Commendable

The past five years have been a thunderstorm of microbiology, botany, zoology, and medicinal biology. Naturally (yes, pun intended) a constant stream through this storm has been evolution. Being taught about evolution, and how integral it is to our understanding of the natural world, has caused me to come face to face with the things I was taught at Victory Christian. Like most conservative, fundamentalist, Christian institutions the school considered evolution a doctrine brought forth from the seventh circle of hell itself...or something as equally ridiculous. Unfortunately I bought into the whole fire and Dante's inferno view of evolution, so coming to Calvin, and being taught evolution from an open minded and analytical perspective, was not only an unexpected breath of fresh air but also like meeting a brick wall while going 70 down the highway. It completely took me by surprise. (These people at Victory were antievolutionists, and anything directed against "creationism" on this blog is most likely directed against them. See Todd Woods blog for a break down of what it means to be a creationist vs an antievolutionist http://toddcwood.blogspot.com/2009/09/from-library-rastus-agustus-explains.html)

Over time the initial shock of believing I was going to go to hell because I believed in evolution wore off and I began to work on how evolution can fit into a Christian worldview. Granted this does mean a few "doctrines" must be called into question. Things such as the inerrant nature of the bible for example...although the bible itself seems to debunk that idea within the first three chapters of Genesis...but beyond that...

A few days ago I was talking with a friend. We were discussing evolution and the different viewpoints held by Christians. Everything from holding strong to what the Bible says (fundamentalist) to where we both found ourselves: taking the bible in context of the religious and cultural traditions in which it was written. As we talked my friend mentioned that he commended the people who are able to resist the influence of science, or of outside influence, and hold fast to their beliefs about the inerrant nature of the bible. He commented that to be able to do that took guts and a type of fortitude in defending your beliefs that he couldn't imagine possessing. At first I agreed with him. Yeah, these people have an incredible faith in what they believe, especially to undergo such scrutiny, and even types of persecution, for holding fast to what they believe. But on second thought, commending them for what they are doing is not where my reaction should lie. Rather, it seems, commendation should be with-held for the types of people who try and reconcile their faith with the findings of science. In fact, I think that these types of engagements with both the beliefs they hold, and the apparent contradictions which science presents to those beliefs, takes more faith than blindly ignoring certain facts and specific theories because what the represent threatens what you consider truth. As a mentor of mine states "This makes me mad. No matter what you think of the age of the earth or the need for creation miracles, you should be upset by Christians who mangle science to serve apologetic ends."-The Quintessence of Dust (www.sfmatheson.blogspot.com)

I was sitting at a Calvin vs Wheaton soccer game the other day with my buddy Derek. He and I have know each other for years, nearly since birth. It was a gorgeous day outside, barely a cloud above us and the sky that baby blue which tapers into a darker blue as you scan from the ground further into the sky. Behind us was a family. One of the kids was asking the dad about something, I'm not entirely sure what it was, and every time the dad answered the kid countered with the question "why?". I'm sure the majority of the people who will read this blog have had the same experience. Kids are endlessly curious, always wanting to know the reason behind something. I began to think of this idea a bit more in depth. In Matthew 18 it discusses how having faith like a child is essential to following Christ. It seems to me that faith like a child, as I see it, does not mean believing things just because they are told to you by someone older. It means always asking why and keeping an open mind in regards to the answers you find. That, to me, is commendable.