March 12th, 2010
Participants in the RENEW International ministry gain a deeper appreciation for the Catholic Church. They experience a revived connection to the greater Catholic community and ascertain how to practice the principals of their belief to daily life. Parishioners, and parishes benefit from the support, ideas, curricula, events, and trust-sharing materials of RENEW International.
RENEW International is a international Catholic ministry and part of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ. It came from the remarkable vision of a revitalized Church by Msgr. Tom Kleissler and Msgr. Tom Ivory, who wanted to more deeply involve laypersons and have them help address parish, civic, and multinational concerns. At the heart of RENEW International programs is the idea of dividing a parish into smaller, caring Christian communities. This approach gives individuals a better chance to study Scripture, learn to live the Gospel, and see God at work in their lives. They feel support from their fellow participants and form important friendships within the Catholic community.
RENEW International instructs followers ways to surmount challenges and study to live a deeper, more inspirational life. RENEW International has a tradition of bringing Catholics together. Their materials, curricula, and events further friendships, furnish an opportunity for sharing, and keep Gods love.
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October 12th, 2009
Many individuals find themselves at a time where the next step is not an obvious one. You might be a student who’s just got your degree, or maybe in your 60s and just retired from work. Maybe you’ve recently been been made redundant and feel discouraged at being unemployed, but every bit as disheartened by the variety of work placements out there. In these times, we often seek a different course of action. An organization called DNA (dna-uk.org) are proffering a “third way” - to spend your Youth Work Gap Year in a Christian church.
DNA offer placements in Christian churches, running from October to August. This is seen as a “year in with God, not a year out.”, requiring the participant to live inside a Christian environment - either within your own church if you already belong to one, or a designated church if you are not currently a fellow member of a church. Your regular day will involve assisting with the everyday projects of the church, and to be coached by its fellow members in bible studies. The course promises faith in action, so those who enroll can anticipate a really practical experience of living their faith, and not merely the study of it.
Further plus points of the courses include:-
- being risky, radical and life altering
- it’s pragamatic; what you’ll study is what you’ll actually do
- equipping you for church-based leading
- developing you for work
- your maturation in understanding, character and skills
There are 3 sorts of course open : Track 1 is the predominant access point to DNA - it is the richest DNA expereince. The over-whelming majority of people decide that this is the best-fit pick for them. Track 2 is more appropriate to you if taking a complete “year-out” is not pragmatically viable. This could be for reasons such as your workplace or family commitments. Track 2 therefore provides some flexibility. Track 3 offers people the opportunity of joining us for as many specific training sessions or days as they want.
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May 28th, 2008
“Till It Shines”
Connecting Pope John Paul II and Bob Seger
No one ever asked the Pope, back when he visited us here in Chicago first in 1979, to climb on a motorcycle and with white robes flying, ruddy face beaming, waving and genuflecting to the crowd; chug proud, loud and smiling on up Milwaukee Avenue.
Bob Seger in the background as The Pope climbs up on Harley:
“Took a look down a westbound road
Right away I made my choice”
No one asked the Pope. But if they had, and if it would have helped the church: I am betting that this smiling Polish holy man, back in 1979 bounding off the plane at O’Hare, bending down to kiss the ground, this flowing bundle of good will who visited more countries than any other Pope in history—I’m betting he would have hopped right on that Harley.
Bob Seger taking off into the high plains and the Pope taking the same kind of journey, but his is straight into the hearts of the city. Straight northwest up Milwaukee Avenue, as the people start gathering and the cheers start cascading across the sidewalks on a warm summer afternoon. Folks streaming out of the shops to see that beaming man on the motorcycle come to say hello.
If you’re young, if you’re poor, if you are struggling: you understand.
An actor on the world stage they’d call him when he passed. But back in Chicago in 1979 he was still the Priest from Poland who made the Communist party functionaries tremble—not from the politics: but from his faith. At the beginning of his time as Pope, he came to Chicago. There could not have been a more stark contrast to the imperial nature of Chicago’s John Cardinal Cody. 1979, the Pope from Poland, well he just might have got on that motorcycle. Maybe have some pirogue? Maybe some kielbasa, some ham and some sausage? There would be friends who knew him in from South Bend and St. Louis, back when he was just Karol. There would always be friends. The community. To keep the church going we would eat together.
