Evolutionary Philosophy

Click here for audio of the sermon on Evolutionary Philosophy (5-3-2009) by Brett Pharr.

Introduction
1. Psalm 19:1-3
2. Two ideologies that shape our societies thinking
3. Results in Social and Political debates
4. Nothing new – Romans 1:18-23
5. The current champion of Humanism is Evolution

I. The Foundations of Evolution
A. Whether admitted or not, the foundation of Evolution is the ideological philosophy of Epicurus in the 4th Century BC
B. The Roman poet Lucretius, around 100 BC, expanded on Epicurus’ teachings and took it further by giving more detailed explanation
C. Sir Isaac Newton – the eternal atom – became the first cause
D. Textual Criticism – In a time when Christianity was politically strong, the ability to directly attack belief was difficulty, thus was born the science of textual criticism to begin to whittle away at Christian thought.
E. Charles Darwin – rooted his biological explanation in the physical world that Newton described
F. Later Science – the complexity of life AND – atoms are not eternal, rendered Newton’s foundation as wrong…no viable origin of life explanation – aliens, crystals, Big Bang—where is the first cause?
G. Notice that evolution is a hypothesis that has no beginning and end. It cannot explain the origin of life and it cannot demonstrate through observation and repeatability the sustainment of cross-species migration. Its primary root is a philosophy to destroy ongoing and afterlife accountability to God.

II. Three fundamental fallacies of Evolution as a system and its incompatibility with direct Bible principles.
A. Cross Species Migration Genesis 1:21,24,25 – after its kind;
B. Uniformity of Natural Law vs., episodic interruption 2 Pet. 3: 3-7
C. Evolution, through natural selection infers that the world, nature including mankind, is improving

III. The Social, Moral and Theological Implications of Evolution
A. Survival of the fittest is the theme of natural selection – therefore might makes right, the law of the jungle. Contrast that with the Golden Rule
B. Sanctity of Life
1. The full title of Darwin’s book “Origin of the Species by means of Natural selection and the preservation of favored races in the struggle of life”.
2. No species really, and therefore nothing that is inherently human. The superior humans are the real humans – Hitler and the Holocaust – Abortion, Euthanasia, Genocide
C. Sexuality morality – Romans 1:26-27
D. And religion itself Evolved Jude 3

IV. Theistic Evolution – Some have tried to reconcile evolution with the Bible
A. The problems with that should be obvious – reconciling two polar estimates
B. All attempts involve reconciling the Bible to science, not the other way around

Conclusion
1. John 8:32
2. 6 literal days – foundation has been proven wrong, and a thesis can not be demonstrated
3. It is no hope but “wishful” thinking by those that think the opposite of “direct his steps”
4. Swagger, Anger at foolishness, and Accountability

America, Christianity and the Culture War

A “must read” series by Dave Miller at Apologetics Press.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Christian Worldview and Economics

Read A Christian View of the Economic Crisis by Albert Mohler.

How Would Jesus Vote?

I have just finished reading a book by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, How Would Jesus Vote? A Christian Perspective on the Issues. With 2008 being an election year, politics and politicians find their way daily into our thoughts, conversations, and lives and it is imperative that Christians examine the issues and the candidates’ positions on the issues so that we can serve God and His purpose through our privilege as citizens.

Maintaining a Christian worldview while wading through the political issues can be somewhat challenging at times, especially when topics take on an intentional “spin” by politicians and their followers. Should a Christian be involved in the political process (vote, run for office, and work for a campaign)? Certainly! Kennedy and Newcombe make this case in their book as well as placing some blame on Christians for allowing things to get to the point they are because of our complacency in the past.

Jesus and politics. They do not mix. Or so we have been told. Jesus is certainly above politics. The question is, would He have His followers be involved in the political process? (p. 4).

The authors clearly believe Christians should be involved in the political process and even go so far as to state that much of the blame for the problems we are encountering in our society “should be placed at the doorstep of the church” (p. 8).

