St. Augustine and Genesis

Hey Readers,

It's been a long time since I've posted anything new on this page. Sorry for the delay.

In the past three months, I have been very busy with ministry obligations and school work so my time working on Midwest Apologetics material has been limited. In addition, my computer crashed and we lost all of the email addresses for the ministry newsletter. I was able to recover all of the names, but not the email addresses. So if you have received a newsletter in the past and would like to continue receiving one, please sign up again at our website. I have been able to track down about half of the addresses but I fear the other half will not be found.

I am in the process of writing a 30-page paper on the ways in which St. Augustine interpreted Genesis one. While I am not a big fan of Augustine, it has been interesting to see how often people will cite him to support their particular view. Old-earth creationists like to claim he supported their claims. Theistic evolutionists try to claim him as well. Young-earth creationists also quote him.

The fact of the matter is that Augustine was not concerned with this particular issue. He often interpreted Old Testament material allegorically. As he matured in his faith he began to adopt a more literal hermeneutic. It is for this reason that people can find quotes from him to support their view.

Nevertheless, it must be remembered that he was not arguing for an old earth or young earth. He was not interested in arguing for or against evolution. He was a man who came out of a cult (Manichees) that regularly attacked the Bible by "over-literalizing" it. For example, they would see passages that use anthropomorphisms (giving God human characteristics such as hands, eyes, feet, etc.) and claim it was ridiculous to say that a spirit has those qualities. When he converted, Augustine reacted against that over-literalism and adopted an allegorical or spiritual hermeneutic. As he continued to study, he realized the error of allegorizing everything and became more literal in his interpretation. Yet, his main goal was to explain the text the best he could and refute the errors of his day.

Finally, Christians must remember that, ultimately, it doesn't matter what Augustine said. We need to base our doctrine on the word of God. We can allow church history to inform our doctrine, but it should never become the basis for that doctrine. Before adopting Augustine's claims, one should examine the rest of his theology and his hermeneutic to see if they are sound. If not, why should he be viewed as an authority - especially when we have access to the unchanging, revealed word of God?

God and Cancer: Finding Hope in the Midst of Life's Trials

Many of our readers know that in the summer of 2006, I was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. I spent about a month in the hospital, went through four rounds of chemotherapy, and found out what it means to fight for my life. By God’s grace and the skill of my doctors and nurses I was given the “all clear” three months later. Thankfully, I am alive to tell about it.

Leukemia is a form of cancer that infects the blood. There is no doubt that cancer is a terrible disease. It has caused the death of millions and nearly everyone knows someone that has been impacted by this malady.

Most people struggle with the idea that the loving God of the Bible could or would allow this type of evil and suffering to exist. Those who have been diagnosed or have watched a loved one suffer from cancer find it difficult to find hope.

I wrote God and Cancer: Finding Hope in the Midst of Life’s Trials to focus on those two issues. The first part of the book takes the reader on a journey through the stages of my own battle with leukemia. In these chapters, I provide biblical and practical advice to help the reader find hope and peace in the midst of the despair, worry, doubt, pain, and frustration that often comes with a cancer battle.

In the second part of the book, I deal with what is commonly called the problem of evil or the problem of suffering. Many people have been led to believe that these things show that God does not exist. On the contrary, in this section, I demonstrate that these things actually support the Bible’s message that a God of love exists who cares deeply for each of us. The Bible supplies the only legitimate explanation for the origin of evil and suffering and it also gives us the only solution.

It is my prayer that God will use this book to help those who are struggling to find hope in this life that is so often filled with difficult situations. God and Cancer is now on sale at our online store. In a few months, it will be available at places like Amazon.com and Christianbook.com. For a limited time it is being offered with free shipping. We are also offering a discount for those who wish to purchase multiple copies. Please contact us for a price quote if you wish to purchase multiple copies.

Question #2:
If we are the only people in the universe, why did God make it so big?

Answer:
Before answering this question, we probably need to discuss whether or not we are the only people (or sentient life) in the universe. I believe we are based on the following reasons. First, the Earth is the focal point of God's creation and it was formed to be inhabited. It was made three days earlier than all the rest of the planets, stars, etc. Second, the Earth is where God sent His Son to become a man and to die for man. Hebrews 9 makes it clear that Christ died once for sin. If there was sentient life elsewhere in the universe and they sinned, there would be no way for them to be saved. So, I don't believe there is life on other planets.

With that out of the way...why did God make the universe so huge? The size of the universe is almost unfathomable. The planetarium show at the Creation Museum does a good job of showing just how big it is. It is a mind-blowing experience.

Really the answer to this question comes down to one's perspective. Carl Sagan said that if we were all alone then the universe would be an incredible waste of space (he knows better now).