Such hopeful times. And here he was! Not just with the millions in Grant Park, but here he was on the back of that motorcycle. Right here on Milwaukee Avenue! Giving voice to so many who were different. So many who were confused:
Roll, roll me away,
Won’t you roll me away tonight!
I too am lost, I feel double-crossed
I’m sick of what’s wrong and what’s right.
A Pope who gave shape and color to the words “social justice.” Giving voice to the poor, the sick, the folks on the outskirts—way, way far from that million dollar Cardinal’s mansion in by the Lake. A peoples Pope! And that was new.
Like Bob Seger sang:
Take away my inhibitions
Take away my solitude
Fire me up with your resistance
Put me in the mood
Storm the walls around this prison
Leave the inmates
Free the guards
Deal me up another future
From some brand new deck of cards.
Right there on Milwaukee Avenue, with the scent of fresh baked Polish rye bread sweetening the air and giving all those inside this Christian colony of proud people a way to say: “Ok. . .maybe after a few years we are making it—maybe we are not so poor– maybe God has given us this day our daily bread!
See the rich man lost and lonely
Watch him as he dines
Sitting there just testing all the wines
Sure, even then there were “money changers” camped out in the temple. But they had yet to set up shop on the steps outside, charging corporate membership rates backed up by the rendition campaigns of American secret police, wars for oil and power, trampling of human rights, ignoring the earth that we steward and finally bowing our heads to the all powerful “talking points” of the propaganda machine that twisted a moral fundamentalism into a market fundamentalism.
In the serenity and clarity of his faith—even when you didn’t agree with him—he could cut right through the walls of the machine and touch you.
Take the chip off of my shoulder
Smooth out all the lines
Take me out among the rustling pines
Till it shines.
Years and years later, a Catholic friend tells of a Catholic Church where the priest holds up Pope John Paul’s picture and says: “We don’t agree with him about this, that or the other” and you marvel that there is a church like that. Questioning believers of Catholicism. That exists.
On his watch.
Then sitting around a tale in a Catholic Church basement next to an expressway in St. Louis. The tired eyes of the Priests attending yet another meeting.
Till you mention Dorothy Day.
And THAT is when the eyes come alive.
On his watch.
From there the conversation shifts to Flannery O’Connor. The unspoken thought: Reading Flannery O’Connor makes the whole idea of women’s issues fade. Because there is only that talent. Graced by her God. That person’s talent.
Then—in the aftermath of his passing: a Priest on TV does something amazing. He reels off every single issue reason you’ve ever thought of to disagree with this Pope. And then he says: “Of course. There will be women Priests. Of COURSE we’ll figure out that they way the church treats gays and lesbians is flat out wrong. Of COURSE we’ll come to terms with the way we face birth control and a woman’s control of her own body rather than the state’s control. These are: flyspecks on the wall of human history. Our call is much, much, much larger than that: this Pope’s call was much, much larger than all of that.
Sharing more than we differed with those of us whose ancestors tramped out of the German forests with John Hus and Martin Luther and then fueled by Bach’s holy music went on to become what we now call Protestant.
None of us strangers to the centuries of atrocity brought on by all the bad managers who also carried the banner of Christianity. All the lives ruined by the abuse still ringing in the halls of history. Set against visionary leadership, all that abuse offering a chance to forgive way beyond most of us mortals—yet all of it: flyspecks on the walls of human history—when it is set against this:
All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:1
His call was Love.
Kids knew it. Young adults knew it. And In the summertime throng of the Milwaukee Avenue sidewalk back in 1979, that call of love and social justice was just electric in the air. We all knew it.
So back to right here and right now. On a warm spring night in Chicago as we remember him as that charismatic iron man of sprit and strength; a very different kind of service at Holy Name cathedral comes to a close.
