I enjoy watching shows on the Science channel, specifically 'Through the Wormhole' and not just because Morgan Freeman is the perfect narrator for everything... It's because of the really far-out-there questions the show asks of scientists and by extension, their viewers. In one of the recent episodes, astrophysicists and other scientific minds were working on measuring time and eternity, asking the question, "Does Eternity End?" Basically, the show finds scientists arguing their beliefs based on various methods of measurement and observation, and therefore drawing their own conclusions to the question at hand.
Most of the people on the show tend to be astrophysicists, meaning they work on the physical interactions of the bodies in the universe, such as stars and planets. They will sometimes work with subatomic particles in space and in stars. These subatomic particles are named so because they are smaller than an atom(the building block of all matter) and therefore exist in the atom or between atoms (Ex. Electrons and Protons you probably heard about in chemistry class or astronomy class).
To save time and my fingers, I'll refer to astrophysicists as just 'scientists' throughout this post.
A scientist will argue that Newton's laws of motion (the foundation of physics) should apply to all things, including time and eternity. One of those laws states that for every action there must be an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, if there was nothing at the "beginning" of time, then there could never be something out of that nothing, disproving the 'big bang theory' (not like the tv show, which is a favorite of mine). I put "beginning" in quotes because scientists are finding it hard to quantify (measure) time when going back to the big bang/beginning or going forward to the theoretical end of time/existence.
In our society, we've segmented time into equal measures, second, minutes, hours, etc. to help us interact with one another and make plans. In a more cognitive approach, we've symbolized time as a line, moving in one direction (not like the band) from the past to the future. We, as a society, have an abstract idea of time, going in an order and allowing ourselves to be nostalgic and remember our lives in the past. When we think about our lives, time stretches from our birth to our death on a timeline like a facebook page.
But scientists turn that idea on its head, because if time were on a line, then time would have had to begin and that means that time would have to end...but with the theory of quantum mechanics (the study of the movement of the subatomic particles) shows that scientists can never be certain of the location or interaction of subatomic particles because they don't have solid walls. Meaning that scientists cannot say if the particles touched each other, or a particle could be there or not there at all at the same time. If you apply quantum mechanics to larger objects such as people or planets, then you can say you were sitting on the couch now and you say you weren't sitting on the couch at the same time. This uncertainty is ludicrous to normal physics and observation, but with quantum mechanics, it's important enough to basically through time out the window.
Time doesn't exist, we as a people made it up to measure our world. BUT, if it is made up by humans, then does it mean all existence always was? And are the predictions or calculations giving basis to theories of beginning and end just foolish?
Albert Einstein believed space (matter, stars, energy) is intertwined with time. So then when space began in the big bang, time began also (quantum theory allows for a spontaneous existence of a particle out of nothing - another post perhaps sometime in the future). So maybe Einstein was right, or could he be wrong in his understanding of space-time? Because time (as far as we know) hasn't changed, but it's clear according to the big bang theory, space has changed. This scientist argues that perhaps time existed outside of space/matter and therefore, time will be here for eternity...
Another scientist in the show believes that, if given enough time, all things will happen. The quantum theory, as I said before, allows for spontaneous particles to become real out of nothing. So if the observations and theories say that space will eventually be eaten up by black holes and all matter will disappear, then (because dark energy will still be there in a small amount) eventually a particle will appear and continue for infinity... until a new big bang begins the universe again and there would be a new YOU, which would make your life now add up to nothing.
Another scientist believes there is what's called a multiverse, which means we can only see so far to the edge of our universe (where light shows us) and there are other multiverses exist outside of us. Using some complex mathematics and the uncertainty of quantum mechanics, the theory works out to say that eventually our universe will decay just like the others in the multiverse and there is nothing we can do about it. Although this theory doesn't address the problems brought up in the first theory (if time began, where did it come from?) it's an interesting thought. So, according to this one scientist, the universe will end and time will end (as we know it in our observable universe.)
Yet another scientist gives the theory that our universe is like a holographic projection far away from us. We are traveling towards an existence that has always existed, but our observation of time is as if we are far away from the universe and we cannot see all things. So our observations would travel closer to the true universe, and time is a measure of distance from the holographic projection. It explains how our universe came from nothing, because we would be so far away from the projection to see anything, but it was still there (just out of sight).
