible.
While these questions are certainly legitimate, we must take care that they do not obscure the real message of Genesis. The key to all good research, including Bible research, is asking the right questions. If we try to find answers to our questions in Genesis- questions that Genesis does not answer- our search will be fruitless. We do not consult a street directory to find phone numbers. Nor should we consult Genesis to find answers to questions it is not the least concerned to the answer.
Moreover, if we are too obsessed with modern controversy we may overlook the searching questions that Genesis is asking us. These are questions of far greater moment than the details of some primeval chemical reaction. They are questions about the very nature of our lives. Does life have meaning? Do we, as persons have meaning? Should we think of ourselves as 'persons', or merely as apes that have learned to walk? But more of that in due time."
Fascinating. It's only gonna get more interesting from here.
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