This week in Chicago, there will be lots of memories on Milwaukee Avenue. Families inside and outside the colony sharing sausage, bread and wine. But at this different kind of service tonight, I can hear a Buddhist:
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.
Udana-Varga 5,1
I can hear a young Hindu woman:
This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do
unto you.
Mahabharata 5,1517
A Muslim:
No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.
Sunnah
A Jew:
What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the
rest is commentary.
Talmud, Shabbat 3id
All the rest is commentary. I think he would have liked that last one a lot.
So I wave goodbye to the white robed man on the back of that motorcycle.
And hear Bob Seger sing:
Still if we can make the effort
If we take the time
Maybe we can leave this much behind
Till it shines
And I answer back:
Amen.
About the Author
Roger Wright can be found on the blog Church Food Chicago
http://blogs.salon.com/0004257/
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May 21st, 2008
God ordained the Christian family to have a specific design - a
man and a woman united in marriage, together with their
children. The family is called the domestic church because it is
a community of faith, hope and charity. Within the family, we
first learn to respect the sanctity of life from conception to
natural death. This means welcoming children into the marriage
through birth or adoption but also learning to show reverence
for the life of others such as the elderly, the infirm, the
poor, the disabled, and the imprisoned.
Every member of the Christian family has a God-ordained
function. Though equal in the sight of God, men and women have
entirely different responsibilities. As stated so clearly in the
Catechism: “Divine fatherhood is the source of human
fatherhood…” which reaffirms the importance of man’s function
as the head of the family. Though equal (as God) to the Father,
Christ himself lived and died in supreme obedience to the will
of the Father. Throughout faith history, men have been called to
leadership roles by God, from Adam to Noah to David to Moses to
Paul to Peter. This call to leadership does not necessarily
infer perfection, capability or skill, but the call is
nonetheless intrinsic to manhood. Pervasive gender-role
confusion in our society today makes it is easy to dismiss or
compromise this primordial function of men to lead their
families to God.
To carry out their responsibility, men are to be servant leader
of all in their charge. Leaders provide a clear vision, set a
solid example, and help others in their pursuit of holiness.
Fathers must ensure that their children are brought up in the
faith, the beginning of which is their own life being one of
Christian holiness. Men who abdicate their leadership
responsibility under some mistaken notion of “sensitivity” bring
disorder into the family and the society. A simple review of
crime statistics in our land reveals the terrible impact of
fathers who ignored or minimized their prescribed role.
Woman’s role as wife and mother differs from but complements
that of the man. St. Paul reminds us of God’s intent to provide
a helpmate and partner to man, “For man was not made from woman,
but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman
for man.”(1 Cor 11: 8-9).
Modeling themselves on the Blessed Mother, women are called to
support and honor their husband’s role asleader of the family.
In her function as wife and mother, a woman brings wonderful
attributes such as nurturing care, tenderness and compassion to
family life. As with her husband, a wife is called to a life of
holiness and Christian example.
Children are called to proffer respect for parents out of
gratitude for having given them the gift of life (CCC
#2216-2218)*. Respect is shown by docility and obedience to
parents during one’s childhood. Obedience ceases with
emancipation, but respect does not. Grown children are reminded
to assist their aging parents as much as possible with material
and moral support, as well as in times of illness, loneliness
and distress.
Sacramental marriage is the foundation of the family. It is the
gift of self, a gift that is freely given and total in nature.
The perpetual and exclusive bond of marriage creates the
sanctuary wherein the security of the family rests. The sacred
covenant finds its physical manifestation in the sexual intimacy
of the marriage act between man and wife (CCC #2360; also Tob 8:
4-9). Reflecting this covenant, the spouses’ physical union
honors the twofold end of marriage, which is to serve the good
of the spouses (the “unitive”) and to be open to the
transmission of life (the “procreative”).