Finally, we get down right weird...What if the future determines our present along with our past? Another scientist does tests on particle behavior, measuring them and observing them. With quantum mechanics, there is the uncertainty again. Scientists cannot accurately measure where a particle is at any one time. When they looked at particles at 2o'clock and measured only a couple at 2:30, they found that those they measured at the beginning corresponded to particles behaving in the same manner at 2. Therefore, saying that because they saw the particle at 2:30, those particles acted in a certain way at 2. Basically, proving that the future decision of observing those particles would determine how they acted in the present. Freaky! But applying anything from quantum mechanics to the larger world has problems, but this proves that the future decisions can influence the present just as much as the past. So, time has a destiny and so we have a destiny...
The last scientist covered in the show calculated the most information humans could ever learn or obtain. It was a large number, 10 to the power of 10 to the power of 90. That's 10 with 10 zeroes times 90 zeroes. He calculated the theoretical size of the universe and the measurement of how much we would have to know to a number of 10 to the power of 10 to the power of 123. If we had a machine to measure this information, we could only get to the first number, leaving out a very, very large number. If you tried to write out that number, writing a zero every second, you would run out of time. The laws of physics prevent us from measuring everything, because the machines necessary to measure it all would be so massive that it would collapse the universe into a black hole. So, he says why bother trying? Haha...
Now to my real purpose for this post...My belief in God allows for a few of these theories to work. For instance, the measurement of all knowledge shows us how far away we could ever be from knowing everything. So how could we know all that God knows?
Working backwards, the theories on the future and the past working together in the present makes me think of how God orders our steps. Our present is affected by the future we are meant to live.
The theory about the holographic projection, meaning that the universe always existed and our observations of it exist in time, allow for God to exist, because no one ever created Him.
The second and third theory talking about all of the time in eternity creating all possibilities (and possibly multiverses), no one can disprove it. We can never know if there are other universes because we cannot obverse them (at least, with scientific instruments). And since it's theoretically possible because of quantum physics, it's a mathematically sound theory. But, as I said, the theory about all time existing into eternity and the multiverse theory don't answer the question of where time began. Where did the multiverse come from? When did it start? Time, and by extension, God can exist outside of these theories.
The best theory I see is the first theory. Even though it disproves Einstein, theoretically, if time and space are intertwined, then time must have changed along with space, and there is no evidence of that. Time can go on forever, because I know there is another plane of existence outside of the observable universe, and God exists there as well as here in our world (through experience, and only in the physical for about 33 years). God orders our steps, affecting our present and leading us toward our future.
~ Buzz
Friday, August 3, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Dear Editor
I wrote a response to a nationally syndicated columnist, lecturer, and TV commentator tonight. Cal Thomas, a conservative writer by what I can determine through his articles, was talking about Evangelical pastors endorsing Rick Santorum for President, even though he is Catholic. The article is titled, 'Not by Sight, but by Faith' but I'm not sure if you can find it anywhere on the internet.
Mr. Thomas' article quickly degenerated into an attack on Evangelicals, for whatever reason, and included Tim Tebow because he is an out-spoken Christian athlete. He used several scriptures to back up his points that the Kingdom of God is best when hidden or invisible, that Christians should not pray or display their faith in public, and that Christians are insecure about their faith because they want a Christian president.
God forbid that we as Christians would want a Christian leader for our country.
Anyway, I decided that since I argued so well against his column, nearly point for point, that I should share it with anyone that's out there to read it. Cheers!
"Dear Mr. Thomas,
I have read your articles for several years and I have enjoyed them for the most part. You tend to write about controversial topics, so I imagine you get some hate mail. This email is an attempt to correct you, much like a newspaper lists corrections after a date or time gets misreported. I say these things with respect and hope you will take them to heart.
I am afraid that aside from your reference to Matthew 6, you have grossly missed the meaning behind the scripture verses you quoted in your most recent article. Those scriptures you used to back up your point that the kingdom of God is best when invisible or hidden are not talking about the Kingdom being hidden at all. Being a writer, I am sure you know what a simile is... Here's the one scripture:
Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." NIV
The kingdom is "LIKE a treasure hidden in a field." Emphasis of course, in the word 'like' which designates the use of a literary term known as a simile. Jesus was talking about the extraordinary worth of the kingdom, hence the man buys the field in which the kingdom resides. It's valuable. Jesus makes the point to cherish it more than all of your possessions. He says to value it and be joyous in finding it...Your possessions are made meaningless next to the Kingdom of Heaven.
