Dick,
In an email dated 24 June you wrote (in response to my earlier statement
suggesting that everything
pointed to the Flood being a _global_ event) as follows:
If the Genesis narrative "demands" a global event and there was no
global event,
then you have relegated Genesis to a collection of dubious tales and
stories with
value as interesting literature and little more. What you intend is
not what you
get.
By such statements you impugn the integrity of Scripture. That is
the malignant
effect of the young-earth creationist movement of which you seem to be a part.
The effect of YEC is to drive away potential believers by giving them
a reason to
disbelieve.
More recently, you have continued in the same vein:
The one common denominator for all ASA members is that we are
professing Christians and hold to certain essentials of the faith...
We beat each
other about the head and ears on non-essentials...Was the flood global or
local...
...Those of us who are apologists and try to gain converts by spreading
the gospel message, find our efforts hindered by ignorance and
arrogance...Anti-evolutionism in the name of God is just another
false teaching.
It serves no useful purpose, and merely adds to the overall confusion
that inhibits potential believers...It is difficult enough to make inroads
against the layers of
skepticism that have always existed. Now we have to convince
educated non-Christians that we who are followers of Christ do not
reside in scientific la la land.
The true nature and extent of the Flood can hardly be downplayed as a
"non-essential" matter for the
Christian because our correct reading of earth history rests largely upon this
one event - as I'm sure you
must agree. Let me reiterate the principal reasons for my believing it to have
been _global_:
(1) The logic and power of the narrative and its sequel.
(2) The need to build an ark surely suggests there would be no higher ground to
which Noah could
migrate (surely the simplest solution to the coming problem - had it been
available).
(3) The testimony of two NT commentators - one of whom had certainly
walked with
Jesus. In the Greek of
Heb.11:7 and 2Pet.2:5 we find the word "kosmos" used; in the context of these
passages this can only be
rendered _world_ . Had _land_ been intended, then the word "chora"
was available
and would surely have been used. The inevitable outcome of the event
is confirmed
by the Lord Himself in the parallel passages, Mt.24:37,38 and Lk.17:26,27.
Such considerations would hardly convince an educated potential
convert that the
Flood was _local_. And rather than accusing me of impugning the
integrity of the
Scriptures by drawing attention to these realities perhaps you would now admit
that the only reason you believe as you do is because your faith in evolution
overrides such matters as simple logic and the just demands of God's Word.
Vernon
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