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UPCOMING EVENT; The Spring Creek church in Tomball will be hosting a Church Music Seminar starting Oct. 1. Details on fliers on table.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).

Over the centuries, the Bible has been examined in a multitude of ways. Words and texts have been dissected. Characters have been searched through contemporary historical accounts where they are available. Archaeology has searched through ancient texts and artifacts. The history of the church has been examine in any number of ways as well. The church over the centuries has faced numerous criticisms, some of it justified. The church has encouraged ungodly activity in any number of areas including slavery, the bias against Jews in Europe, wars, and the Inquisitions of dissenting views.

Yet through all of this, the Bible and the church remain. Corrections have been made. Scripture has been shown to be true. Recent Old Testaments discoveries concerning David is one such example. Much has been written concerning the evidences of scripture which include the resurrection of Jesus, miracles, and the accuracy of the Bible. Not everyone accepts the evidence. Some rejected based on biases and cultural influences. Others refuse to believe in God which is their choice. Any number take literal texts figuratively and figurative texts literally to criticize scripture and the church.

One thing that we see in all of this is that Christians are not afraid to have scripture and church history questioned. It makes us stronger, causes us to study deeper, and helps us work through issues concerning our faith and trust in God.

That however is not the case with other disciplines. Islam is one such area. Much is being said about this religion today. Recently, the President called some of the extremists in Islam Islamic-fascists and was criticized by many in Islam as well as others. When some in this religious group are questioned, they rationalize and justify actions many of us see as at least criminal. When critics point out what the Koran says, we are told that we are misrepresenting it or do not understand it. What is interesting is that the Koran does not have its critics in Islam as Christianity has had its critics among theologians and others. One defense against critics is that Koran must be read in Arabic to get the true meaning of it. When it is pointed out that Christians and Jews are to be considered second class citizens, we are told that we do not understand the meaning of those verses; yet we see time and again how other religious groups are treated in Islamic countries. When it is pointed out that women are horribly treated, other excuses are made. Anyone who criticizes Islam faces death threats in many places, charges of racism and profiling in free countries (1). The question of Islam is, if the Koran is true, why are you afraid to examine it in detail for its accuracy in history and theology? Most Muslims only know what their Imams teach them and do not read the Koran.

Another discipline that has similar difficulties in allowing decent is found in the scientific community and especially concerning the teaching of evolution. In several areas, the powers that be have opposed questioning evolution in any classroom: elementary, high school, and college. Teachers and professors who have challenged evolution have been threatened and/or fired. The State of Kansas was warned that if it continued to challenged evolution in any form, its high school classes would not be accepted at a college level. The question is, if evolution is true, why are there those who are afraid to have questions asked and challenges made, so that information can be clarified on the subject?

What we need to understand in this debate is that it is not science per se that is the problem. It is the philosophy of evolution that makes the challenge. For those who believe, and yes that is the right word, that evolution is true, their philosophy or religion is threatened by any outside source, especially by those who believe in God. Evolutionary philosophy is a religion and the "high priests" of that religion do not allow challenges. Their basic philosophy is that man is an animal, man is an accident, and that only the fittest survive. Christians see things differently. We believe that human have been created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). As such, we are valuable, not an accident or afterthought or animal. We can think and reason and are moved to help others in compassionate ways. Of course, we can also be very destructive as human beings. We recognize that God is King and rules the universe.

The conflict between evolutionists or Darwinians and Christians are found in the above areas. Because of that, as Christians, we believe that we need God to save us because we just make a mess of everything. The evolutionary philosophy offers no hope other than what man can accomplished, and so they again emphasize the survival of the fittest, not the weakest, as emphasized in the Bible. That is why there are concerns about experiments in human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and many other areas. While we need to be careful what we compare this to, the research on human beings by the Nazis was condemned by all. One wonders why some want to go back to such ideas.

These ideas of only one view being presented are a challenge for all of us. Back in the late 1800s, David Lipscomb, editor of the Gospel Advocate, often allowed different points of view to be presented with the idea that people were quite able to decide for themselves (2). Much has changed since then and part of it comes from disagreements we see in our own culture. Whether politics, religion, or some other discipline, disagreement is seen as an attack, name calling as a defense, and little or no willingness to understand any view. Mark Pinsky is a religion writer in Florida and a liberal Jew. He grew up in New Jersey and has lived on both coasts before moving to Florida. His view of evangelicals was what he read in newspapers by people who knew little or nothing personally about evangelicals, and only saw them by what rather famous television and radio preachers said. Now he lives in a neighborhood with evangelicals and he has learned that they are not monolithic. Rather, there is a diversity of opinion in this community (3).

Again the question arises, if what we say is true, why are we afraid to have our views questioned and challenged? Will it not make us study more, draw us closer to God, and deepen our faith? Next time we are tempted to label someone because they do not see things the way we do, maybe we need to stop and ask some questions. What brings you to this understanding? How does it affect other ideas and beliefs we have? What if we do not agree, can we still be in fellowship with each other? Is it worth dividing over or can we view things differently? "Make EVERY EFFORT to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3, my emphasis). It does take effort to maintain unity and humility is something we all need. Jesus is Lord and so we must be careful how we treat others.

George B. Mearns

(1) One professor called it perpetual outrage.

(2) see John Mark Hicks and Bobby Valentine, Kingdom Come, Leafwood Publishers, 2006, chapter 11.

(3) Mark I. Pinsky, A Jew Among The Evangelicals, WJK, 2006.