Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Did we Evolve?


    Last month, we established that every belief system must have a solid foundation.  Any one who bases their belief on the inspired writings will not be susceptible to various and strange doctrines.  Now we will examine some ideas about how we came to exist, and see if they agree with scripture.   Is the theory of evolution based in scripture?  If you take off the first letter in ‘solution’, and replace it with the first two letters of ‘evil’ then you get ‘evolution’.  There are very few people who claim to believe the scriptures that accept the entire teaching of evolution.  Many people, though, do believe parts of this falsity.  When a lie is repeated consistently over and over again for more than 1000 years, it becomes believable.  People will believe what they are taught, and people have a right to believe what they chose to believe.  This author chooses to believe scripture.  Here is a paraphrase of the entire teaching of evolution.  “In The Beginning, there was nothing, but a very small dot.  This dot contained all matter and energy in a super-compressed state.  This dot exploded sending matter out.  Some of the matter is still burning from the explosion.  This is what stars are.  Stars also expelled excess matter and this matter cooled and became planets, asteroids, and comets.  These planets, comets, and asteroids circle around their parent star which is called a sun.  The larger pieces of matter captured smaller pieces and made them into moons.  Other small pieces of matter collided with the planets and moons.  A collision of a big comet and the planet we live on (earth) somehow caused life to begin on earth.  This life was originally just a microscopic pool of liquid.  Then it started growing and eventually split into two cells.  The two became four, the four became eight, and the doubling process continued. Some of the cells mutated into other types of cells.  The mutations that were weaker died, while the mutations that were stroner survived.  After many billions of years this process of survival of the fittest produced the forms of life we have presently.”  The theory fails to explain what the dot was in, or what the continuous expansion is expanding into or what lies beyond.  The account described in Scripture, clearly states that the earth was created before the sun.  The Scriptures also prove that everything was created in six cycles of darkness and light.  Some people teach that there is a gap between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2.  In other words, Elohim created the Heavens and the earth in on instant.  Then the earth became void and without form.  Then He re-created the earth in one week.  People can speculate that the Garden in the land of Eden was not created immediately after the first Sabbath, but this, too, is only speculation.  The Scripture states that Elohim rested on the seventh cycle of darkness and light, and then planted a garden on the earth that He had created the weak before.  It does not say how long He waited to do this.  Although a gap between Gen 2:4 and Gen 2:5 is possible,  it is not necessary for anyone to believe this.  It is written in Torah that we do not need to know these things (Deut 29:29).   This author has yet to see a scripture that stated the earth is billions of years old. Saying that there is a gap in the scriptures between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 is like saying that the scripture is incomplete.  This is why many people refuse to believe any part of the theory of evolution, or big bang theory, or anything else being taught by those who are trying to disprove scripture.   Since there are those that do not believe the account in scripture is literally true, we will look at the world around us.  Since (according to the theory) it is possible for the earth to just develop life on its own, or with the help of a few comets, then other things should evolve on their own as well.  If we took a watch apart, and put all the pieces into a bag, how long would we have to shake that bag so the parts will assemble themselves into a watch.  If you say that there is a difference between the watch and the earth, you are right.  We should have put basic elements into the bag, and let the elements form themselves into gears and springs and such, then the gears and springs could continue to form themselves into a watch.  The Earth is still more complex than this. There are some who say that the evolutionary process was caused to happen by the creator of the universe.  If this is the case, why did He not say so.  If the earth and everything in it, on it, above it, and around it was not created in six literal cycles of darkness and light, is Elohim a liar?   According to the theory, the gorillas, the chimpanzees, the orangutans and the humans all evolved from the same animal, through a long process of mutation.  The weaker mutants died, and the stronger ones lived, and the process is still happening now.  There have been experiments that appear to establish this.  Now, we must pause to review the scientific process so everyone will understand what a theory is.  The process starts with an idea.  Then the person, or people who came up with the idea formulate a hypothesis, by making a statement of their idea, and showing how an experiment will prove them right.  Then they set up the experiment, and if their idea is proven right, it becomes a theory.  If, afer many people have done many experiments, all experiments prove the theory right, then the theory becomes a scientific law over time.  The law of gravity is an example of a scientific law. Peolpe have constructed anti-gravity devices using magnets, which cast doubt, but it has not been proven wrong.  If an experiment does prove a theory wrong, then it must be completely thrown out and a new idea formed based on the failed experiment.  To this date, no one has proven gravity wrong conclusively, so it stands as a law.  The theory of evolution has been proven right by very few experiments.  Some scientists have done experiments involving bone marrow, and the results did not clearly prove that the bone marrow from orangutans was like the bone marrow from humans.  That experiment was inconclusive, but the theory still stands.  Then some other scientists were experimenting with the eye.  The more they study the eye, the harder it is for them to believe that the eye has evolved.  Since the eye could not have evolved, the theory must be discarded, and the entire idea of evolution reconsidered.  By their own process, the theory of evolution can not stand!  As sure as the sun moves across the sky, this lie is over. At least, it should be.  Many schools have attempted to teach “creative design” because technically, there is no theory of evolution. Yet they are still forced to perpetrate this lie!