However, I can look at the night sky, try to fathom the size of the universe, and proclaim the amazing wonder and awesome splendor of the God that made it all. I believe He made it so big to demonstrate His power and so that we could enjoy the beauty of what He has made. It's interesting to me that the creation of the stars almost comes across as an afterthought in Gen. 1:16. It's as if God is saying, "Look, I made the fish, and the birds, and the animals, and trees, and, oh yeah, the stars too. I know it takes incredible power to do that, but I did it."

Q & A Series
Recently, I asked my friends on facebook to send me what they thought were the toughest arguments against Christianity or the Bible. I received numerous responses and began posting them on the Midwest Apologetics fanpage on facebook. I am going to start posting them here, too.

Question #1 - What about all the people who have never heard?

Question:
If God cares about the people he created, how could he send so many of them to an eternity in hell just because they didn't believe certain things about him or the bible? And what about the people who have never heard of him, are they destined to an eternity in hell? This is and has always been a big question for me.

Answer:
I apologize for the length of this first answer, but it is an important question that requires a thorough response.
Let me focus on the second question first (Are all the people who have never heard of him destined for an eternity in hell?) This is a very common and very important question. Don't feel bad if you haven't sorted this out yet because many people struggle with it. Let me share with you the conclusion that I have reached, but before that, here are a list of possible answers (assuming that God exists - the materialist or naturalist would claim that we just cease to exist and our bodies rot in the ground).

1) God will let everyone go to heaven (either right away or after a period of suffering).
2) God will send all those who have not heard of Him to an eternity of suffering in the lake of fire.
3) God will hold people accountable for the "light" they have received.

Let's deal with each of these in order.

I believe the first one directly contradicts a great deal of Scripture. It is known as universalism and is clearly unbiblical. Revelation 20:11-15 makes it clear that many people will be sentenced to the lake of fire and Rev. 14:11 is clear that their torment will last for eternity. So I do not believe the first answer is the solution nor does it fit God's character. Yes, God is love (1 John 4:8) and loves everyone (John 3:16), but just as He is perfect in His love, He is also perfect in His justice. As the righteous Judge, He cannot overlook sin, but must punish it. If He did not, then He would not be just and would not be worthy of worship. If that was the end of the story, we would all suffer for eternity because we have all violated His law and deserve death. But the Bible tells us that our Judge also became our Savior. He became a man and paid the price for our sins on the cross. Those who accept His sacrifice by faith will have their sins forgiven and His righteousness accredited to them. All who reject this free gift will get what they deserve - eternal punishment. Why eternal? Isn't that way too harsh? Not when you consider that each sin is a sin against the infinite God and therefore carries an infinite punishment. Not only that, the price that was paid for those sins was the death of Christ Himself - an infinite payment.

Many Christians, including myself at one point, hold to the second view. This is based on John 14:6 (one of my favorite verses) and other similar verses. Jesus made it quite clear that He is THE way, THE truth, and THE life and that no one would go to heaven except through Him. At first glance, this seems to confirm the second response, but I don't think it does. I absolutely believe Jesus' statement was true, but it's what He did not say here that is important. He did not say that those who never heard of Him would go to hell. Why not? Because there is no such thing as a person who has not heard of Him. John 1:9 tells us that Jesus is the true light which gives light to every man. Romans 1:20 makes it clear that everyone knows there is an all-powerful Creator based on the world around us. This is known as general revelation of God and although it supplies enough information to condemn a person for unbelief, it does not necessarily provide a person with sufficient knowledge of the Gospel. This leads us to the third response, which I believe is the biblical solution.

This view states that God will hold each person accountable for the light (read: knowledge, insight, etc.) that He has provided them with. Since all people know God exists (those who claim not to know or reject this are "suppressing the truth in unrighteousness" - Rom. 1:18), then all people have a chance to respond to Him. There are numerous stories from missionaries who have preached the Gospel in a previously unreached area only to be told afterward by one of the listeners that they already knew most of the message but just didn't know Jesus' name. There are many reports of people in Islamic countries in our day who are coming to believe in Jesus because, they claim, He revealed Himself to them in a dream, vision, etc. Salvation was made possible by Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. Therefore, the only way a person can be saved is through Christ's sacrifice. Some of us have had numerous opportunities to respond to a clear presentation of this message. Others have only had glimpses of this message through general revelation. I believe we will be held accountable for what we have been given (see also the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30).

So is this position supported by other passages of Scripture? I believe it is. In Matthew 11:20 - 24, Jesus indicated that certain peoples (those of Korazin and Bethsaida) would be judged more severely than those of the wicked cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom. Why? Because Korazin and Bethsaida had the opportunity to see the ultimate revelation of God, Jesus Christ walking and talking in their midst and they still rejected Him. The others (Tyre, Sidon, Sodom) rejected Him, but were not given as much light, if you will. This view makes sense of God's perfect love and His perfect justice.

