Yesterday I was poking around youtube and stumbled across this video which prompted a blog post. There are some apologetics which refer to things being created and it addresses mundane things being created as well as the universe being created. As pointed out by the video, the creation of something like a table, and the creation of the universe are very different things, and not just because of the scale.
Let's look at what happens when you create a table? At first, there is no table, but you have a pile of materials, you have wood, glue, screws, or whatever. When you put the materials together you have 'created' the table. There was no table and now there is. What you have really done is reorganize some matter that was already there and we have a particular name for the configuration that you ended with. This is true for everything that we can create, be it a car, a house, or a person. With a person you don't have a 'pile of materials', but you are reorganizing materials just the same.
Now, consider the creation of the universe. The claim is that there was nothing, then God created the universe. God created all of the matter that there is out of nothing. He did not take some stuff and turn it into the universe, he started with no stuff, and then blinked the universe into existence.
Notice that we are really using the word 'create' in 2 very different ways. In one way, we are taking matter and rearranging it, in the other way, God is starting with nothing and making matter appear. These are very different things and we probably shouldn't even be using the same word for it. At the very least, I would argue that any intuition we have about things that we can create should have no bearing on the creation of the universe from nothing.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Romans 5
Peace with God Through Faith
We have peace with God through Jesus who has died for us and given us the holy spirit. Jesus died for the ungodly, which is amazing because it is hard enough to die for a good man, let alone a bad one.
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
Adam sinned and then sin spread to everyone, even before there were the laws of Moses. Then Jesus did his thing and we were all forgiven.
I don't have much to say here, I guess I'm not finding the book of Romans terribly interesting so far. They seem to be saying a lot of the things I used to hear in church, I guess that aspect of it is a bit interesting, but I haven't seen a lot of surprises.
We have peace with God through Jesus who has died for us and given us the holy spirit. Jesus died for the ungodly, which is amazing because it is hard enough to die for a good man, let alone a bad one.
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
Adam sinned and then sin spread to everyone, even before there were the laws of Moses. Then Jesus did his thing and we were all forgiven.
I don't have much to say here, I guess I'm not finding the book of Romans terribly interesting so far. They seem to be saying a lot of the things I used to hear in church, I guess that aspect of it is a bit interesting, but I haven't seen a lot of surprises.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Romans 4
Abraham Justified by Faith
Works are good, something to boast about, but not before God. "To the one who works, wages are not gifts but his due." What about the one who does not work but believes? His faith is counted as righteousness.
This also doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Belief in God is all that matters. If you do good works, that's nice, but it is just what it expected so don't expect any praise. If you believe and don't do anything though, you are still good.
The Promise Realized Through Faith
Abraham was promised that his offspring would be heir of the world not because of the law but because of faith. Even when Abraham's body was failing he had faith.
So faith is good, I get it.
v15:"For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression."
I'm not really sure what to make of this verse. It seems to be saying laws are bad because they bring wrath. All I can figure is that since we are talking about faith, the point is to focus on faith instead of focusing on the law. It doesn't seem to be saying that you should disobey the law or anything (although I could imagine people reading it that way). Anyone have a good idea what this verse is getting at?
Works are good, something to boast about, but not before God. "To the one who works, wages are not gifts but his due." What about the one who does not work but believes? His faith is counted as righteousness.
This also doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Belief in God is all that matters. If you do good works, that's nice, but it is just what it expected so don't expect any praise. If you believe and don't do anything though, you are still good.
The Promise Realized Through Faith
Abraham was promised that his offspring would be heir of the world not because of the law but because of faith. Even when Abraham's body was failing he had faith.
So faith is good, I get it.
v15:"For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression."
I'm not really sure what to make of this verse. It seems to be saying laws are bad because they bring wrath. All I can figure is that since we are talking about faith, the point is to focus on faith instead of focusing on the law. It doesn't seem to be saying that you should disobey the law or anything (although I could imagine people reading it that way). Anyone have a good idea what this verse is getting at?
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Romans 3
God's Righteousness Upheld
"The Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God, what if some of them were unfaithful, does that nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar"
I think this means that it is possible that some of the scribes were lacking in faith and therefore might have not done a great job of writing down the word of God. He then asks if that shows we can't trust the Bible, and then he declares that the answer is no. That sound like an acceptable interpretation of this passage?
He then asks if our unrighteousness can ultimately glorify God do we still get punished for it, then declares that yes, you will.
This makes sense to me. If you do something with bad intentions and something good comes of it I think that should still count as bad.
No One Is Righteous
Both Jews and Greeks are under the law and everyone under the law is a sinner.
This is a message I hear fairly often, that everyone is a sinner. I can't help it, I just find the idea disgusting.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
God died for our sins and paid out debt, because we are all sinner and fallen short of the glory of God, but we are redeemed through Jesus.
This message is one that people seem to really latch on to. I'm not sure it makes a whole lot of sense. I guess in a culture where sacrifices of livestock and such are common it might make some kind of sense, but as far as justice goes I don't think it does. If you get the death penalty no one can sit in the electric chair for you.
I know this is something Christians are going to disagree with, this idea is central to their faith. But that is part of the problem in my opinion. A central tenant of your religion is that everyone is evil, and the redemption story doesn't seem to make sense.