    Still some people hold on to the idea that the creation process was slow and gradual over a long period of time.  Some people who claim to believe in YAHWEH , are now saying that we were cloned by creatures from other planets.  Space does not permit this author to elaborate on every time that The Urantia Papers contradict themselves. The Sumerian texts, that are being quoted by people who make this claim, have also been found to be in error.  The letter that Shaul wrote to the Colossians (Col 1:16) clearly stated that Yahshua created us.  Since it would be physically impossible for many plants to exist without animals to spread their seeds, we must conclude that the entire creation process was completed quickly.  Therefore there is no reason to doubt that the account in Bereshith (Gen 1) is true.  For that matter, is there even a verse, in the accepted scripture, that says there are other planets?  This question will be addressed in the months to come.  Any comments that explain the viewpoint of “Creative Evolution”, or “Alien Cloning” are welcome.  We only ask that you clearly make your point using the accepted scriptures. 

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

What Does It Mean To Believe?

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Yohanan (John) 3:16 says “For Elohim so loved the world that He gave His only brought forth Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but posses everlasting life.” That means that
everyone who believes in Elohim should live forever. Ya’acob writes in his letter, “Even the demons believe,
and shudder.” This is found in James 2:19 in The Bible So unless demons will live forever in a state of
rebellion, there must be more to belief than just acknowledging the existence of what you believe in. Let us
take for example, the President of The United States of America. We can read in the papers, or see on the
news the name of the person who currently holds that office. Nearly everyone will know that he is the
President. How many people believe that he should be president, or how many people believe that he is
taking the country in the right direction? Now the list is smaller, is it not? This brings up the question: “What
does it mean to believe?”. Would you, dear reader, say that you believe in Elohim? To believe in someone,
is more than just acknowledging their existence, or acknowledging that they occupy an office. To truly believe
in someone, you must believe that everything they say or do is right. Are you still claiming to believe in Elohim
now? Of all the people who believe in a higher power; how many people believe that hwhy is Elohim. How
many people truly believe in hwhy? Do You?
Wayyiqqra (Leviticus) 11:1-42 clearly describes food that is safe to eat and abominations that are not
edible. We will encounter people who say they believe, but they do not believe that they need to obey this
command. Do they not believe that hwhy meant this for all people or for all time? Do they believe that they
can cleanse the unclean by feeding the beast clean grains, slaughtering it a certain way, or through
refrigeration and freezing? If so, they believe in themselves or they don’t believe that hwhy knows everything!
There are some that believe that hwhy spoke this only to make us feel as if we are not worthy to be in His
presence. If you believe hwhy loves you then you will know that He did not make a law that He doesn’t expect
us to obey, and He did not put restrictions on us to make us feel unworthy to be in His presence! He gave
us perfect instructions to keep us from dying or to keep us healthy, wealthy and wise! Because of the
improper slaughtering in butcher shops, and/or preparing of foods in many Restaurants; some people who
believe in hwhy are abstaining from eating in restaurants, and many more are becoming vegetarians! If
people do not believe that this command applies to them, forcing them to obey it will not save them. We can
challenge them to follow these instructions to prove they will be healthier, and sometimes this leads them to
believe that hwhy is right. Doing what the law says will sometimes help someone believe, but doing without
belief will not get anyone into the Kingdom. On the other hand, why would one want to eat something that
Our Creator calls unclean. For example, hwhy said pig is unclean, and this author, believing that hwhy
knows best, does not eat pig. We cannot force people to believe; but what we believe will be reflected by what
we do. How can a person blatantly ignoring The Word of hwhy convince someone that hwhy is love?
The same concept works with other scriptures as well. Some instructions are not as specific so
let's not focus on what others are doing, just live what we believe. Does Wayyiqqra 19:19 include
cotton polyester and/or other synthetic blends? Debarim (Deuteronomy) 22:11 infers that it
doesn’t, however this chapter raises other questions. In verse 5, what is a man’s garment that a
woman is not to wear, and vice versa? How does verse 12 apply today? Is this command only for