Children are the supreme gift of marriage, in contrast to our
societal view which considers them a “right.” In our zeal to
conceive a child at all costs, medical science offers us
numerous techniques that attempt to produce a child by the
disassociation of husband and wife or the involvement of a third
party (such as donation of sperm or ovum, surrogate uterus, or
in-vitro fertilization). These actions violate the child’s right
to be born of a loving act of father and mother. All such
techniques are morally unacceptable (CCC # 2376-77). It is
impossible to live the sacramental life while engaging in such
practices, for we knowingly introduce other persons and
processes into the loving act of procreation, an act that
belongs rightly to husband, wife and God.
The intentional spacing of children, if undertaken for just
reasons, also demands that we observe moral norms. Periodic
continence (methods based on self-observation and the use of
infertile periods, such as Natural Family Planning) respects the
individual spouses and offers a mutually supportive, natural
means of spacing. On the other hand, artificial birth control or
any action which frustrates or thwarts the normal outcome of the
procreative act defrauds God and falsifies the marital act. All
such methods are morally unacceptable (CCC #2370).
It is impossible to live the sacramental life while actively
engaging in any contraceptive practices, for we knowingly
defraud God of the result of a loving act due to our selfishness
and sinful pride.Upon assuming the role of parents, we must
remember that we have the “primordial and inalienable”
responsibility for the education of our children (CCC #2221-23).
While we can delegate certain educational duties to a formal
school, we cannot delegate responsibility for oversight of our
children’s education. The term “education” means more than just
secular studies, for home must be the place for evangelization
and catechesis. First, we must give our children a solid
grounding in the virtues. Second, we must offer apprenticeship
in self-mastery, self-denial and sound judgment, so they can
learn to forego pleasures in the spirit of Christian discipline.
This helps widen their focus outside of the family in order to
see the needs of others. Third, education in the Catholic faith
means creating an environment of personal and family prayer,
participating in devotions (such as Enthronement, Adoration,
Novenas, Stations of the Cross and the Rosary), attending Parish
Missions, and ensuring thorough Sacramental preparation. Fourth,
we must guide children in exploring potential vocations,
especially being open to God’s call to the priesthood or
religious life. All of these efforts point to the only true goal
in the education of our children - to make them holy people.
All of this responsibility may seem daunting to the average
Catholic parent. Like any task, however, we can create hope by
building a strategy for success. Consider the following as a
guide:
A. Set and Honor Priorities - Make it known that God is first in
your life and let your decisions consistently reflect God’s
preeminent place. Ensure that the family’s choices regarding
books, magazines, entertainment, and clothing all reflect proper
Christian values. Ensure that attendance at Mass on Sundays and
Holy Days (and especially while on vacation) is a family
priority. Let the family home proudly exhibit signs and symbols
of our faith.
B. Distinguish between Vocation and Occupation- Understand the
distinction between “what we are” versus “what we do.” Success
in our vocation (married, single or priest/religious) is our
life’s goal. Our occupation, on the other hand, is merely what
we do to pay the bills. God cares deeply how we embrace our
chosen vocation, whereas it matters little to Him what field we
choose to earn our daily bread. As any committed Catholic parent
will affirm, it is infinitely harder to live one’s vocation than
it is to succeed at a chosen occupation. Why? Because our
vocation demands that we give everything of ourselves, a notion
that runs contrary to our culture. Does the next rung of the
career ladder undergo prayerful scrutiny for its impact on our
chosen vocation or is it weighed solely for its occupational
benefits?
C. Embrace a Vigorous Sacramental Life - Continue to foster a
love of the Sacraments in your children once they initially
receive by having the same level of commitment yourself. Demand
of yourself an ever-higher standard of Christian behavior rather
than simply remaining at the same level year after year. Start a
relationship with a spiritual director.
D. Surround Yourself with Committed Catholic Families -
Americans love “support groups,” so why not as part of our faith
journey? Have the courage to discontinue relationships if
certain friends do not support your moral values. Make an active
effort to be involved in parish life beyond the Sunday
“obligation.” Be willing to be challenged by others more
advanced in the faith to delve deeper into its mysteries.
