La Sierra University Granted Window to Show its Faithfulness to Church’s Creation Belief
ken –

Interpretation? Some aspects of scripture may require “interpretation”. Most is quite clear – as is the story of Creation. Brief, but clear.

Study the Bible honestly, fairly, and prayerfully. It will be clear to you as well.

La Sierra University Granted Window to Show its Faithfulness to Church’s Creation Belief
Well here I sit, wallowing in my “superstitious” beliefs.

Yep, that is it. I actually do believe in a Great and All-powerful God who stands outside of the boundaries of time and science and actually does have the power to form a man out of dirt and breathe into this element-composed lifeless form, the “breath of life”. Imagine my foolishness? In all of the great discoveries of science, even a clue as to what constitutes the “breath of life” cannot be found. We know when it is there, and we know when it is gone. How can it be tested?

But science is all about discovery and will not acknowledge that some crucial things about our existence are a part of the secrets of God – not to be discovered by man. That essence of LIFE is one of them. I know when it is present and I know when it is gone. Where it comes from is not a thing I can discover. So for my feeble mind that cannot discern the secret of what actually constitutes LIFE, I must indulge in FAITH – that is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.

I look at myself, others, and my surroundings. I realize that even though there is much reality that can be studied and explored by science, all of it still goes back to the existence of LIFE – which, again, is NOT something that “science” has been able to touch. And so I indulge in accepting something on FAITH – or without proof – simply because I can observe that I do exist.

My faith has given me a sort of blissfulness. Yes, it is because I believe in such an all-powerful Being that can form a person from dirt and put life into it within a literal day, that I have FAITH. Thus, I also find it not a stretch to believe that the same Great Being has a similar power that can bring the millions back to life who once existed but whose bodies are now totally decomposed. There is no “scientific method” involved and that event will defy any natural laws with which we have any familiarity.

My belief here is what makes me an “Adventist”. Yes, I believe in a literal return of the Creator who will exercise those non-scientific powers that raise the dead back to life. I am a “Seventh-Day” Adventist because I believe that the world was created in seven literal days through his non-scientific power.

If studies in faith and science cause conflicting conclusions, which one has the greater authority? Truth is absolute, is it not? I see our realities as totally dependant on the existence of life. Science knows nothing about life – beyond simply being able to observe that it does exist. One cannot study Biblical history in one discipline and science in another, and come to two opposite true conclusions.

A very brilliant person recently told me that he does not believe in the “hocus pocus” of a God creating by “His Word”. He said he “has no problem” with the existence of a God but that this God is constrained by natural laws to use them to perform his creative works. I understand exactly what he is saying but what he does not realize is that he is foolishly trying to put God into limits to which God is not subject. God is totally beyond our ability to fathom – especially in the fallen state that we live in on this earth today. That is why we must have FAITH. That is why He said, “Except …ye become as little children…”

Sadly, so-called “science” and “religion” have found themselves on the opposite ends of a continuum of explaining existence and reality. They are opposite and mutually exclusive conclusions and there is no reconciliation of the two belief systems.

The SDA church’s existence is absolutely and wholly based on the FAITH side – on the extreme end of the continuum. The view is so extreme as to be found as foolish or deluded by the adherents of the other extreme. There can be no conciliation between the two views.

To the “scientist”:
Call me a fool or superstitious about such an all-powerful God, if you like. Yes we are a minority in today’s world but we are the Seventh-Day Adventist church and we have “FAITH” – meaning that we accept as reality those things we cannot see, test, or prove. You cannot prove how we got here so if you must try, please join the armies of the scientists of the world who believe as you do and allow us the HOPE (yes “hope” based on “faith”) that is the reason for our existence. Argue with us if you like, but please do not try to dishonestly destroy us from within.

Matthew 18
3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

La Sierra University Granted Window to Show its Faithfulness to Church’s Creation Belief
I don’t know him, but I have heard of a highly qualified biologist from South Africa who is passionate about Creationism. He seems to have had a remarkable conversion experience from athiesm some time back. He could probably be contacted at:

http://amazingdiscoveries.org/

Not sure he’d oonsider a position among a pack of wolves.