You miss the meaning again with your reference to Mark 4:30-32:
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” NIV
The point is not that the Kingdom is best small "like a mustard seed" (another simile)...On the contrary, it grows to become massive and becomes the largest of all garden plants. Using these verses without context and against what they mean is misleading and dangerous to those who read your column. But I suppose it may not be your fault:
Mark 4:33-34
33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. NIV
I suggest that when using Scripture that you pray about it's usage and it's meaning before using it to attack the faithful... speaking of which...
Tim Tebow is just doing what he would normally do by praying before, during, or after a game...it's the media who publicize it. As a Christian, I should be happy that Tim Tebow is taking his time in the spotlight to serve God's purposes (that is, "19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20).
In the interviews and press conferences, Tim is just living up to what Jesus has told him to do,
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God." (Luke 12:8)
I assure you, that's said with the context to support it. With your use of Matthew 6 talking about the hypocrites, it is a mistake to apply that to Tim Tebow because the scripture is talking about motivation, not action. It's as if you were saying that all people who pray in a church are automatically hypocrites, because others can see them do it. The scripture is meant for those that seek for others to see them, to show off basically (showing pride, selfishness, etc.). They get their reward because what they are seeking is not the answer to their prayers; it is the attention, pride, and satisfaction they get by being watched while they are supposedly being 'holy'.
When Tim Tebow has doing things to bring awareness to the Christian faith, and to Jesus Christ, he is doing what we all should do. It is not insecurity for which we cheer him on. Christians seek to have their faith in the public eye because that's where it should be! It's a mistake to put your faith in some locked-away cabinet of your life, only to be shown on Christmas and Easter. Your faith defines you, whether it is a strong faith in Jesus Christ or a strong faith in science, human nature, etc. It penetrates every facet of life, so why not when you are put on display? Tim Tebow is turning an overly selfish, greed-driven sport into a testament of his own faith, and I can't help but appreciate and support that. His football team beat my favorite, the Pittsburgh Steelers, so maybe my comments about him should have more meaning with you knowing my loyalties... As an Evangelical Christian, it is his duty to live up to what Jesus says in Matthew 28. We as Christians are supposed to share our faith with others, so they might see how Jesus is the savior and the only one, the only idea/thing/being, worth following.
As a Christian, it is his duty to pray for those in power to use it as God wills. I haven't seen him make any public endorsements of candidates, and I don't think he ever will. What Christians want is for our country's leaders to reflect Jesus as the idea that drives us to work, supports our laws, and enacts justice. It is not an easy task, for any man to be asked to do that, but Christians hope for a man in the highest office in the land to have his moral center resting in Jesus Christ. We would like to avoid repeating the mistakes of all of those self-indulgent empires that have failed in the past. That failure would not be possible if Jesus Christ was the greatest adviser to our president. I've prayed for President Obama, and all elected officials (as has my church and all my Christian friends), but that doesn't mean I don't want someone else in office who more accurately reflects Christ's mission on our planet and in our country.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want a theocracy established in America...forcing my faith on others would miss the point and block the ability of the Holy Spirit to work in people's lives in order to help them to have a conversion of heart. No one does anything for the goodness of God by forcing someone to believe in something they do not believe. As I said, that misses the point. For it is God who saves our souls, not the missionary. I can force someone to say they believe in God and force them to follow His commands, but if they do not believe, then they are not saved. As I said before, what good is that?
I've started to ramble to make my point, so I'll stop here and hope you'll forgive me. To take Scripture out of context to serve your own purposes is a mistake, and I pray that you can correct it. For if you believe that Jesus is your Savior, then you have brothers and sisters of faith in the evangelical churches. I hope you have taken this email to heart, and if you have read it with an open mind, you can come to understand how the Kingdom of God is meant to be wonderful, huge, and valuable beyond measure.
God Bless you,
Michael Schellhammer"
Emphasis added for the blog, cause I like it that way. . . The Truth is Out There.
Mr. Thomas' article quickly degenerated into an attack on Evangelicals, for whatever reason, and included Tim Tebow because he is an out-spoken Christian athlete. He used several scriptures to back up his points that the Kingdom of God is best when hidden or invisible, that Christians should not pray or display their faith in public, and that Christians are insecure about their faith because they want a Christian president.