E. Continue Your Education in the Catholic Faith - Consider the
last 10 books youhave read. Did they support or conflict with
your faith values? Ensure that your faith education includes
doses of Scripture, Catechism, Lives of the Saints, Papal
Encyclicals, Council Documents and works of Spirituality.
F. Actively Demonstrate Christian Service - Remember that, “…a
contented Christian does not exist.” We are called to mix it up
with society and fearlessly speak out against injustice, poverty
and wrongdoing. In short, being Catholic means being
countercultural, just as Jesus was countercultural. Our family
life must reflect the admonition of St. James that, “…Faith
without works is dead.” (Jm 2:14) and render Christian service
in a truly selfless way. Sincere actions will instill in our
children the importance of a life focused on service to others.
“We are not called to success, just faithfulness.”
Mother Teresa
*Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition.
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April 10th, 2008
I am sharing an article that I wrote after 9/11/01.
First, I would like for all to know that my prayers are with the
world, families, nations, volunteers, workers and just
everybody. I am asking the Almighty God to lead us, heal us,
bring us closer together and work a miracle in all our lives.
We do not represent grief counseling nor are we certified.
I am not a Pastor, Minister nor Clergy.
My only hope and resource is the Divine Holy Bible, Inspired
Written Word of God.
I would like to travel back in time to about A.D. 96 or A.D.
68.My traveling will take me to The Island of Patmos and I am
thinking on Revelation first through the seventh chapter.
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison,
that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be
thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude,
which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and
people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the
Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.
Revelations 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any
more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Revelations 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains
of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
It is human to be in grief. I have never met a person yet that
has been able to escape the experience of grief.
The book of Job 2:13 tells me that “So they sat down with him
upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a
word unto him; for they saw that his grief was very great.
“There is no school that I have heard of yet that can teach you
how to master grief. Diaster is a sudden, unexpected guest that
we do not want to meet.
The book of Acts 27:10,14 tells me that “This voyage will be
with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but
also of our lives. But not long after there arose against it a
tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
“Seven Epistles addressed to the churches of the seven cities of
Asia, named in chapters one and two, and now written to in the
same order, beginning with Ephesus and ending with Laodicea.
The apostle wrote to the 7 churches in Asia, and maybe others
were touched by what he wrote. The number 7 stands for
unity/completion in my understanding; and the 7 churches as
mentioned in John’s revelations must represent one universal
church.
The church encountered trials, tribulations, persecution, and
open opposers. The church was able to overcome and stand firmly.
The faithful shall be rewarded. To him(her) that overcometh,
there is a great reward.
As you know all things will not please us and there will be some
trying times in our lives. A reminder to me we must learn to
bear things, endure them to the end.
John’s vison revealed that in spite of this period of
unprecedented suffering involving nations of the whole earth,
the wicked shall be overthrown and the end will not be a period
of destruction, but of salvation.
Even Brother Job arose out of his afflictions with a victorous
shout, “I know that my Redeemer liveth, even after the worms, my
skin, they shall destroy, yet out of my flesh, I shall come and
stand, and see God for myself.”
Biblical Guidance:
Angels minister at the moment of death Luke 16:22
Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9
Guidance Psalm 25:4-12; Proverbs 1:7; 3:5-6
Love Psalm 63:3; John 14:21,23; Romans 5:5
Power II Corinthians 12:7-10; Ephesians 3:14-21
Protection Psalm 5:11,12; I Peter 1:5
Mediation Psalm 63:3,4; 89:1-11, 119:15
Prayer I Timothy 2:1-8; Hebrews 4:16
Bible Study II Timothy 3:16, 17; 4:1,2
Enemy Opposition Romans 7:23; I Peter 5:8; I John 2:15;Galations
5:16; James 4:7; I John 5:4
Pray for Israel Psalm 122:6, Isaiah 62:6-7Our Rulers I Timothy
2:1-3
Recommended Book Reading:Does God Have E-mail? Barbara Davey,
Author. ISBN: 1-58244-137-5 and Published by Rutledge Books. I
enjoyed this book very much; it is a book of inspirational
messages.
