Historical Accuracy of the Holy Scriptures

I'm moving forward with the creation story as a "picture" of the condition of humanity. But consider some of these possibilities: As presented to us in the creation story of Genesis, what I gather is that basically at that stage Adam was supposedly immortal. "Eat of the fruit of this tree - and that day you will die." Now, because, based on the facts, I lean toward some form of evolution, I feel (not a word that denotes "evidence" - I admit it) that what God is trying to convey to us through the creation story is how He longs for us to be spiritually. Think about the following points:

1. Created from the dirt. (Sounds like evolution to me.)
- Humility; don't think more highly of yourself that you ought. Made from dirt - headed back to the dirt soon.
- Who at some point hasn't felt like they've made such a mess of their lives that they've prayed that someone would come in and take all the rubbish and dirt they've created and give them a "do-over"? Recognizing we can't really fix the mess ourselves, we yield the essence of who we are to the hands of Someone who can shape us into something really incredible. Then....
- Our very breath of life should come from God. Maybe not physically - but spiritually, which is undeniably linked to our emotions. Hold your breath for about 3 minutes. How did that feel? Couldn't do it? You just realized that you really need air! God is saying, you really need "My Air" - my breath.

2. Eve being taken from Adam's rib: God is maybe teaching us how truly dependent on one another we should be. We are interconnected at a level that goes beyond living in the same city or even on the same planet. Jesus said, "This is how people will know you're my disciples, if you have love one for another." He didn't have to list issues of morality because if we truly love one another, that takes care of itself! However, WE tend to focus on comparing our moral standards to each other.

3. The instructions to not eat of the fruit of certain trees - or else death! Now this is my biggest point of all: Sin brings death. I've defined sin as a synonym for selfishness. And selfishness will suck life out of you! Now - sure, some sins taken to the extreme actually bring physical death. For example, drunkenness: Get in your car and you can bring death to yourself and others. But the real life-damage comes from the drunk husband who says abusive things or worse, beats on his family. That's a "death" worse than death! BIG NOTE: Stepping back to the story, God did not say eating the fruit would send you to hell. Do you see that anywhere? I don't. He said they would die - that it would bring death. Essentially, eternal hell is the biggest point of evangelical churches. It's the motivation behind most of what we do. But if God intended for it to be our focus, why didn't he introduce the concept in this first big story about the consequences of sin? This is key to discussions we'll have down the road.

4. We could go on and on with analogies - and perhaps you'd like to offer a few of your own. Suffice it to say that just because we don't have to take the creation story literally, does not mean we need to give up on God trying speak to us through it. The issue of divinely inspired truth, does not mean we have to take every historical account within the Bible literally. (Noah, the tower of Babel, etc.) If you're the kind of person that insists on "either it's true or it isn't", then if you're honest with yourself about just the facts, you would have to say it isn't true - and thus give up on God. And I suspect this is why so many of us are content to live with our questions in the background, because we're afraid if we press too hard, it might push us away from the God we've come to love so much. Free your mind! Learn to read differently. The Bible is NOT a history, science or math textbook. It was never meant to be.

5. Final note: The ancient Jewish tradition of maintaining meticulous geneologies is pretty fascinating. If it's accurate at all, then looking at scripture, it is possible that Adam was indeed a historical person. But maybe that's just as far back as anyone had a name within this particular family. Interesting to ponder, though I don't find it as a real sticking point for me.

What to do you think?

The Creation Story: Fact or Myth

Let's start at the beginning; a very good place to start. 

I've come to the belief, based on the overwhelming evidence at hand, that the earth is not a few thousand years old. Personally, I'm even pretty ok with evolution. Ultimately, I believe God is the Intelligent Designer. I have no doubt in my heart that we are God's Creation - whether or not it took 7 days or 7 billion years.

I know there several theories about all of this, even one that says God made the earth to seem old, though it's not. (Why would he do that?) I know there is issue with the whole "missing link" thing with evolution, between apes and man, but this post is not really about how the exact nature of evolution. The question is this: Is there room to question the authenticity and accuracy of the creation story?