God forbid that we as Christians would want a Christian leader for our country.
Anyway, I decided that since I argued so well against his column, nearly point for point, that I should share it with anyone that's out there to read it. Cheers!
"Dear Mr. Thomas,
I have read your articles for several years and I have enjoyed them for the most part. You tend to write about controversial topics, so I imagine you get some hate mail. This email is an attempt to correct you, much like a newspaper lists corrections after a date or time gets misreported. I say these things with respect and hope you will take them to heart.
I am afraid that aside from your reference to Matthew 6, you have grossly missed the meaning behind the scripture verses you quoted in your most recent article. Those scriptures you used to back up your point that the kingdom of God is best when invisible or hidden are not talking about the Kingdom being hidden at all. Being a writer, I am sure you know what a simile is... Here's the one scripture:
Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." NIV
The kingdom is "LIKE a treasure hidden in a field." Emphasis of course, in the word 'like' which designates the use of a literary term known as a simile. Jesus was talking about the extraordinary worth of the kingdom, hence the man buys the field in which the kingdom resides. It's valuable. Jesus makes the point to cherish it more than all of your possessions. He says to value it and be joyous in finding it...Your possessions are made meaningless next to the Kingdom of Heaven.
You miss the meaning again with your reference to Mark 4:30-32:
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” NIV
The point is not that the Kingdom is best small "like a mustard seed" (another simile)...On the contrary, it grows to become massive and becomes the largest of all garden plants. Using these verses without context and against what they mean is misleading and dangerous to those who read your column. But I suppose it may not be your fault:
Mark 4:33-34
33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. NIV
I suggest that when using Scripture that you pray about it's usage and it's meaning before using it to attack the faithful... speaking of which...
Tim Tebow is just doing what he would normally do by praying before, during, or after a game...it's the media who publicize it. As a Christian, I should be happy that Tim Tebow is taking his time in the spotlight to serve God's purposes (that is, "19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20).
In the interviews and press conferences, Tim is just living up to what Jesus has told him to do,
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God." (Luke 12:8)
I assure you, that's said with the context to support it. With your use of Matthew 6 talking about the hypocrites, it is a mistake to apply that to Tim Tebow because the scripture is talking about motivation, not action. It's as if you were saying that all people who pray in a church are automatically hypocrites, because others can see them do it. The scripture is meant for those that seek for others to see them, to show off basically (showing pride, selfishness, etc.). They get their reward because what they are seeking is not the answer to their prayers; it is the attention, pride, and satisfaction they get by being watched while they are supposedly being 'holy'.
When Tim Tebow has doing things to bring awareness to the Christian faith, and to Jesus Christ, he is doing what we all should do. It is not insecurity for which we cheer him on. Christians seek to have their faith in the public eye because that's where it should be! It's a mistake to put your faith in some locked-away cabinet of your life, only to be shown on Christmas and Easter. Your faith defines you, whether it is a strong faith in Jesus Christ or a strong faith in science, human nature, etc. It penetrates every facet of life, so why not when you are put on display? Tim Tebow is turning an overly selfish, greed-driven sport into a testament of his own faith, and I can't help but appreciate and support that. His football team beat my favorite, the Pittsburgh Steelers, so maybe my comments about him should have more meaning with you knowing my loyalties... As an Evangelical Christian, it is his duty to live up to what Jesus says in Matthew 28. We as Christians are supposed to share our faith with others, so they might see how Jesus is the savior and the only one, the only idea/thing/being, worth following.
As a Christian, it is his duty to pray for those in power to use it as God wills. I haven't seen him make any public endorsements of candidates, and I don't think he ever will. What Christians want is for our country's leaders to reflect Jesus as the idea that drives us to work, supports our laws, and enacts justice. It is not an easy task, for any man to be asked to do that, but Christians hope for a man in the highest office in the land to have his moral center resting in Jesus Christ. We would like to avoid repeating the mistakes of all of those self-indulgent empires that have failed in the past. That failure would not be possible if Jesus Christ was the greatest adviser to our president. I've prayed for President Obama, and all elected officials (as has my church and all my Christian friends), but that doesn't mean I don't want someone else in office who more accurately reflects Christ's mission on our planet and in our country.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want a theocracy established in America...forcing my faith on others would miss the point and block the ability of the Holy Spirit to work in people's lives in order to help them to have a conversion of heart. No one does anything for the goodness of God by forcing someone to believe in something they do not believe. As I said, that misses the point. For it is God who saves our souls, not the missionary. I can force someone to say they believe in God and force them to follow His commands, but if they do not believe, then they are not saved. As I said before, what good is that?
