More views on Creation

(Originally written on February 20, 2006)

Quiz

1) The notion that God created the world in six twenty-four hour days is connected with?
- Direct Creationism

2) In Genesis 1:27 how many times does the Hebrew word "barah" meaning "create" appear?
- Three

3) In the heavenly realm Satan's alter ego is?
- Michael

4) Who wrote the book Darwin's Black Box?
- Michael Behe

The cosmos is result of either impersonal + time + chance or Divine Creation

Divine Creation
- evidences in microsphere:
- "anthropic principle" - universe made in such a way that it is made to be conducive to human life
- evidences in microsphere:
"irreducible complexity" - the complexity of certain aspects of humanity makes it impossible for a gradual evolutionary process

Genesis & Evolution

Bible - Special creation of humanity as humanity

Theistic evolution?

Genesis 1-3 is not allegory or parable

3 Differentiations

Genesis 1:1 (ex nihilo) nothing becomes something
- Barah #1

Genesis 1:21 unconsciousness becomes conscious life
- Barah #2

Genesis 1:27 Conscious life becomes imago dei
- Barah #3

barah is used three times in verse 27, signifying that humanity is the pinnacle or apex of creation

Caveat: scientific theory is not equal to fact

The Bible states that:
1) God created, thus there is a time, a specific starting point for creation
2) The universe is not necessary, it is contingent upon something or someone. It is not independent, it is dependent on something
3) God of creation and God of redemption are the same (contrary to Marcion's heresy)

Angels

-Created beings, and self-existent spirits
-Spirits, not bodily (Matthew 22:30, Genesis 18:1)

Hierarchy of Angels
- Michael (Daniel 12:1, Jude 9, Revelation 12:7)
- Gabriel (Daniel 8:16, 9:21, Luke 1:19, 31-33)

Monad agents with the capacity to rebel
-Satan is a fallen angel (Revelation 12:7). Satan is not a self-existent spirit

A Faith for all Season Ch. 4

The starting point for answering these questions is comprehending the Bible. It is a foundational point, but experience and science should be used in addition to form a Christian worldview.

God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth

God created the world out of nothing (ex nihilo) simply by calling them into being

The universe is not eternal; only God is eternal.

A modern school of thought (process theology) believes that both God and the universe are eternally in developmental mode. This view ignores "in the beginning" and blurs the line between the creator and the created order.

The God of creation is the God of redemption. This is a belief that has been held by even the earliest Christians. The Nicene Creed and the Apostolic creed focus on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, but begin by affirming that God created all things. These creeds affirmed that the God of creation is the God of redemption and combated the gnostic view of a lesser god (usually the god of the Old Testament) creating the world, but a supreme God redeeming us.

Why God Created the World

This question is really two separate questions. The first is for what purpose did God create the world? The second is what caused God to create the world as it is? To answer the first question, creation has been called a theatrum gloriae dei (theater of the glory of God). Humanity is the centerpiece of this theater. We were created for the purpose of demonstration of the glory of God and for enjoying God forever. Man's highest purpose, according to John Piper, is to "glorify God by enjoying him forever" (Dorman, 67).

All creation glorifies God, but only man can enjoy God because man is the only creation capable of worshipping God.

The second question is considered improper to ask by some. They state simply that God created the world because he wanted to. During the Reformation Martin Luther said that before God created the world he was "cutting the switches to punish those who ask such impertinent questions" (Dorman, 68). Calvin said that before God created the world he was "building a hell for the curious" (Institutes 1.14.1)

Jonathan Edwards believed that God was delighting in himself before creating the world and was therefore motivated to create something glorious. He contended that God has both necessary work and free work. It is necessary for God to fully delight in Himself, but creation isn't essential to God's happiness. Creation is a free act that is done through motivation of God's glory.

According to Edwards, benevolence motivated God to create. He defined benevolence as a joy that is found in meeting the needs of others, rather than having one's own needs met. This motivating benevolence can also be described as a love that condescends to meet the needs of unworthy beings (mercy). God is so secure in Himself that He can condescend to us and love what is unloveable. Mercy is God's greatest act of glory because mercy is a free act. Free acts of will are much more glorious than necessary acts.

Alternatives to the Biblical View of Creation

Greek Philosophy

Biblical view - ex nihilo
Plato's view - ex nihilo nihil fit
- Two self evident things: God and matter
- God formed matter to reflect his eternal ideas in creation
Aristotle
- Believed the same thing other than the universe had a beginning: when God formed the matter to like it

Ancient greek philosophy had a tendency to view this self-existent matter as intrinsically evil.