|
Poems and Short Features
A Rational Christian Approach
Pastor Russell wisely steered a middle course in this respect. “We
accept the Genesis account as a part of the great divine revelation —
the Bible — and find its sublime statement in few sentences most
remarkably corroborated by most critical scientific researches. On the
contrary, none of the ‘religious books’ of the heathen contain anything
but absurd statements on this subject” (Volume Six, The New Creation,
page 20). In the classic Photo Drama of 1914, the major public witness that capped Pastor Russell’s ministry, he says the following, wisely waiting until treating the Fifth Creative Day so that his audience might be better prepared. “The conflict between Evolution and the Bible has been sharp. Nevertheless, unnecessary friction has been generated. Only in respect to man does the Bible declare a special, direct creation of God. The statements of Genesis in respect to the lower creatures rather favor something along the lines of Specialized Evolution.” Endorsements of Specialized Evolution at a time when the Scopes Trial was still future represent a heritage of forward thinking that should encourage Bible Students to openness, and candor when dealing with the scientific community (The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom, 2000 July, “Genesis and Geophysics”).
How
to Talk to Others Our goal is to help people understand the Bible and its teachings. Letting a discussion become an argument is a form of defeat. Humility is a virtue in the Christian, but being too timid can be as self-defeating as being too aggressive.
Reasoning is Better than Arguing Some like to argue. But it takes two to argue. It is better to ask, Are you willing to consider another point of view? (Then wait silently for an answer.) If the eventual answer is, No, then one might calmly suggest: Well, then, come back when you are willing. If the answer is, Yes, then we should be ready to listen to scriptures he thinks of as well as to present the scriptures we think of. “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). If someone presents a scripture that is inconsistent with my understanding, I should acknowledge that. If I do not immediately have an answer, then let me write it down and acknowledge: I’d like to study it further. (Who knows? I might learn something, too.) If someone insists upon only “his” scripture(s), he may need to be reminded that the entire Bible harmonizes, and we must find the view that harmonizes all scriptures on the subject. If he insists that I change my mind to his view “right now,” I might ask how long it took him to come to his conclusion. (If the time was very short, he would not have had time to consider contrary scriptures, let alone alternative explanations.) The Bereans were commended for searching the scriptures; it should be commendable in us (Acts 17:11). When You Feel Timid
If someone claims superiority due to greater education, acknowledge the benefit of education; but then one may ask: How much education did Jesus and the twelve disciples have? Is a fisherman’s education sufficient? If the attitude seems to be: Come to our church, but check your brains at the door and we will think for you, then make it clear that God expects each of us to use whatever brains He has given us, as in Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD.” Remember: My goal is not to convince anyone that I am right, but that God gave us His Word, and His Word is right.
Afterword
What Knowledge Should Mean to Us “If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17, RV) We are charged to “preach the word” and to explain it, as did Priscilla and her husband Aquila (Acts 18:25-26). Nevertheless, we need to remember, we need the work more than the work needs us. When we recognize the creative “days” of Genesis are long periods of time, we may appreciate God’s patience and care in preparing the Earth for habitation. We should learn from the clues God has left in nature, rather than ignoring them or rejecting them out of hand. (Were we to reject the evidences in nature, how could we expect scientists to believe the Bible?) Considering the numerical improbabilities of life by purely natural means, we should give credit and praise to God the Creator, to whom it is due. There is no eternal torment. Therefore we should serve the Lord from the heart because we want to, and not because we are afraid of what might happen if we don’t. If we see the distinctions between God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and yet their singleness of purpose, we can also see that the Scriptures are there to help us better understand both. We may be told that we must believe that there has always been one God in three persons in order to be a Christian, and that we are faithless if we do not believe it; but we should not confuse gullibility with faith. If God has given each of us a brain, we should not check our brains at the church door. “And this is [the reason for] life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ” (John 17:3 RV). If we believe that Jesus Christ gave himself a ransom for ALL, then we need to view each human being as most probably a future perfect human being and friend forever. We need to learn to have love for them now if we are to be worthy to bless them in the Lord’s Kingdom. With our Lord’s return comes the command to “Come out of [sectarianism], my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins” and that we not receive her plagues (Revelation 18:4). Belief requires action. Israel’s return is fact. It is fulfilling prophecy in advance of the resurrection of their fathers: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. It is God’s tangible pledge that He will establish His kingdom on the Earth also. One size does not fit all. How we present things is important, as well as the accuracy of what we present. Learning how is part of our Christian development. This life is our laboratory practice to develop the character each member of the church will carry throughout all the course of eternity. How small then will seem our present trials.
How does each of us want to be remembered? For what we did to people? Or
what we did for them? The Spirit of Jehovah
Isaiah 61:1-3 |