I've started to ramble to make my point, so I'll stop here and hope you'll forgive me. To take Scripture out of context to serve your own purposes is a mistake, and I pray that you can correct it. For if you believe that Jesus is your Savior, then you have brothers and sisters of faith in the evangelical churches. I hope you have taken this email to heart, and if you have read it with an open mind, you can come to understand how the Kingdom of God is meant to be wonderful, huge, and valuable beyond measure.
God Bless you,
Michael Schellhammer"
Emphasis added for the blog, cause I like it that way. . . The Truth is Out There.
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Mystery of Christmas: God becomes Man
Many people might become caught up in the shopping and the commercialization of this holiday season, but there is clearly a more spiritual reason for all of the family gatherings and gift-giving. This of course is derived from the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, God incarnate in man. Now, for people who do not believe in Jesus, there is no reason to participate in any of the holiday's cheer and gift-giving...but I often come across people who do not show any beliefs during the year, but become ultra-religious or (in the least) attend a religious service during Christmas. If I were to say any one thing were the MOST important to believe in, it would be that God became man in Jesus Christ...because all else stems from that. Let me explain, and I'll use some anthropological themes as well as common arguments to guide me through this post.
The first question would be, why would God become a man? For many who think about such
things, to go from having Godly powers to become merely man is difficult to understand.
But for God, He "so loved the world" that he became man in Jesus, himself a piece of God.
People cry foul and say that God could never become a man. But it is as simple as the
fact that God created us to be with Him and dwell with Him. Because He is a just God, He
couldn't let us go unpunished from original sin. He had to be the perfect sacrifice unto
Himself, in order to redeem the world from that original sin.
Anthropologically and psychologically, we humans want and want and want. It's part of our survival instinct. Fat was at one time considered the picture of health...because fat meant you could withstand (or more likely withstand) a drought or famine. My point is that humanity's desires and propensity to the gathering of things, food, drink, possessions, all come from an anthropological and psychological desire as humans. So, that can explain the reason why some cannot believe a being will give up Godly powers in order to become a lowly man, subject to the whims of nature. Though I believe, this can be the reason for much disbelief around the world.
They simply do not believe Jesus was God and man.
He fulfilled many prophecies, which were written hundreds of years before Christ was
born. Of course people try to disprove these claims as well, because there is a lot of "shoe-fitting" in prophecies. The Nostradamus Effect show on the History channel and the like all do a lot of "shoe-fitting". Basically, this means a current event is interpreted as being prognosticated through a prophet at an earlier date by changing the parts of the prophecy to "fit" into the mold of the current event. Everything written by Nostradamus is ambiguous and easily re-interpreted by anyone wanting a particular event predicted by Nostradamus. People tried to say he predicted the event after the fact... by twisting what he said to fit the description of the event. No one was looking around for the things claimed to have been predicted by Nostradamus. But people in Israel in the 1st century were looking for the Messiah. We can see a demonstration of this in the story of the wise men in the Gospel of Matthew.
" Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way."
(Matthew 2:1-12 ESV)
The Magi knew what they were looking for. They knew the prophecies and knew that a new king was coming to Israel. This is one of the proofs of the prophecy's authenticity. And because it was done at the time of the event (or including travel time, before) there is NO "SHOE-FITTING". People anticipated this event for 700 years since Isaiah prophecied it. Here is the original prophecy, along with what is said of Jesus' birth:
"Then he said, 'Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men,
but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.' "
(Isaiah 7:13-14)
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government will be
upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there
will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish
it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. " (Isaiah 9:6-7)
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His
name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord
God will give Him the throne of His father David. " (Luke 1:31-32)
As a further proof of the prophecy of God becoming man in Jesus Christ, there is the story of Jesus' dedication in the temple. When baby Jesus was dedicated in the temple, Simeon said he had heard from God that he would see the Savior before he died:
" Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:25-35)
If we can take the narrative as it is happening, then these things serve to prophesy about Jesus' life and death in Israel. Speaking about the salvation of all, not just Israel, is another prophecy for Jesus' ministry and His message.