Regarding your first question, does God send billions of people to hell just because they don't believe certain things about Him or the Bible? Yes and no. The Bible is clear that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and the He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). There are certain things that must be believed or accepted. But the Bible does not teach that a person must hold all the right beliefs about God and the Bible in order to be saved. If that were true, then a person would be saved by works rather than by God’s grace alone received through faith alone. For example, I have a sharp disagreement with those who believe that God created everything over the course of billions of years. I am confident that they are being unbiblical and are actually severely undermining the Bible and the Christian faith. Nevertheless, I believe that many of these individuals are truly saved and will be in heaven someday because they have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf.

So, the reason that a person will go to hell is not because they failed to have a proper understanding of a great deal of Christian doctrine or of God Himself, but because they refused to accept His free offer of salvation. Instead, they choose to foolishly try to save themselves. They want to do it their own way, rather than God’s way, which is the ONLY way. The reason this is foolish is because as sinners, they already face God’s judgment. No amount of good works can cover the infractions that have already been committed. Consider the following analogy (I realize that all analogies are limited so don’t press this further than it is intended):
Imagine that you were ticketed for driving 55 mph in a blind child area with a posted 15 mph speed limit. You broke the law. As you stand before the judge, (if he is just) he will not let you off the hook because this is the only time you have ever broken this law. There is a price that must be paid (whether it is a fine or jail time). If he let you off the hook because he liked you or because you were normally a good driver or because you vowed never to do it again, he would not be a just judge. Justice must be served. Either you will pay the fine or someone else will take care of it for you.

Now, in the case of Jesus, He is our Judge. He decided to pay the penalty for us. We deserve eternal punishment, but He took our punishment and offered salvation to all who would trust in Him. If a person rejects that amazing love and grace, then they will get precisely what they (and all of us) deserve and what they think they want – life without God. If you think that your good deeds will outweigh your bad, then you are deceiving yourself because justice must still be carried out for the sins you have committed. They are not erased or balanced by your good deeds. They can only be removed by the blood of Christ, which is only applied to your “account” if you accept His offer of salvation.

I hope and pray this response helps you as you wrestle with some of the more difficult questions in the Christian faith. Feel free to ask for clarification or respond to something I have written.

New Year, New Opportunities
Every new year brings with it reasons to reflect on the year that just passed by and to look ahead to the coming year. As 2009 dawned, I was too busy with youth events and the move to do either one of these. Now that I have some spare moments, I have given these things some thought.

Last year was an exciting year for me. In May, I accepted a new ministry position as an Associate Pastor. Although I miss teaching high school, I have thoroughly enjoyed this new position. In June, my first book was published by Master Books. Old-Earth Creationism on Trial: The Verdict is In has been well-received and I have received numerous positive reviews. I was blessed with the wonderful opportunities to speak at numerous churches and a few conferences. Finally, in December, I published one of my papers as a 68 page booklet entitled God Means What He Says: A Biblical Critique of the Framework Hypothesis.

As I look ahead to the rest of 2009, I am excited for what God may have in store for me and for Midwest Apologetics. Next month, I have the opportunity to travel to Hartford, CT to participate in a debate/forum on the proper interpretation of Genesis 1. I have already been invited to speak at two conferences and a couple of churches. Also, my next book, God and Cancer, was recently sent to the publisher and should be out this spring.

I am also finishing up the rough draft to the third book in a youth fiction trilogy. We are especially excited about this series. It has been a lot of fun to work on and the Manga illustrations are incredible – thanks to our amazing artist (see www.christianmanga.com for more of her work). The books will cover many of the most important issues facing young people and the Church today. The solutions to these crucial questions are woven into an exciting, humorous, and action-packed adventure. We will be releasing more details in the near future and hope to publish the first two books this year.

As I learned in 2006 with my leukemia diagnosis, God’s plans are often different than my own plans. Although I hope to see all these things come to pass, something very different may actually occur. Whatever happens in 2009, I know that God will still be in control and that He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28).

Happy New Year,

The past few weeks have been a blur of activity for me, and I am grateful that I will soon have a chance to slow down. Since the middle of December, we have traveled to Minnesota and Green Bay. We have packed, moved, and unpacked. I have had the wonderful privileges of speaking at a high school camp for two days, preaching at our church, leading youth group, attending a New Year's youth lock-in, and teaching Hermeneutics at church. Throw in a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, and New Year's and it makes for one crazy month.

Because of all this activity, I have not had much of a chance to update this blog. Things are finally slowing down and I have a moment to write. Since it is a new year, here are some of my resolutions:

Read the entire Bible in a year (this is an annual resolution and one of the best a person could possibly make - and keep)
Lead my family in a godly manner
Publish God and Cancer (should be out in March/April - it will be sent to the publisher in the next day or two)
Publish books 1 & 2 of our youth fiction series (we are very excited about this series - it's been a lot of fun, we've received some great feedback, and the illustrations are incredible)
Take advantage of the wonderful ministry opportunities that God provides
Keep my website and blog up-to-date
And, of course, exercise on a regular basis (will probably include the Green Bay triathlon in June)

Will I keep all of these resolutions? Only God knows. I plan to, but oftentimes He has other plans.