It touches on death, angels, views each day as an opportunity to
rejoice, miracles, and yes it does touch on MAIL. I would
recommend for all Pastors/Spiritual Leaders, Schools, Churches,
Grief/Professional Services/Programs, Parents, etc. to review
this book for possible sharing and helping others.
I do not represent grief counseling nor am I certified.
The messages contained in this 113 page book could be a help in
this time.
When looking at this book some things came to my mind: Genesis
1:1 tells me “In the beginning God created the heaven and
earth.” Mark 13:10 tells me “And the gospel must first be
published among all nations.”
Daniel 12:4 tells me “But thou., O Daniel, shut up the words,
and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run
to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
May The Almighty God send peace to all worldwide.
God is in TOTAL control and God is not sleep. HE knows and HE
understands.
Jehovah - Shalom is my peace Judges 6:23-24
Angela Watkins
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April 5th, 2008
“Nearly all peoples have developed their own creation myth, and the Genesis story is just the one that happened to have been adopted by one particular tribe of Middle Eastern herders. It has no more special status than the belief of a particular West African tribe that the world was created from the excrement of ants,” said Richard Dawkins, a progressive creationist (Gitt 3). Is Genesis just a myth? That is what some people have concluded. Their theories lead to the belief that not only is Genesis a myth but the whole Bible as well. When all explanations for what triggered evolution were found faulty, people tried to combine evolution and God by reinterpreting the Genesis account of creation to fit evolutionary beliefs. However, all it creates is bemusement; Genesis clearly states the days of creation occurred in just six of our days.
The Hebrew word used in Genesis for day is yom. Yom means a literal twenty-four hour period or the daylight time (Ham 17). Compromising believers have changed day to mean millions of years. When Genesis is not being taken literally, people read into it. Scripture is twisted to say what they want. The gap theory, theistic evolution, progressive creation, and the framework hypothesis are four current ways people try to combine evolution and creation. These compromises between creation and evolution change their beliefs and faith in God.
The gap theory places a several billion year gap between Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and 1:2, “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” The gap theory declares God initiated evolution in Genesis 1:1, and then in Genesis 1:2, He destroyed the earth by sending Satan and his demons here (Grig 50). This event was so powerful, it created fossils all over the earth. Next, God used the six days of creation (recreation) to begin life on earth again like Genesis says in six twenty-four hour days. The Nelson Study Bible writes in its footnotes on Genesis 1:1,
“Here it means that God renewed what was in a chaotic state. God changed chaos into cosmos, disorder into order, emptiness into fullness… The two words, without form and void, express one concept, chaos. The earth had been reduced to this state–it was not the way God had first created it” (Morris b).
However, the earth did not begin, end, and begin again in Genesis. This is not possible because of significant evidence proving the gap theory wrong.
The biggest problem with this theory is death occurred before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden (Morris c). If evolutionary processes developed as the gap theory states, creatures must have died before Adam even came into existence. Death is a result of sin, so sin must have existed before Adam and Eve. But creationists believe sin entered the world through Adam and not before. Romans 5:12 corroborates this. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” If death came before sin, it destroyed the basis for Christ’s atonement because Christ died to save us from sin. Also, God called the Garden of Eden good when he created it. A holy God completely separate from sin would not call something good unless it was perfect.
The Earth could not have been perfect if Satan and his demons ruled here. The gap theory says when the earth was extirpated, it wiped out every living thing. If the earth was destroyed between Genesis 1:1, 2; the forces necessary to do that would have demolished all fossils also, so according to evolutionary thinking no fossils would exist today (Morris b). Obviously they do. The gap theory believers think the Genesis flood was local and not a global catastrophic event. Thus, they believe fossils were formed when Satan came to earth between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 and not during the flood. However, the Bible makes it clear the flood was global which explains the fossils. Some theories still prefer the evolutionary way of explaining creation though.