I understand for conservatives that this is not up for discussion, even a little. For extremists, science is the enemy of the church! But think about it, it hasn't been that many years since we thought the earth was the center of the universe or that the world was flat. Science has proven those to be false assumptions. And of course, the church even persectued the early proponents of what eventually became the accepted and proven realities of those 2 issues. And if you take a look at the evidence, a 7 day creation just didn't happen. (I realize because of your staunch beliefs, I might have just lost you. But please stay open.)

Now, the reason this part of the discussion is important is that much of what we teach about "salvation" has to do with the Garden of Eden and the fall of one man and woman. If the "physical" part of the creation story is up for discussion, then I propose: did the whole "serpant came to the woman" thing actually happen, or is it just a "picture" of the fallen condition of man?

Also, if we are willing, or like me - compelled to consider an alternate "beginning" to the Big Story, then we may have to be open to consider that the "ending" is not quite as we think or as we have been taught.

What do you think?

And so it begins...

I'm not sure if anyone will even find this blog or even care that it exists, but because I know that there has to be thousands of other folks in a similar situation, I felt it was time to at least share my feelings, if only in an anonymous state. If some one does find it - and it helps them to know that others like them are questioning - then I will consider them led of the Holy Spirit to the discussion.

Comments are welcome and encouraged. I really hope this is a conversation and not just a monologue. However, I'm not here for heated debate. I will gladly listen and respond to your comments, but I'm to the place where I really believe what Paul quoted in Romans:  "Is there anyone who can explain God?" So don't try to "force" your opinions or even what you consider "dogma" or "doctrine". My suspicion is that you believe most of what you believe because it's the way you were taught by someone who was also taught that way. If you're honest with yourself and you've given our Scriptures a thorough, open-minded reading, you'll see the contradictions I'll be raising in this blog. The real question is "What do YOU believe based on your own personal search of the Scripture? Not what your seminary textbook says, not what your favorite preacher/teacher says. Have YOU done your own study of the subjects I raise?"

Victor Christus is not my name. It actually comes from a term for an Atonement doctrine - Christus Victor - or Christ the Victor. It was the primary teaching on the subject of what happened on the Cross and through the resurrection for the first several hundred years of Christianity. It is a form of what some would term Universal Atonement, something I never dreamed I could believe! But after finding some incredibly compelling verses in the New Testament, I actually am starting to lean that way. But I'm way ahead of myself. 

This blog is not just about Universalism, though no doubt it will play a major role in my musings. I just want to pose questions that I've wrestled with all my life. Understand, I'm a radical believer in the love of Christ in my life. I am NOT on the verge of walking away from HIM. Quite the contrary! I just want to find a way to reconcile my questions with my belief. Yet, as I've already stated, I'm also convinced we can't "explain God". I'm really not looking for absolutes. What I am trying to figure out is why mainstream Western Christianity, of which my roots go back generations of ministers, me included, proposes a theology of absolute authority, yet the Scriptures clearly contradict some of our own teachings. 

Again, I will be stating some of my beliefs. They're going to seem radical to some and elementary to others. My hope is that this blog will reach pastors and ministers on staff at churches of conservative, fundamental, evangelical nature. That's where I am. And there is not a Sunday service that goes by that something is said or done that makes me ask BIG questions. For 20 years I've been suppressing it. No doubt, there are many of you out there experiencing the same thing. You don't want to call yourself "liberal", you don't want people to think you are a heretic. But when people ask you the tough questions, you generally give the generic answers you know you're suppose to give, yet on the inside you're not really convinced.

I'm not asking you to "come out of the closet". Stay anonymous if you need to, but join the conversation. Again, you don't have to believe everything I propose, just join the conversation. 

And finally, please know that everybody is welcome to the conversation, not just vocational ministers. I have no doubt there are plenty of pew-people out there have the same questions I do!

Since this is sort of an introductory post, I'm going to bring it to a close and immediately start typing away at some of my thoughts. Read on if you're interested! Join me in Seeking the Truth!