Taking these stories at face value, as they happened, one can't help but believe that such a thing was possible. It's not just a story. The people in these stories were real, flesh and blood people, who saw and heard miraculous things. Not everyone of these people were hallucinating, under the influence of sleep-deprivation, under the influence of drugs or chemicals...when you realize how many people have told this story, and how many references we have to it, you logically cannot believe that they are all liars. Being so removed from the events, having 2 thousand years separating us from Jesus' birth, we can brush the story aside as fairy tale. Believe me, if Christians are believing a fairy tale, then explain miraculous healing scientifically? No one can explain, other than to say it is 'spontaneous'. That is the scientific community's best explanation... that whatever happened was unexpected. The entire scientific revolution (and the Scientific Method that many of you would use in biology/chemistry/physics class) is based on observation of results to stimuli. For those that experience spontaneous healing, some people that I know, there is no stimuli other than FAITH. Faith is not a scientific stimulus, and therefore does not have predicted results. Well, that's why it's miraculous!
To bring us back to our topic, and to wrap up my argument, the miracle of God becoming man is perfectly allowed in the logical examination of the events that surround the birth of Jesus. Whether it's the prophecies that predicted His birth and ministry, or the events surrounding Mary and the virgin birth (which was also predicted), the occurrence of one event builds to create the rest of the story. If Mary had no intercourse to conceive Jesus, and an Angel (who acted a as messenger from God) told her what had happened and what was to happen, then will we really just write it off as fanciful writing and fairy tale? An Angel brought Joseph the message to stay with Mary, and then the message to flee to Egypt, which saved Jesus from the massacre of the innocents (Matthew 2:16-18). This fulfilled prophecies in Jeremiah 31, by the way. The evidence stacks up for the creation of God in a man named Jesus, for whom people were searching in the first century AD. If you are willing to believe that all of these people aren't lying (for what did they have to gain anyway?) then you can rest assured that Jesus was God and Man, and that He has saved us, just as His name means, "God rescues".
~ Buzz
The first question would be, why would God become a man? For many who think about such
things, to go from having Godly powers to become merely man is difficult to understand.
But for God, He "so loved the world" that he became man in Jesus, himself a piece of God.
People cry foul and say that God could never become a man. But it is as simple as the
fact that God created us to be with Him and dwell with Him. Because He is a just God, He
couldn't let us go unpunished from original sin. He had to be the perfect sacrifice unto
Himself, in order to redeem the world from that original sin.
Anthropologically and psychologically, we humans want and want and want. It's part of our survival instinct. Fat was at one time considered the picture of health...because fat meant you could withstand (or more likely withstand) a drought or famine. My point is that humanity's desires and propensity to the gathering of things, food, drink, possessions, all come from an anthropological and psychological desire as humans. So, that can explain the reason why some cannot believe a being will give up Godly powers in order to become a lowly man, subject to the whims of nature. Though I believe, this can be the reason for much disbelief around the world.
They simply do not believe Jesus was God and man.
He fulfilled many prophecies, which were written hundreds of years before Christ was
born. Of course people try to disprove these claims as well, because there is a lot of "shoe-fitting" in prophecies. The Nostradamus Effect show on the History channel and the like all do a lot of "shoe-fitting". Basically, this means a current event is interpreted as being prognosticated through a prophet at an earlier date by changing the parts of the prophecy to "fit" into the mold of the current event. Everything written by Nostradamus is ambiguous and easily re-interpreted by anyone wanting a particular event predicted by Nostradamus. People tried to say he predicted the event after the fact... by twisting what he said to fit the description of the event. No one was looking around for the things claimed to have been predicted by Nostradamus. But people in Israel in the 1st century were looking for the Messiah. We can see a demonstration of this in the story of the wise men in the Gospel of Matthew.
" Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.
Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way."
