How do we overcome what went wrong in the world?

HOW DO WE OVERCOME WHAT WENT WRONG IN THE WORLD?

I would like you to consider a Biblical Worldview as we explore how to regain your value in a world, as we struggle between two opposing forces in life: good and evil.

We can’t have a discussion of worldview without talking about whether there is a God. However, before we start our discussion about whether there is a God, we need to go back to the beginning.

HOW DID ALL THIS BEGIN?

What Beginning, you ask? “The Beginning”, when our world began. When people came into existence. Now, this is where things get interesting, because there are different beliefs about how that happened.

BIG BANG?

One of the most common explanations for how the world began is the big bang theory.  This theory says that the world began with a big bang and created everything in the universe.  The theory continues by explaining that the earth that was formed in the big bang contained a primordial soup in which life was formed. Then that life, transformed eventually into plants, animals and then human beings. 

?QUESTIONS?

An important question regarding this theory is how did the matter in the big bang theory come into existence?

Another important question regarding the big bang theory is how did the placement of planets especially earth, come to be in an alignment that was perfect for human life?  If the earth was further away from the sun, everything would be frozen, and any closer to the sun and we would be burnt up.

Regarding the formation of life on earth, out of the primordial soup, what are the chances of all the elements needed for life could be randomly found in the proper configuration for life to begin?

Once life was formed, what are the chances of simple forms of life mutating into more complex forms of life and those forms of life mutating into the life that we have now?  Did we really evolve from apes?

It appears that those who believe these “theories” are exercising faith. However, I have questions about the reliability of the evidence they use to inform their faith.

ANOTHER WAY TO EXPLAIN HOW IT ALL BEGAN

There are other ways of explaining how our world and life on earth came into existence.

One of the most powerful line of thinking about how everything began is called Intelligent Design. There are many respected scientists who propose that if there is a design to the universe and all life in the universe then logically there would be a Designer.

What leads scientists to believe there is a design?  There are many examples of design. Designs can be seen in both the macroscopic world as well as the microscopic world. The designs in the macroscopic world includes: the immensity of the universe-stars, planets and galaxies with their specific orbital patterns. The designs in the microscopic world include: the intricacies of the DNA/RNA structure of plants, animals and human beings.

FAITH AND SCIENCE ARE COMPATABLE

The intellectual foundation for combining faith and science has been expanding each year as we make new discoveries.

One author put it this way, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse.”

Lee Strobel in The Case for a Creator, lays out the case for a creator using scientific evidence from the fields of cosmology, physics, astronomy, biochemistry, DNA research and the study of human consciousness.

Allan Sandage, the renowned cosmetologist stated, “It was my science that drove me to the conclusion that the world is much more complicated than can be explained by science. It was only through the supernatural that I can understand the mystery of existence.”

Even Galileo had an aphorism- “Science tells you how the heavens go, and the Bible tells you how to go to heaven.”

Stephen Meyer, geophysicist states, “…Scientific evidence actually supports theistic belief. In fact, across a wide range of sciences, evidence has come to light in the last fifty years which, taken together, provides a robust case for theism. Only theism can provide an intellectually satisfying causal explanation for all this evidence. Science done right, points toward God.” Science and faith are not at war. When scientific evidence and biblical teaching are properly interpreted, they can and do support each other.

Meyer goes on to point out areas of evidence that proves his point. The Big Bang and its accompanying theoretical underpinnings in general relativity, point out the definite beginning of the universe. Anthropic fine tuning – the fundamental laws and constants mathematically combine in an incredible way to make life in the universe possible. If the expansion rate of the universe is altered at all, life in the universe would not be possible. Next, he observes the origin of life and the information to make life possible leads to the causal entity capable of producing information- namely intelligence. In addition, he affirms the design in complex molecular and biological systems that defy the proposed natural selection process.

One renowned cosmetologists William Lane Craig developed the kalam cosmological argument introduced by Muslim theologian al-Ghazali who highlighted that, “Whatever begins to exist has a cause. The universe began to exist. Therefore, the universe has a cause.” Craig elaborates on what can be deduced about the cause. “A cause of space and time must be an uncaused, beginningless, timeless, spaceless, immaterial, personal being endowed with freedom of will and enormous power, and that is the concept of God.”

