Science and Religion Three-Way Blog

I would like to refer back to the news article on Pat Robertson (11/14 blog post). I do not think that it is biblical for anyone today to foretell divine judgment on a city (which is basically what he did, except he did not say that it was certain, it was just something he thought MIGHT happen). I suppose He may get this concept from the Old Testament of the Bible. For example, Jonah had to go to the city of Ninevah to foretell them of the wrath of God which would come upon the city because of the people’s “evil way”. When the city of Ninevah sincerely humbled themselves, prayed to God, and changed their wicked ways, God did have mercy on them and did not destroy them.

However, we must see the contrast of Jonah and the situation at hand. Jonah was told specifically by God to go and give this warning to the city of Ninevah. God does not speak audibly today, telling people to do this sort of thing. Without a direct command such as Jonah received, no one can say who God will punish (on earth) for rejecting Him. We do not fully understand His ways. Many people have rejected God in many different ways, yet have had earthly success. Sometimes God will bring people to nothing on earth because they act against Him, but other times, justice is not done until after we die. Eternal Judgment is the only punishment we CAN be certain of and be warned of, because it is clearly spoken of in the Bible. Matthew 25:46 speaks of “eternal punishment.” The Bible tells us why we will receive this punishment: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23, 6:23). We all deserve Divine punishment because we have all disobeyed God. But the very next part of Romans 6:23 says, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Only those who accept God’s gift of righteousness in Christ alone will avoid their deserved punishment. In agreement with one’s belief, both in God and in Christ’s sacrifice which covers over their rejection of God, one who has accepted Him will likewise believe all that God has said in the Bible, and begin to obey Him. It follows that such a person should believe the history of the earth that God has put forth in the Bible.

The previous few statements probably show why Robertson thinks that the opponents of ID have rejected God. Evolution cannot truly be matched up with the Bible, so believing evolution rather than the Bible is to say that God’s Word is faulty. This is not to say that supporters of ID are all accepting God. An Associated Press article from September 30, 2005 (on MSNBC website) said that “Intelligent-design supporters argue that life on Earth was the product of an unidentified intelligent force.” Clearly, not all ID supporters believe in the Christian God and accept Christ as their Savior. Belief in ID does not equal salvation. ID is a scientific theory which also fits the Bible’s account of Creation. That is why Christians should support ID, and why rejecting ID does oppose God.

Regarding God showing Himself in nature, the Bible says:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they know God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:18-25)

This passage, though written nearly 2000 years ago, still sheds light on what we see today. All of us have been caught up in such disobedience to God, but thankfully we have the chance to be forgiven in Jesus Christ.