I once read that the most offensive verse in Scripture is "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1). I think that is very likely the truth. Scripture says that "the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God" (Rom 8:7). Scripture says that God's wrath "is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom 1:18) because "even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened" (Rom 1:21). So it would stand to reason that the whole problem is centered on God's claim to Creation and, therefore, authority and supremacy.
Once we've established the root problem -- rebellion against the Most High -- we can see why so many things become so much of an issue. If we have rejected God, why would we honor His Word? If we have denied His authority, why would we submit to it? If we will not allow Him to be our Master, why should we care what He says or honor Him in any way? So we kick Him out of every door we can find. He is no longer Creator; we have Science for that. He is no longer the Lawgiver; we have "common sense" for that. He is no longer our Master; we have ... ourselves for that. And, having tossed God off the throne of most aspects of our lives, we can pretty much do what we want and celebrate it. Like Scripture says (Rom 1:18-32).
Of course, we won't do all this out in the open. For one, there is something in all of us (Rom 1:19) that tells us we're lying to ourselves. And, besides, there is a modicum of comfort in deceiving ourselves into thinking we're for God while we work in opposition to God. We will hold to a form of "godliness" while we deny its power (2 Tim 3:5). And we will hide ourselves amongst the sheep to give ourselves an appearance of religiosity (1 John 2:18-19). Ultimately, we will reject everything I'm writing here because, after all, we know better ... and God does not. "I will make myself like the Most High" (Isa 14:14). That's the root of the problem.
7 comments:
Again, great point. If Genesis 1 is actually True, then so many other things logically follow that fact. Unfortunately, all too many don't like some of those conclusions and are forced to deny Genesis 1.
It is amazing to me that so many in the church don't see how important and foundational for all the rest of redemptive history Genesis 1 is, yet those opposed to God see it so clearly as the root of the existence of God and attack it relentlessly. I once heard someone comment that the reason Christianity is under such intense attack, while other religions get a pass, is because the forces for evil are fighting against the only true force for good.
David,
The questions for anyone who chose that belief would be how/why would a God who didn't bring everything into existence be interested in redeeming everything that exists? Why would a God who has no stake in "creation" have any interest in redeeming "creation"?
I think that the problem comes in acknowledging a God that is powerful enough to have actually created everything from nothing. I think that a God with that much power is scary to those who want to ground everything in their own Reason, or perception. How does one tell a God who spoke everything into existence that that God is wrong, and they are right? It's much easier to deal with a god that doesn't have quite that much power and stake in "creation".
I understand the unbeliever's mindset, no God means no judgment, means no condemnation. It is the "believers" that are willing to throw out Creation and everything it entails that confounds me.
Absolutely. But we talked about this in another thread. These people see some value in clinging to the term "Christian" while they strip the term of any of it's historic meaning and pour an entirely new meaning into it.
True, I'll never understand claiming a religion you don't believe in, but I'm referencing people that claim everything we would in Christ, but deny Creation. Maybe I'm just giving those types too much credit.
David,
I agree. But I don't think I'd call people who deny major tenets of Christianity, Christians.
The best PR trick the Mormons ever did was when they re branded themselves as just another Christian denomination.
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