the men, or is it for everyone? Is this command only for the children? See Bemidbar (Numbers)
15:37 41 for another reference. How do we make the fringe? Are we supposed to wear garments
that have four corners? Enough about clothes, let's talk about hair. Does Yehezqel (Ezekiel)
44:15 31 apply to us today, or just the priests of the time it was spoken? What does 1st Corinthians
11:14 mean? Is Paul saying that a man must cut his hair in the Greco-Roman fashion? Is Paul
simply saying that a man who doesn’t cut his hair is putting himself below Yahshua? (See Strong's
# 819 in Vines dictionary). 1st Corinthians 11:6 says that if a woman does not cut her hair, then she
must wear a covering. Is it possible that Paul is explaining why men don’t wear coverings?
Certainly a man wearing a crown (a type of covering) would be highly esteemed. Is being shamed
a bad thing in this context? There are many more issues in which it seems the scripture is unclear.
Are these scriptures to be taken literally, or are they metaphors? Although some people do take
Debarim (Deuteronomy) 6:8 literally, most of us see that as symbolic. To this day, I do not know
of anyone who took Debarim 10:16 literally. We know that we cannot convince anyone, it is the Spirit
that teaches all of us. The best way to handle such issues is to pray that hwhy reveals the truth to us. Some
will accept the truth. Others will reject it. We should be humble, and be constantly asking ourselves, “Am I
the one who is rejecting the truth?”.
What about the way we treat other people? Prophecy tells us that there will be peace on earth when
the Kingdom comes. Revelation 20:4 says that those who are martyred for proclaiming the truth, or for
refusing to follow the beast will be priests in The Kingdom. Matt. 5:11-12, and Matt. 10:22 say the same. Do
we believe this? Matt. 7:7-12 says that hwhy is our provider. Do we believe this? Is the way we treat other
people reflecting this belief? For example suppose that you walk up to your car and find someone trying to
hot-wire it. According to the letter of the law, that person now owes you two cars (Shemoth/Exodus 22:4).
Romans 7:6 says that we should serve in newness of Spirit and not in oldness of letter. A typical response
from a person led by The Spirit might be this: “Friend, what are you doing to my car? If you had asked me,
I would have let you use the car. But to show you that hwhy loves you; here are the keys, take the car and
be at peace.” If hwhy wants you to have your car then that person will flee. If that person needs your car for
whatever reason and it is good in the eyes of hwhy for him to have your car, then you know that hwhy will
not leave you without transportation! Would your response resemble this? Paul gives a list of characteristics
of a person led by the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21. Galatians 5:22-23 gives a list of Spirit led traits. Which list
best describes how you would respond to a person stealing your car? What if someone smacks you in your
face? The scriptures, (Matt. 5:39-48, Luke 6:28-29, Romans 12:17-210) are quite clear about how we should
respond. How many people would be guilty of murder if they reacted in the flesh, and the fight escalated?
Did Stephen (Acts 7:57-60) throw the stones back? What if you walked in to your house and saw someone
attacking one of your children? Would you trust that hwhy can protect your child, and pray for the salvation
of the attacker? Ephesians 6:16 says that your belief is a shield. If action is needed, let hwhy take that
action. You don’t stand a chance against that demon without hwhy. If we lose sight of the goal, (or doubt),
we could react in the flesh instead of letting the Spirit control our actions!
How great it is that YAHUSHUA died for our sins -- Especially when we are the ones that are in need of
forgiveness! Although we would like to remain in the Spirit and never sin, there will be times when we fall
short and need YAHUSHUA to fix our mistakes. It might not be even as extreme as the above examples.
We need to be on guard at all times because people are watching us, and will use the fact that we sinned to
justify their own sin! We are to be set-apart as hwhy is set-apart(Galatians 5:14-18, 1 Peter 1:16). Let us pray
constantly that the flesh will submit to the Spirit at all times. The only way we can live without sin
is to abide in the Spirit at all times. Many of us believe this is possible. This author has not
accomplished this goal yet. If we do fall short of the goal, do we believe that we can be forgiven if
we ask for forgiveness and repent? This is the most important thing to believe! Ibrim (Hebrews)
4:16 says to come boldly to the throne. How can one who does not believe in forgiveness be bold
in front of The Almighty? Will we stand on the day of resurrection, if we do not know that hwhy
is forgiving? So then, it is belief (faith) that gets us into the kingdom and not works. If we believe
in hwhy then we will do what He says. If we believe in ourselves and abide in ourselves, then we
will never be good enough. May hwhy bless you in your study of His word!