The Cruel Side of Nature

A dead cow in Nevada.

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.  -The Apostle Paul

 

“A Just Idea of the Creator”

There are two reasons to appreciate the quote from Basil.  First, he recognizes the role of the natural world in informing our imagination so that we are able to think appropriately about God.   The Scriptures are full of the imagery of the visible to help us grasp the invisible. Part of the problem why modern Christians are not able to worship God with the same piousness and sentiment as David is that we are insulated from the beauty of nature God has given to us to show forth His glory and majesty.   Above us, the skies are chopped up by jet trails, power lines, and blocked by incongruous buildings.   The earth is covered in concrete; black landscapes of parking lots with painted lines spotted with oil.  The music of creation is obscured by the drone of traffic and the constant mind numbing growl of man’s machines.  The night sky, the most glorious natural sight mankind has ever witnessed, is obscured by city lights.  It is easy for us to forget our Benefactor.  It is easy to forget someone when we are unfamiliar with His work.  Our bellies are full and our houses are safe but our souls are empty and in danger.   May God give us thankful hearts so that we may see the work of His hands.

The second reason to appreciate these words is the understanding of the relationship between proper worship of God as the Creator and the avoidance of sin.   When we perceive the natural world as hieroglyphics of the glory and majesty of God and our daily food as instances of His goodness and compassion, our minds will be occupied with thoughts of thankfulness and worship of God and we will be growing in our ability to fulfill the exhortation of the Apostle Paul…

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things   Philippians 4:8

A Christian Aesthetic: Awe and Wonder

One of the obsessions of modern science is to show the similarities between mankind and animals.   There have been some humorous speculations in this field of study.  I recently read of some researchers claiming that monkeys doing dances at waterfalls were an expression of awe and wonder at the beauty they witnessed.  It seems to me that although these researchers may be experts in animal behavior, they have little understanding of human behavior.   The truth is that the entire study of human reactions to beauty is only now just beginning.   If science cannot explain mankind’s reaction to beauty, or even why they find something beautiful, how can they claim to find these answers in the reactions of animals?  This seems to be a great example of the arrogance of modernist thinking.

You are probably not going to learn the human reactions to beauty from books or research journals.  This is the realm of painters, sculptors and other artists, not academics.

Mesa Falls was only a few miles from our home in Eastern Idaho.   Over several years, we were able to witness hundreds of people from differing cultures, nationalities and backgrounds stand at the precipice of the falls overlooking a panorama of beauty and wonder.  The beauty was much more than visual.  There was the thundering of the river crashing on the rocks, the smell of the forest, and the feel of the misty spray of the river on the skin.  Their reactions might surprise you.  It was silence.  No outburst of joy or silly dances; most people would stand expressionless while contemplating the great beauty before them.   They received nothing from the falls and no physical needs were met.   To the people standing there, the falls were completely useless.   But as many have said before, there is nothing more useful than something that is completely useless.

Whether some people think they can perceive the reaction of awe and wonder in animals is inconsequential.  The point is that evolutionary biology has no explanation for the useless that mankind, for its entire existence, has seen as so useful.

Awe and wonder help us see past our physical senses and see what man has seen for thousands of years.

Job said over 3500 years ago…

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? Job 12:7-10

John Chrysostom on Creation: Romans 1

Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of Him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things which are made.”

Which also the prophet said, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” For what will the Greeks say in that day? That “we were ignorant of Thee?” Did ye then not hear the heaven sending forth a voice by the sight, while the well-ordered harmony of all things spake out more clearly than a trumpet? Did ye not see the hours of night and day abiding unmoved continually, the goodly order of winter, spring, and the other seasons remaining both sure and unmoved, the tractableness  of the sea amid all its turbulence and waves? All things abiding in order and by their beauty and their grandeur, preaching aloud of the Creator? For all these things and more than these doth Paul sum up in saying, “The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things which are made, even His eternal Power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” And yet it is not for this God hath made these things, even if this came of it. For it was not to bereave them of all excuse, that He set before them so great a system of teaching, but that they might come to know Him. But by not having recognized Him they deprived themselves of every excuse…    John Chrysostom: Homily III on Romans

“This is My Father’s World”

Animal Death Before the Fall

In the standard picture of biological evolution embraced by BioLogos there exists insurmountable evidence of death before the Fall. Humans appear very late in the history of life, so the fossil record clearly shows that many creatures died before humans appeared. In fact, compelling evidence exists that many entire species had already become extinct. Dinosaurs are the most famous example, but there are thousands of others. However, the curse of Genesis 3 was that Adam and Eve, and not animals, should die. Therefore, the animal death that BioLogos acknowledges is entirely compatible with Christian doctrine.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

This statement by BioLogos alters the very character and nature of God and challenges man’s basic understanding of goodness.   In Gen 1:31 God looks over everything He has made and declares it very good.   Natural selection is the cruelest to the weak and the helpless, while our God is compassionate to the weak and helpless.   Our world has been ravaged by the effects of sin, but there is hope.

Romans 8:20-22 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;  because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

In this image, BioLogos sees the creative work of God.   I see a creation that is subjected to futility because of Adam’s sin, and groaning to be released from bondage.

BTW, I have enjoyed following the discussion at Pyromaniacs and Grace to You.  They are doing the Lord’s work.

Photo by: J.B.Martin

Please check out his excellent photography of upstate New York!

Beautiful!

A Christian Aesthetic: Timelessness

A few months ago, while attending a large Evangelical conference for Pastors, I heard the main speaker make this comment:

“The more timeless something is, the more I like it.”

