On the Gap Theory

When working through the possible proofs or evidence for a position, it is incumbent on the one wishing to strengthen a certain position to bring evidence to the table that supports his position. Requiring the advocate of the understood and obvious standard to then prove the nonvalidity of the new and unproven position is a cop-out of logical integrity.

The text states:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

From the text, which is our primary and most significant clue, we can not reasonably determine whether there was, or was not a large amount of time between the first sentence and the subsequent ones. However, it would be a questionable and possibly dangerous prospect to set a precedent of perceiving holes in meaning and presuming ourselves as having the right to fill them with whatever our minds can think up that seems to fit to us.

This "filling in the holes" is something that happens often, largely without our own awareness. But it is dangerous, and although it can be harmless at the beginning, can lead to error with increasingly negative repercussions. In short, it is a good policy to believe what the scripture says, and just what the scripture says, even if that means leaving some apparent holes unexplained.

I don't believe that is even an issue with the gap theory, because, as far as I can tell, there is no hole to be explained.

Simple Profound

I rarely come away from "going to church" glad I went, and not discouraged. Today was one of those uncommon days.

Often I have remarked that there are no great mysteries in life, and follow that up by saying that all the vitally important things in life are childish in their simplicity. The reason I, and others, find ourselves confused, frustrated, and lacking understanding is not that the lesson is too great for us, but that we have moved out of the realm of the childlike. Faith like a child's? I don't think there is any other kind of faith.

So, in the service today the teacher reminded me, and the others, I hope, of the simple profound truth that dreams, visions, and great intentions do not get you to the magical land of the spiritually successful. It's the stuff you're doing now that is getting you to where you will end up. That's it. So simple.

I tend to live the daily life, and each sub-event in it as if they were special isolated incidents, and don't really matter in the long run. Wrong! The long run is a mirage; it's untouchable. All you can affect is the things you do right now. If I dream of losing 100 pounds, I have to live in the now in the sense of doing things that lose weight: lots of exercise, no comfort foods, and moderate amounts of healthful foods. Love Jesus today. He's the one who said, "Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Remind me to post today's message when it becomes available. (Wednesday, I think)