(Matthew 2:1-12 ESV)
The Magi knew what they were looking for. They knew the prophecies and knew that a new king was coming to Israel. This is one of the proofs of the prophecy's authenticity. And because it was done at the time of the event (or including travel time, before) there is NO "SHOE-FITTING". People anticipated this event for 700 years since Isaiah prophecied it. Here is the original prophecy, along with what is said of Jesus' birth:
"Then he said, 'Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men,
but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.' "
(Isaiah 7:13-14)
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government will be
upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there
will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish
it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. " (Isaiah 9:6-7)
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His
name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord
God will give Him the throne of His father David. " (Luke 1:31-32)
As a further proof of the prophecy of God becoming man in Jesus Christ, there is the story of Jesus' dedication in the temple. When baby Jesus was dedicated in the temple, Simeon said he had heard from God that he would see the Savior before he died:
" Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:25-35)
If we can take the narrative as it is happening, then these things serve to prophesy about Jesus' life and death in Israel. Speaking about the salvation of all, not just Israel, is another prophecy for Jesus' ministry and His message.
Taking these stories at face value, as they happened, one can't help but believe that such a thing was possible. It's not just a story. The people in these stories were real, flesh and blood people, who saw and heard miraculous things. Not everyone of these people were hallucinating, under the influence of sleep-deprivation, under the influence of drugs or chemicals...when you realize how many people have told this story, and how many references we have to it, you logically cannot believe that they are all liars. Being so removed from the events, having 2 thousand years separating us from Jesus' birth, we can brush the story aside as fairy tale. Believe me, if Christians are believing a fairy tale, then explain miraculous healing scientifically? No one can explain, other than to say it is 'spontaneous'. That is the scientific community's best explanation... that whatever happened was unexpected. The entire scientific revolution (and the Scientific Method that many of you would use in biology/chemistry/physics class) is based on observation of results to stimuli. For those that experience spontaneous healing, some people that I know, there is no stimuli other than FAITH. Faith is not a scientific stimulus, and therefore does not have predicted results. Well, that's why it's miraculous!
To bring us back to our topic, and to wrap up my argument, the miracle of God becoming man is perfectly allowed in the logical examination of the events that surround the birth of Jesus. Whether it's the prophecies that predicted His birth and ministry, or the events surrounding Mary and the virgin birth (which was also predicted), the occurrence of one event builds to create the rest of the story. If Mary had no intercourse to conceive Jesus, and an Angel (who acted a as messenger from God) told her what had happened and what was to happen, then will we really just write it off as fanciful writing and fairy tale? An Angel brought Joseph the message to stay with Mary, and then the message to flee to Egypt, which saved Jesus from the massacre of the innocents (Matthew 2:16-18). This fulfilled prophecies in Jeremiah 31, by the way. The evidence stacks up for the creation of God in a man named Jesus, for whom people were searching in the first century AD. If you are willing to believe that all of these people aren't lying (for what did they have to gain anyway?) then you can rest assured that Jesus was God and Man, and that He has saved us, just as His name means, "God rescues".
~ Buzz
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Mission Statement of the Blog
I intend to make this blog a study on the ways the Bible and Christian beliefs can apply to the difficult questions of the modern scientific community. I am not a scientist, but I am a student. Therefore, I intend to write about the crazy, weird, and off-the-wall challenges to the Bible and the Christian faith. Because I have a high interests in history, anthropology, ecology, geology, psychology, parapsychology, demonology, and the paranormal, the topics for this blog will often draw from those fields of study. I will almost always speak with Scripture in mind, although I cannot make any promises about backing up my personal feelings with Scripture. I understand, as many may or may not, that topics of study today are not always addressed within the Bible. However, there are many ways the lessons and teachings within the Bible can be applied to the topics of today. This is not an apologetic blog, but a student's attempt to explain those things that are not easily explained with reference to Christianity, the Holy Bible, and Jesus Christ, to whom I owe all things.
To perhaps better explain my motives, I give you a quote from one of my favorite tv shows ever:
" If we fail to anticipate the unforeseen or expect the unexpected in a universe of infinite possibilities, we may find ourselves at the mercy of anyone or anything that cannot be programmed, categorized or easily referenced." ~ FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, The X-Files (1998)
~ Buzz
To perhaps better explain my motives, I give you a quote from one of my favorite tv shows ever:
" If we fail to anticipate the unforeseen or expect the unexpected in a universe of infinite possibilities, we may find ourselves at the mercy of anyone or anything that cannot be programmed, categorized or easily referenced." ~ FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, The X-Files (1998)
~ Buzz
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