Theistic evolution believes God began the ‘big bang’ and guided evolution to create humans (Grig 50). But according to the Bible, God is the cause of all things. “…yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live: and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6). Theistic evolution teaches God started evolution and guided it, but humans did not come from Him. However, in Matthew 19:4 Jesus refers to God creating man. “‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female.”” Theistic evolution has taken God and placed him in all the places of their beliefs that do not make sense thus making God a “god of the gaps” (Gitt 49). They change the Bible wherever necessary to fit their beliefs about the beginning of time.
According to theistic evolution, it took God billions of years to create the universe and humans. Like the gap theory, for evolution to happen, death was required before Adam sinned. Theistic evolutionists ascribe death as a part of God’s creation. This is not possible because death came after, not before, sin. Not only do theistic evolutionists place death before sin, but their beliefs also collapse the basis for the Sabbath.
In the Ten Commandments, the six days of work and one day of rest devoted to God, are based on how God created the earth (Gitt 49, 51). Exodus 20:8-11 says, “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Theistic evolutionary beliefs have destroyed the foundations of the Bible and made it a myth.
In addition, theistic evolutionists misinterpret the purpose of God (Gitt 50). God’s purpose is clear in the Bible. Creating us was the most important part of creation. The whole Bible revolves around mankind, not apes or some other creature, but us. Evolution claims we will eventually evolve into something better. But the Bible says we are the purpose of creation. No creature will come along further developed and more important than we are. By thinking we are not God’s purpose, His mission and the entire Bible becomes a fairy tale.
The Bible is also viewed as a fairy tale because Scripture is not being read the way it was meant. Theistic evolutionists pick and choose what they want to obey, breaking up the basis for the Bible. However, the Bible is absolute truth and the authoritative Word of God. Evolutionists throw that away. Clearly, there are many problems with trying to combine evolution and the Bible, but there are still many who believe it can be done.
A third theory, progressive creation, or day age theory, claims God created the universe in seven days (Grig 50). But the days were not ordinary days. Every day of creation was millions of years long. Progressive creation misinterprets the Bible and contradicts itself in several areas.
This theory states the Genesis flood was only local, even though Genesis gives an accurate account of the flood.
“Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days” (Genesis 7:23-24).
This passage indicates the entire earth was covered with water. Even the highest mountains were buried beneath at least twenty feet of water (Genesis 7:20). The flood had to have been global; there is no other solution. Progressive creationists teach nature is perfect as it was in the Garden of Eden. God would not have flooded the earth, though, if it was perfect and there would be no reason for heaven if we live in a perfect world now.
Dr. Hugh Ross, a progressive creationist, calls nature the sixty-seventh book of the Bible. He believes the Bible says God cannot lie. Therefore Ross makes the assumption, “so the record of nature must be just as perfect, and reliable and truthful as the sixty-six books of the Bible that is part of the Word of God” (Ham). Yes, God cannot lie, but Romans 8:22 says, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Nature is not perfect by far and it is definitely not a book of the Bible. There is no basis to even consider nature as a Bible book. No basis exists for death occurring before sin either.
God created the Garden of Eden to be perfect. There was no death because the Garden was perfect and plants were given as food. But everything changed when Adam and Eve sinned. Actually, the mission of Christ becomes a myth if death is placed before sin. According to Ken Ham, Dr. Ross interprets John 3:16 “For God so loved the human race that he went to the expense of building a hundred-billion trillion-stars and carefully shaped and crafted them for sixteen-billion years so that at this brief moment in time we could all have a nice place to live” (Ham). God’s mission of sending His Son is completely destroyed by this statement. God stated in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” God came to rescue us from sin, so we can be with Him forever in a perfect world not this sinful earth. The main problem with progressive creation is clear. This theory ruins the mission of God. But there is another theory, the framework hypothesis which tries to solve the problems of all the other theories and still combine evolution with creation.
The framework hypothesis, a fourth theory, states Genesis is written as an example of the Sabbath and is not the account of creation (Grig 50). By believing this, the framework hypothesis can say life was created through evolution because Genesis is not a record of creation. However, there is too much extra information in Genesis if it was meant only to teach the theology of the Sabbath. Why then is there so much extra information recorded? It has to be because Genesis was not meant only to teach about the Sabbath. Creation makes no sense in a different order as the framework hypothesis suggests.
