September 21, 2011

  • Divine Purpose

    "The Creation model (as presented in Genesis) is built on the premise of divine purpose. God designed the material universe from subatomic particles to galactic clusters with exacting standards. God created order – order can no more create itself than material reality could create itself. Reality consists of more than the material universe. God created humans as part biology and part spirit. Our likeness to God can be seen in our spiritual nature. This includes our creativity, morality, humor, altruism, and various other characteristics we attribute to God as well as human kind. We have purpose and the free will to accept or turn from that purpose. Man was designed for life, but death came upon man through sin. Eternal life is the gift God seeks to give to all who will seek Him, accept His love and repent of their sin.

    Even without benefit of scripture, a reasonable objective survey of the natural world leads to the conclusion that there must be some sort of intelligent designer. This designer must be responsible for establishing cosmic order and development of life as we currently have it. This mind must be unrestrained by time or material reality yet must be capable of manipulating both."

    See Lance Ponder:  http://divinelogos.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/creative-science-39-christianity-and-creation/

    While my friend Lance and I disagree on the historicity of the literal time line presented in the Genesis account of the creation of "the heavens and the earth,"  we are in complete agreement with regard to creation by intelligent design AND the fact that Our Creator has a divine purpose for creating mankind in His own image.

Comments (4)

  • You've been very generous of late and I thank you. Though in truth you are always generous and that is to be applauded.

    I was unaware we have different understandings of the historicity of Genesis. I was unaware there was even a question of its historicity. Though I would of course like to move you toward agreement in that area also, I am thankful as always for the common ground we already share. God bless you, brother.

  • @FKIProfessor - Good to hear from you, Brother.  Our difference of opinion is centered in the literal interpretation of the timeline of creation as presented in Genesis 1 - 3.  I hold to a more figurative interpretation of that timeline.  And I want to assure you I do not believe Jesus ever lied!  I do believe His frame of reference was and is infinite, and that He spoke and even now speaks truth finitely, as appropriate to his audience's potential ability to comprehend.

    By the way, the fact I don't completely accept the Creation model does not mean I hold to the Evolution model.  I'm still seeking deeper understanding as the Lord wills me to have it.  At the moment I'm seeing a glimpse of God as the Supreme Genetic Engineer progressively completing His Creation of man in His own image.   Having completed the physical aspects of man, He is working on the spiritual.  I see His only begotten Son, Jesus, as the Great Prototype and I am wholly desirous of being transformed into His Image.  In other words, I prefer the Metamorphosis model even though I have yet to see it constructed or presented as a worthy alternative.

  • @onjerusalemhill - Jerry, I hope I did not imply that your position was supportive of Darwinian evolution. As to variations of the theistic evolution (taking Gen 1-3 as non-literal, such as with framework theology or like that), while I find such positions untenable I do not condemn any who hold them. That said, I will share the reasoning for the literal position with anyone interested in it.

  • "This designer must be responsible for establishing cosmic order and
    development of life as we currently have it. This mind must be
    unrestrained by time or material reality yet must be capable of
    manipulating both." Amen!

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