"The Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God, what if some of them were unfaithful, does that nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar"
I think this means that it is possible that some of the scribes were lacking in faith and therefore might have not done a great job of writing down the word of God. He then asks if that shows we can't trust the Bible, and then he declares that the answer is no. That sound like an acceptable interpretation of this passage?
He then asks if our unrighteousness can ultimately glorify God do we still get punished for it, then declares that yes, you will.
This makes sense to me. If you do something with bad intentions and something good comes of it I think that should still count as bad.
No One Is Righteous
Both Jews and Greeks are under the law and everyone under the law is a sinner.
This is a message I hear fairly often, that everyone is a sinner. I can't help it, I just find the idea disgusting.
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
God died for our sins and paid out debt, because we are all sinner and fallen short of the glory of God, but we are redeemed through Jesus.
This message is one that people seem to really latch on to. I'm not sure it makes a whole lot of sense. I guess in a culture where sacrifices of livestock and such are common it might make some kind of sense, but as far as justice goes I don't think it does. If you get the death penalty no one can sit in the electric chair for you.
I know this is something Christians are going to disagree with, this idea is central to their faith. But that is part of the problem in my opinion. A central tenant of your religion is that everyone is evil, and the redemption story doesn't seem to make sense.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Romans 2
God's Righteous Judgment
You can't judge others because you are also guilty.
I guess if you equate all crimes and things like envy are crimes deserving death, then it is true that we are all guilty.
Those who seek glory, honor, and immortality will get eternal life. But those who are self-seeking and who are unrighteous will get wrath and fury.
Isn't seeking immortality also "self-seeking"? This doesn't make much sense to me.
God's Judgement and the Law
If you don't follow the law you have never heard of you will just perish. If you have sinned under the law you will be judged by it. If you have never heard the law and follow it anyway you are a law to yourself. (I'm not sure what that means) The law is written on your heart.
Sounds like you can be judged good even if you don't know about Jesus. How does that sync with the idea that if you don't know about Jesus you'll go to hell?
Don't teach the law and then also break the law.
Sounds good
There is a lot of talk about circumcision.
Why is God so interested in this?
You can't judge others because you are also guilty.
I guess if you equate all crimes and things like envy are crimes deserving death, then it is true that we are all guilty.
Those who seek glory, honor, and immortality will get eternal life. But those who are self-seeking and who are unrighteous will get wrath and fury.
Isn't seeking immortality also "self-seeking"? This doesn't make much sense to me.
God's Judgement and the Law
If you don't follow the law you have never heard of you will just perish. If you have sinned under the law you will be judged by it. If you have never heard the law and follow it anyway you are a law to yourself. (I'm not sure what that means) The law is written on your heart.
Sounds like you can be judged good even if you don't know about Jesus. How does that sync with the idea that if you don't know about Jesus you'll go to hell?
Don't teach the law and then also break the law.
Sounds good
There is a lot of talk about circumcision.
Why is God so interested in this?
Monday, June 25, 2012
Interview on Deity Shmeity
Grundy of Deity Shmeity recently decided to do a series of posts of interviews of fellow bloggers. You should pop over to his blog and see my interview with him.
Romans 1
Greeting
Romans is a letter from Paul to the Romans telling them about Jesus. In the greeting he says that Jesus is the lord and he tells them that Jesus loves them and they should follow Christ.
Longing to Go to Rome
Paul really wants to go to Rome to preach to them because he loves them. He has tried to go that way but he has been prevented up to now.
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes"
Why would he be ashamed? It is interesting that he says that. The message I see here is "You might think I should be ashamed, but I am not"
God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
The wrath of God is revealed to all unrighteous men who suppress the truth. For God's "eternal power and divine nature" have been clear since the creation of the world. "Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God"
That's interesting. It is a condemnation of people who know God but don't honor him. What about people who genuinely don't believe?
These people gave up the glory of God for mortal lusts. They were gay. They were also filled with evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They know God says these things deserve death but they do them anyway.
As usual, when there is a list like this it always seems strange what goes together. Murder and gossip both deserve the same punishment of death? Also, for the random comment that the bible isn't actually antigay, look at v. 26-27.
Romans is a letter from Paul to the Romans telling them about Jesus. In the greeting he says that Jesus is the lord and he tells them that Jesus loves them and they should follow Christ.
Longing to Go to Rome
Paul really wants to go to Rome to preach to them because he loves them. He has tried to go that way but he has been prevented up to now.
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes"
Why would he be ashamed? It is interesting that he says that. The message I see here is "You might think I should be ashamed, but I am not"
God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
The wrath of God is revealed to all unrighteous men who suppress the truth. For God's "eternal power and divine nature" have been clear since the creation of the world. "Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God"
That's interesting. It is a condemnation of people who know God but don't honor him. What about people who genuinely don't believe?
These people gave up the glory of God for mortal lusts. They were gay. They were also filled with evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They know God says these things deserve death but they do them anyway.
As usual, when there is a list like this it always seems strange what goes together. Murder and gossip both deserve the same punishment of death? Also, for the random comment that the bible isn't actually antigay, look at v. 26-27.
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