The appearance of parallelism between the days of creation is the main basis for the framework theory. It claims Genesis is not in chronological order, therefore it is not an account of creation. Framework theory believers claim a similar pattern exists between day one and four, day two and five, and day three and six. By believing in this, the framework hypothesis concludes the days of creation are not in order, but this, of course, is not biblical.
The Genesis account is not logical if the days of creation are rearranged. Below is a chart that appeared in an article written by Andrew Kulikovsky, displaying the supposed connection between the days of creation (Kulikovsky).
Day 1: Let there be light (1:3). Day 4: Let there be lights (1:14).
Day 2: Let there be an expanse to separate water from water (1:6). Day 5: Let the water teem with creatures and let birds fly above the earth (1:20).
Day 3: Let dry land appear (1:9).Let the land produce vegetation (1:11). Day 6: Let the land produce living creatures (1:24). Let us make man (1:26). I give you every seed bearing plant…and every tree that has fruit with seed in it…for food (1:29).
First, God said, “Let there be light,” on day one. On day four God created the planets, the stars, the moon, and the sun. Even though God created darkness and light on day one, it does not include the sun and moon. He merely created light. We do not know if it was heavenly light or not, but we do know He created the stars and moon to separate light from darkness on day four. This means light and darkness must have existed before the sun and moon to be separated by them.
Next, the framework hypothesis says day two and five are alike, suggesting a different order. God created a space called sky to separate water from water on day two. On day five, He created birds to fly in the sky and creatures to swim in the sea. The expanse was made on day two and on day five He created creatures to live in them. Day five must have come after day two for this to happen. Also, the seas were not officially established as seas until day three, so birds and fish on day five could not have lived before day three.
Then, God made dry land appear, and He also commanded the land to produce vegetation on day three. Animals were created on day six and man was made to rule over them. If day three did not precede day six, the animals would have starved because vegetation wasn’t created yet and the creatures were herbivores. So day six must have occurred after the plants were created on day three.
The days of creation had to happen in the exact order recorded in Genesis. Any other order would change the next step and alter the entire process. The framework hypothesis has no base and is therefore false.
The problems with these theories are easy to see. The gap theory attempts to place a gap between verses in the Bible and ends up placing death before sin. Theistic evolution puts evolution wherever it wants and makes the Bible relative. Progressive creation makes the days of creation long and puts a perfect God in an imperfect nature. The framework hypothesis mixes up Genesis and changes the creation week so it is irrelevant. All of these theories have over the years caused people to turn from the true purpose of the Bible. We are here to go into all the world and tell people about Christ, so they might be saved. Without a literal Genesis the Bible becomes a myth, and so does God. People today need to see the error in compromise and turn back to the truth.
Works Cited
Gitt, Werner. “10 Dangers of theistic evolution.” Creation Ex Nihilo September-
November 1995: 49-51.
Grig, Russell. “The Future.” Creation September-November 2003: 50-51.
Kulikovsky, Andrew. “A Critique of the Literary Framework View of the Days of
Creation.” Kulikovsky Online.net. July 28, 2001. (http://www.kulikovskyonline.net/hermeneutics/framework.pdf); (4 Feb. 2004).
Ham, Ken. “Eisegesis.” Creation June-August 2002: 16-19.
Ham, Ken. “What’s wrong with ‘progressive creation?’” Answers in Genesis.
(http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs/4077.asp) 2004. (2 Feb. 2004).
Morris, Henry. “Why the Gap Theory Won’t Work.” Back to Genesis November 1997: a-
c.
The Student Bible. New International Version. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1992.
I’m a 17 year old homeschooled Junior in Highschool. I enjoy writing and have written three essays for Midwest Creation Fellowship Essay Contest, placing each time. My research papers usually concern creation/evolution topics because I believe its important for one’s faith and also is a way to lead others to Christ.
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