Mallz wrote:Sorry but before I drop the Gap Theory it is going to have to be biblically refuted and it never has been despite people rejecting it.I realize you see it as an obsession but I just believe it is true biblically and I'm tired of seeing people reject it for non-biblical reasons and even changing the meaning of words and rewriting history in some cases.
It has been and I'm tired of seeing you say otherwise and throwing it around as 'the truth'. It shows a lack of honesty on your part.
This is God's word we are talking about and I reject this idea creationism is'nt really important. If Gap Theory creationism is true biblically?It should be accepted instead of rejected for non-biblical reasons. If we don't understand God's word properly even when it comes to creation then we won't understand other parts of the bible. The word of God is like a big jigsaw puzzle and the more we put the pieces of the puzzle together the more we see. I believe this is from God and so it is important to understand.
I never said creationism isn't important, stop putting words in my mouth. The burden of proof (yes, biblical proof) shows that the theory is from man, not God. It is from your mind, not His.
It seems to me you are rejecting it for non-biblical reasons instead of honestly and truthfully looking into it to make sure.I believe alot of scientific minded people have been driven away from God's word and the gospel because this creationism was not taught and was rejected for more popular creation interpretations and theories when had this been taught we would not have so many people decieved away from God's word and the gospel.Scientific minded people think the bible is totally wrong when it comes to science and just skimming over this problem will not make it go away. I don't see how you can say this does'nt matter. It does matter that we believe the truth of God's word even when it comes to creationism,it is not a salvation issue but a biblical truth issue.
If you were honest with what you were saying here (obviously not from your words here), you would choose the stance of Theistic Evolution. It's a reality life truth issue (bible is included in that). I see you caring much more about gap theory than Jesus Christ and His coming Kingdom, that is your issue. Don't equate Gods truth with your truth. That is the epitome of arrogant hubris. I'll tell you how it matters to Him: if your making it a stumbling block for others and if you care about anything more than you do Him and what He tells us we should be doing. The amount of energy and time you put towards the gap theory, is not OK. Especially when what He wants us to be doing is so overlooked: Believing in Him, telling others about Him and His coming Kingdom and building an relationship with Him and each other in unity.
All I'm getting back is people judging me because of my creation stance and that is not a reason to reject this. I don't judge others for their creation stance eventhough I might think they are wrong according to God's word.
You're being judged for your actions and words. Your blind arrogance is only not apparent to you. I see this a stumbling block to you and you putting one up for others. But my words are obviously meaningless here, so I'm done.
Mallz said
If you were honest with what you were saying here you would chose the stance of theistic evolution
Is that not the pot calling the kettle black?
Was not your beef here that Abel was equating his creation stance with an arrogant assumption of what is truth but then assume if he was being honest he would take the stance of theistic evolution.
So truth equates to.... insert whatever personal creation stance we hold too.
Maybe I have misunderstood you Mallz but it seems like you have done exactly what you have accused Abel of
I do completely agree with you that our creation stance is secondary to our relationship with Jesus and should never be a stumbling block for ourselves and others. This is why I never get involved with creation debates because at the end of the day, we don't really know with any certainty.
God said to Job "where were you when I laid the foundations of the world".
We need to remain humble.
Science is mans way of trying to understand God's workings, His perfect construction of all we know, His ability to maintain it all. We do not have this all worked out, the finite trying to grasp the infinite. Despite our best abilities our interpretations and understanding of nature and scripture are flawed. We are incapable of perfect understanding.
And so the debate goes around and around. YEC's are accused of totally ignoring obvious truths within nature whilst accusing others of forsaking scripture. TE's are accused of twisting scripture and believing man over God whilst accusing others of being scientifically dishonest and Gap Theorists are accused of being dishonest on both counts whilst accusing others of the same.
I do think Abel is passionate about the Gap theory not because he is putting the theory before God but because he feels it's a stance that gets overlooked and he is passionate in showing people that there is a way to reconcile scripture with what science tells us about the age of the earth and it doesn't have to be evolution. There is another option.
A very valid option.
The crux of his sometimes dogmatic approach I think is not because he is trying to get everyone to believe like him but because he believes that the Gap Theory may help those struggling with tying in scripture and science like the OP.
He doesn't want people to turn away from God because they are struggling to reconcile a YEC or TE or whatever approach. So he is always jumping up and down shouting 'hey, over here, there's another option'.
Sorry if I have put words in your mouth Abel or misconstrued your intentions.