Of course I was surprised to hear a gem like this from a leading Evangelical, but that is besides the point.  The point is that timelessness is an important quality for Christians to “like.”  I believe that the reason this man has learned to appreciate timelessness is that he has a deep love for the person of God.   His love for God is fundamentally founded in appreciating the character and nature of God, not how God makes him feel.

In the many passages of worship of God found throughout the scriptures, the quality of timelessness is seen as a reason to glorify God.

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

So in an age of fickle sentiments and vacillating affections, and an Evangelical Christianity obsessed with chasing every new fad, a healthy Christian aesthetic should be characterized by an appreciation for timelessness.  As a Christian grows in love for God he will grow in his love for timeless things.   As he learns to value timelessness he will grow in his ability to value the person of God.

Suggestion for growth in this area:   Dump American Idol and pick up a book on wild flowers.  Learn the names and locations of the rare and beautiful flowers in your neck of the woods.  They are as beautiful as the day they were created and declared good by God.  Learn to appreciate beauty that is not bound by popular culture that changes with every generation.  The beauty of wild flowers is timeless and transcends all cultures and generations because their beauty reflects the quality of their Creator.  The majesty of God is forever.

Designed to Teach

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you;  or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this,  in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?

Job 12:7-10

Whom among us is listening?   Do modern Christians live as if their breath is from God?  Who counsels their brother or sister with these words?

“God Saw That It Was Good”

Since the development of old earth geology followed by the advance of evolutionary biology, Christians have been under pressure to resolve the apparent differences between modern science and the Biblical account of the origins of the world.  An example of this attempt can be found here.

I believe the combination of old earth geology and evolutionary biology has been a near fatal wound and the root cause for the drastic decline of Christian influence in Western Civilization.   Some Christians have tried to mitigate the blow of old earth geology and evolutionary biology by seeking to demonstrate their compatibility with the Christian Scriptures.   I believe these attempts have hurt Christianity and have exacerbated the problem.

This debate has much farther reaching implications than the interpretation of the first few chapters of Genesis.   This debate cuts to the heart of the entire Christian world view and even the character of God.

This is a picture of a cow elk killed by a pack of wolves.   What took place to this cow elk is truly horrific.  After being chased by wolves, usually for about two hours, the cow elk gives up out of sheer exhaustion.  One wolf holds the cow elk by the nose while the other wolves rip out the unborn calf through the birth canal.   They then proceed to eat the unborn calf.  All of this is done while the cow elk is still alive.  There are reports that sometimes the cow elk is not eaten, but just left to bleed to death.

According to Christians who combine evolutionary biology and Christianity, this horrific picture is a result of the creative work of God not the effects of sin brought into the world by Adam.   Actually, my description of this event as “horrific” would be incorrect.  I should describe the scene as “good” “pleasant” or “agreeable.”

The problem with a Christian believing in old earth geology and evolutionary biology is that they are obligated to call “good” “pleasant” and “agreeable,” the horrific effects of sin on this world.

The Disinterested Love for God: Part Three – Psalm 104

Part One

Part Two

Psalm 104 is an example of disinterested love for God.   Psalm 104 is a glaring light that exposes Christianity’s inability to exhibit proper affection towards God.

When it comes right down to it, we do not know the God of Psalm 104.   The sentiment expressed in the Psalm is as foreign to us as a language that we do not know how to speak.

In Psalm 104, David is not thinking about himself.  David’s thoughts are completely focused on God and His creative works.  David correctly recognizes that we have insight into the character and nature of God through His creation.   In Psalm 19, David says “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”  David dedicates the entire 104th Psalm to worshiping God based on Who He is as demonstrated by His creative acts.

Psalm 104 begins with an expression of praise…

“Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty”

David then proceeds to contemplate the creative works of God.  He writes of the foundations of the earth and the boundaries of the oceans.  He writes of mountain springs that flow into valleys and give drink to wild animals and provide shelter for birds along its banks.  He praises God for the vegetation of the earth and how it provides food for cattle and men.   He continues to write of fir trees, storks, wild goats, rock chucks, the seasons of the moon, the setting of the sun, lions at night, and the labors of men in the day.

Psalm 104:24 “O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions”

David concludes his thoughts with this expression…

Psalm 104:34 “May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.”

David finds great pleasure in God.  The ability to “be glad in the LORD” has been lost in modern Christianity.   Yes, we know about the God of David, but we do not feel about Him as David felt.   This is no small problem especially in light of the greatest commandment to love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

There are two main reasons for this problem in Christianity.  First, our culture is disturbingly and increasingly self-absorbed.   It is losing or has completely lost the ability to take pleasure in something for its own sake.  Everything, and I mean everything, is viewed in relationship to ourselves.  Art galleries are no longer about art, but investments.   What makes a piece of art valuable is not the art itself, but what number it is in a series.  Popular music is not about intrinsic meaning or quality, but about the emotions it awakens within us.  Once the music no longer produces the desired emotion, the music loses its value.  This attitude is so prevalent in our culture, it is difficult to find an exception.  As Christians continue to seek to speak the language of our culture, the more desperate the condition of American Christianity will be.

Secondly, modern man has become increasingly alienated from God’s creation.   This is most clearly demonstrated in modern cities.  Who meditates on the foundations of the earth and the boundaries of the oceans? (Snore) Who thinks on mountain springs that flow through valleys and the wild animals that it sustains?  (A waste of time) Who even knows what a rock badger is? (Odd)  Who thanks God for the rain that waters the grain to make the bread and provide feed for the cattle as he sits to eat at Applebee’s?  (Pretentious)

It is no wonder we do not love David’s God the way David did.

New Life

Romans 8:19   For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.