Re: [asa] Opposing Anti-Evolution

Rich,
    I'm not sure if there is really that much distance between the views of
you and George, at least based on a post from you four days ago. (I just
began reading the thread late last night, and am still processing it, but
two posts from you caught my attention.)

    George said,
>Wisdom is identified preeminently with Christ himself - which in the
>context of that passage means Christ crucified.
>Wisdom is given to those who are in Christ, who is the incarnate wisdom of
>God. I.e., it is not that God calls the wise but that God makes wise
>those who are called.

    And you replied,
>There is no way you can construct an argument denying that wisdom is
>central to salvation as in God's law being written on your heart (known
>intuitively) by using language like: "Wisdom is identified preeminently
>with Christ himself - which in the context of that passage means Christ
>crucified."
>.....
>Christ crucified has completed the will of the Father by KNOWING the
>Father's will so intuitively that he reflected God's will in his behavior
>even unto death.

--------------

    I like what you say here, but (as George is saying) the "wisdom"
praised in the Bible depends more on the heart and will, rather than
IQ-type intellectual skill. It's more about humility and attitude, not
scholarly intelligence. (or even the "multiple intelligences" in recent
broader-based views of human abilities)
    Peter Ruest -- near the end of his paper about "Providence in Biology"
(PSCF, Sep 2001) -- describes the wisdom of Jesus in (as you correctly say)
"KNOWING the Father's will" and, more important, being willing to obey:
"Jesus remained in perfect communion with the Father and in subjection to
him, so the Father could guide him continuously." This is the wisdom of
Jesus, who explains in John 14:10, "it is the Father, living in me, who is
doing his work." (before and after this, Jesus describes the "work" as
including words and miracles)

--------------------

    And the next day, Friday, you said:
>I contend that the return from the fall is the pursuit of wisdom: the
>knowledge of the laws of God so you can do the will of God.

    Based on the Bible, I think "the return from the fall" is accepting the
gift of grace earned for us by Jesus (in his life and on the cross) as
George emphasizes. But as you say, "knowledge of the laws of God" is
useful so we can "do the will of God." But WANTING to do God's will (when
this isn't "what we instinctively want" in our sinful hearts) is usually
the challenge, the reason we sometimes fail.

Craig

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Received on Mon Jul 17 14:15:38 2006