He went on to elaborate on the two explanations of a cause- scientific and personal. “…there cannot be a scientific explanation of the first state of the universe.  Since it is the first state, it simply cannot be explained in terms of earlier initial conditions and natural laws leading up to it.  So, if there is an explanation of the first state of the universe, it has to be a personal explanation – that is, an agent who has volition to create it.” Craig adds that another reason it is personal; since it transcends space and time, therefore being an immaterial reality- an unembodied mind would have brought the universe into existence. And finally, a personal agent would have freedom of will and could say, “Let there be light” and the universe could spring into existence.

Scientists have been questioning the reliability of the Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.

Jonathan Wells, a molecular & cellular biologist from Cal-Berkeley found that the Haeckel’s embryo drawings that reportedly proved a common ancestry of fish, salamander, tortoise, chicken, hog, calf, rabbit and human were faked and he was discredited by his colleagues.

Wells concludes, “I believe science is pointing strongly toward design. To me as a scientist, the development of an embryo cries out, “Design!” The Cambrian explosion- the sudden appearance of complex life, with no evidence of ancestors- is more consistent with design than evolution. Similarity across species, in my opinion, is more compatible with design…. When you analyze all of the most current evidence from cosmology, physics, astronomy, biology , and so forth- well, I think you’ll discover that the positive case for an Intelligent designer becomes absolutely compelling.”

Even the claim that humans evolved from apes using the “Java man” was discredited by Sir Arthur Keith, prominent Cambridge University anatomist and nineteen other evolutionist.

Michael Bebe, a biochemist, who explains the science of the living cell concludes, “My conclusion can be summed up in a single word: design,” “I say that based on science. I believe that an irreducibly complex systems are strong evidence of a purposeful, intentional design by an intelligent agent. No other theory succeeds; certainly not Darwinism.”

 Source: Strobel, L. (2004) The Case for a Creator. Grand Rapids: Zondervan

I agree with those who find merit in the intelligent design theory and I believe that the God of the Bible is that designer who created all that we see and experience.

In fact, many of the scientific laws and discoveries we have today were predicted in the Biblical records centuries before they were uncovered.  

BIBLICAL PREDICTED SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES

Did you know that the Bible predicted scientific discoveries centuries before they were uncovered? Eternal Productions lists those predictions in their booklet, 101 Scientific Facts & Foreknowledge.

Genesis 1:1– The universe had a beginning. Einstein and other scientists confirm what the Bible said.

Genesis 1:1-3– Expresses all 4 scientific terms for the universe- time, space, matter and energy.

Job 26:7– The earth free-floats in space.

Isaiah 40:22– The earth is a sphere. Many thought the earth was flat.

Psalm 19:6– The sun goes in a circuit.

Jeremiah 33:22– Incalculable number of stars. Astronomers estimate 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (ten thousand billion trillion) stars.

I Corinthians 15:41– Each star is unique, varying in size and intensity.

Job 9:8; Isaiah 42:5; Jeremiah 51:15; Zechariah 12:1– The universe is expanding as discovered by Edwin Hubble.

Genesis 2:1-2– First Law of Thermodynamics established. The total quantity of energy and matter in the universe is a constant.

Psalm 102:25-26; Hebrews 1:11– The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy) explained. The law states that the universe is running down, deteriorating, constantly becoming less orderly. Evolutionary theory directly contradicts this law.

Genesis 6:15– The Bible specifies the perfect dimensions (a length six times that of the width) for a stable water vessel.

Ecclesiastes 1:7; Jeremiah 10:13; Amos 9:6; Job 36:27-28– Hydrological cycle described.

Job 38:16– Oceans have springs.

Jonah 2:5-6– Mountains on the bottom of the oceans.

Psalms 8:8– Ocean currents anticipated. Matthew Maury- father of oceanography confirmed the paths of the sea.

