Re: [asa] Opposing Anti-Evolution

George Murphy wrote:

> "At that time Jesus said, 'I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
> because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have
> revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.'"
>

This is more of a question and a minor comment:

I'm not sure how the New Testament Greek reads here, knowing
next to zero in that domain, but, perhaps having read many
of Plato's works, I always took this to mean "those who call
themselves wise". People like St. Augustine were wise and
intelligent, but by Grace, somehow, he could finally see that
it was neither a vast accumulation of knowledge nor superior
intelligence that leads us to Christ. Indeed, if I claimed
myself to be wise, I would have the sin of pride, and that
would surely be a stumbling block to salvation. The wisdom
that leads us to know of God seems unreachable by this route,
and might as well be viewed as more silly than a male peacock's
display of feathers to a disinterested female. Neither does
God accept such futile displays we love to do before others.

Since the simple have been spared _this_ pride, perhaps they
have an easier time coming to Godly wisdom and living
by it. And as Augustine (and others) acknowledge, the pure
and simple already get this point whereas those who call
themselves wise and intelligent remain as stubborn and stupid
as an ass.

But, lacking the knowledge of the Greek, I can accept that maybe
I am reading this point wrong.

As to the rest of the thread, I would only add,
although our knowledge of God has certainly "evolved" over the
ages, our coming to God is no more easy or likely now than it
was in the time of Abraham (or even before). Likewise, our faith is
no better either. Though the knowledge we have accumulated is of great
value, in as much as we forget that these are the blessing that God has
granted us, this knowledge might as well be counted as "loss". A humble
and contrite heart is what God accepts, not our tawdry pomp.

By Grace we proceed,
Wayne

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Received on Mon Jul 17 20:24:44 2006