Is God on our side or…

What side is God on? People have wanted to know that since the beginning of warfare… In the book of Joshua, the title character has an encounter with God, or more precisely, the Son of God (p.8).

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” (Joshua 5:13-14).

Joshua asks Jesus, “are you on our side?” much the same way we ask today, “Lord are you on our side or theirs?” And how does Jesus answer? “Neither…He is not on anybody’s side.”

We want to vote “correctly,” but how do we know the right way to vote – the Christian way to vote? Jesus goes on to explain to Joshua that he will be victorious if he obeys the Lord and does what he is commanded to do. The question therefore, is not if God is on our side, but rather, are we on God’s side? You may recall that Abraham Lincoln said as much during the Civil War. In 1863 he overheard someone say that he hoped “the Lord was on the Union’s side.” The president responded: “I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.” (p. 9-10)

Does God care how we cast our ballot? I believe the answer is yes. ..Yet how would Jesus have us vote? When Jesus was on earth He did not reside in a democratic republic and had no opportunity to cast a ballot. Meanwhile, those of us who make following Him our first priority believe He has spoken through His word and given us principles that can inform us on how to vote on many issues…The purpose of this book is to explore those biblical principles from which we can draw political implications (p. 10)

Issues

In this book, we will begin by looking at the broader question of whether the Bible and politics can – and should – mix. I believe that they do. Jesus said we are to “render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s (Luke 20:25). Furthermore, we are called to be salt and light, which has political implications. After exploring the Bible and politics, we will examine the critical issues of our nation and look for guidance from the Bible. This discussion will include many of the issues currently tearing us apart as a society.

Chapters four through thirteen deal with the following issues:

4 – Matters of Life and Death: Abortion, Stem Cells, Suicide, and Euthanasia.

5 – Crime and Punishment: Judging the Death Penalty

6 – War: Is It Ever Justified?

7 – Education and Our Schools

8 – Economic Concerns

9 – Health-Care Issues

10 – The Environment and Climate Change

11 – Immigration and Racial Prejudice

12 – Marriage: Society Smallest Unit

13 – Judicial Activism and the Courts

In a future post we will share quotes from each chapter on the above issues that affect us as Christians and Americans.

The author’s goal is to remind us that God has given us His Word and through it we have commands, principles and examples that direct our beliefs and views to a Christ-like mindset, i.e. worldview.

When we ask, “How would Jesus have us vote?” we are actually asking, “How would the Bible have us vote?” (p. 12). In fifty years I have not, to my knowledge, ever mentioned the name of either one of those political parties whose names I will not mention now, or I could not make that statement again. Lastly, I do not think preachers should tell people for whom they should vote. I do believe, however, that it is incumbent upon us as ministers of the Word of God to declare the principles and moral teachings of the Scripture that apply to public policy in this country (p. 32).

God’s word in the New Testament is our guide, pattern, example, form of doctrine, and blueprint. It is perfect, complete, authoritative, and final. We must be in complete submission to it (John 12:48; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jude 3).

As Christians, our loyalty should be first and foremost to Jesus Christ and His authority. To be loyal to a party or political figure that compromises one’s faith and principles by their words and actions, lessen our credibility as Christians and offend Jesus Christ.

Those deadly compromises are seen so often when Christians cast a ballot in a way that has no connection to their faith. We will give an account for every aspect of our lives, including how we vote. May the Lord give us wisdom to obey Him in this as well as in all areas of our lives (p. 192).

Tragically, there are Christians whom the authors describe “who have one foot stuck in the godlessness of their world and the other gingerly in the church, those who love God but embrace political principles clearly spoken against in His Word” (p. 188).

Title: How Would Jesus Vote? A Christian Perspective on the Issues
Authors: D. James Kennedy, PhD and Jerry Newcombe
Boards: Hardback
Pages: 260
Volumes: 1
Dust jacket: Yes
Binding: Sewn
Topical index: Yes + 22 pages of endnotes
Scriptural index: No
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Year: 2008
Price USD: $16.99
ISBNs: 978-1-4000-7406-8