Ecclesiastes 1:6– Jet stream anticipated. It was just during World War II that airmen discovered the jet stream circuit.

Ezekiel 47:12; Revelation 22:2– Tree leaves as medicine.

Genesis 1:11; 29– Life of plants is in its seed. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. 1 Corinthians 15:36-38 acknowledges a seed must die to produce new life. John 12:24 confirms two fundamental biological concepts: 1. Cells arise only from existing cells. 2. A grain must die to produce more grain.

Genesis 11– Language groups origin explained. Evolution has no explanation how thousands of diverse languages came from a common ancestor.

Hebrews 11:3– Creation is made of particles indiscernible to our eyes.

Genesis 1:24– There are natural limits to biological change. Scientists observe horizonal genetic boundaries beyond which life cannot vary. Dogs produce dogs, cats produce cats, roses produce roses. There is no credible evidence that one kind has changed into another kind.

Genesis 1:20-22– Chicken & the egg dilemma solved. The Bible states God created birds with the ability to reproduce after their kind.

Genesis 1:27-28; 2:24; Mark 10:6-8- Reproduction explained. Evolution has no explanation how reproductive organs evolved at the same time.

Jeremiah 1:5– Life begins at fertilization. God declares that He knew us before we were born. Job 10: 8-12; 31:15- God fashions and knits us together in the womb. Exodus 21: 22-23- The biblical penalty for murdering an unborn child was death. Today, it is irrefutable that the fertilized egg is an entire human being. Nothing will be added to the first cell except nutrition and oxygen.

Isaiah 45:18– The earth was designed for life. This affirms the Anthropic Principle that our earth and cosmos are so finely tuned that any fundamental characteristic was changed, life could not exist.

Genesis 1– The Law of Biogenesis explained. Life only comes from existing life.

Genesis 2:7; 3:19– Our bodies are made from the dust of the earth. Scientists have discovered the human body is comprised of 28 base and trace elements – all found in the earth.

Exodus 20:11– Protein and DNA created together. Proteins are in living things, yet the code for each protein is contained in the DNA/RNA system. However, proteins are required to manufacture DNA. Which came first?  The only explanation is they were created together.

Leviticus 17:11;14– Blood is the source of life and health.

Acts 17:26; Genesis 5– All mankind came from one gene pool, confirmed by a 1995 study.

Deuteronomy 23:12-13– The establishment of healthy sanitation practices.

Leviticus 13:45-46; Numbers 5:1-4– Medical quarantine instituted.

Leviticus 15:13- The need to wash clothes and body with running water to prevent disease.

Exodus 22:31– Microorganisms anticipated. Decaying carcasses contain disease causing germs.

I Corinthians 6:18; Romans 1:27– Sexual promiscuity is dangerous to your health.

Romans 1:20-32– Rejection of the Creator results in moral depravity.

Acts 14:17– The source of emotions explained. Evolution cannot explain emotions because energy & matter do not feel.

Psalm 16:11; 36:8; Genesis 2:9; I Timothy 6:17– Pleasure explained. Evolution has no explanation for pleasure.

Proverbs 17:22– Laughter promotes physical healing by reducing levels of stress hormones bringing balance to the immune system which helps fight off disease.

Proverbs 18:14; Mark 14:34– Intense sorrow or stress is harmful to your health. Studies show that stressful incidents contribute to stress cardiomyopathy; including chest pain, breathing difficulty, low blood pressure and heart failure.

John 15:13; Romans 5:7-8– Noble behavior is understood. The Bible and history reveal countless people endangering and even sacrificing their lives for another. This is at odds with Darwin’s survival of the fittest.

Genesis 4:20-22; Job 8:8-10; 12:12– Our ancestors were not primitive. Archaeology confirms mining, metallurgy, air-conditioned buildings, designed cities, designed musical instruments, studied the stars, understood agriculture and much more. This contradicts evolutionists claims.

Job 30:1-8- “Cavemen” described in the Bible as outcasts and vagabonds.

Next: Does Intelligent Design point to God?