But, at this moment ...let's consider whether it matters whether we believe in evolution, or not.
Okay, it shouldn't have taken you too long to assess that ...or did it??
For me, it was not that simple.
When I was in college, I found the study of evolution to be rather fascinating. I was interested in it because it was unlike other subjects where I had to study things 'new' that I felt I knew little about ...this subject was not one I was as content to know little about. As I said, I found it interesting and exciting.
I studied more and more about the various studies and findings people of renown intellects had uncovered for us. But, I did one thing in a way that brought it all to a halt. I was confronted with my own logic. And though my logic was initially very satisfied ...I wanted to travel further, but I couldn't.
And one thing more ...I believed in God, and those beliefs could not fit into logic either.
I was faced with the option of logically believing in neither.
I felt like a philosopher, as I remembered a quote, "I think, therefore, I am." And yes, logically, one would have to question their own existence. It was like the final episode of the TV show, Saint Elsewhere ...where their entire existence was only someone's imagination. That someone was considered very simplistic, or as some would label ...mentally ill. At that moment, I felt like I was elsewhere.
At that moment, it seemed that the imagination of TV came closer to being real ...and I realized, it is that way because TV is not constrained by that which we constrain ourselves with. We think we are freeing our minds by accepting new theories that have reached the imaginations of some ...but, those ideas are constrained by the very fact that they are rigidly held to make consistent sense of something that is really nonsense.
Yes, we do have it partly right in all the drama we watch that seems to tap into our imagination as safely labeled ...fantasy. But, the world of which we excite our minds with must have a distinguishing aspect to it ...as to discerning what is entertainment and what is serious.
Our minds often don't like to be constrained ...and often it is because we don't want our choices to be constrained. So, that is partially why we can so readily enjoy fantasy, but reject that truth in itself has constraints and is real in a Spirit world.
Truth has to have constraints, otherwise we would too readily accept falsehoods as true.
Why is it so important to accept what is true??
Often it may not seem that important ...and often it is not. Well, let me distinguish those moments when it should not be important ...and let you later decide those situations when truth is important. And though I feel it is vitally important that you decide, I will at least provide my most compelling argument for the importance of truth in some situations.
First of all, I don't think it's important to know the truth in situations where you may be wondering who put the dent in your car in the mall parking lot. We constantly put dents in our children, in our spouses, in our friends ...and those who may otherwise want to be our friends, or we should want to be our friends. Those dents are way more important, and we know precisely who puts the dents there. Yet, we seem more concerned over who put the dent in our precious car. The impression we make with others is way more important than the impression made by a dent.
And we may do well not to know ...as I said in the first section, it may be one of those moments where I act like an idiot and want to take the moment back.
When is it important to know the truth?? Is it important to know the truth about God?? And how much do we need to know, or should we feel satisfied with knowing??
I feel God gave us what He felt we should know ...so, to me, it does not become such a difficult question.
The difficulties come when we want to do the same as we've done with the study of evolution. Yes, we should be excited about the Word of God. We should find His Word fascinating and interesting. But, what we discover is the truths that He would want us to discover ...not discover that which is not there.
Often we study the Word of God, and it is exciting ...but, if we try to find something there that is a hidden revelation that we feel only the gifted or spiritual can discern, we can get caught up not in the air, but in a rapture of our own imagination which may be leading us away from God's truth. We may think we are getting closer to God, because we have never been this excited before ...but, though that is often good, there can be times it is not.
An example of this is in the Book of Acts, where some people saw the power of the apostles as they were speaking in tongues, healing people, and casting out demons. And when they tried to do likewise, to cast out demons, the demon answered and said, "I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, violently leaped upon them and left them badly wounded.
It seems that they found their excitement and desire in the imagining of being able to have the power, seemingly more so than the desire to help free the man from the evil spirit.
God is the authority ...so, what authority do we have in believing in Him??
We do have the Bible ...and it's important to have a standard, and an authority, to give us correct reference to the truth.
Yet, do we believe the entire Bible is true ...and if not, how can we say that any of it is true. We can't pick and choose what we want to believe ...because if we do that, we are not glorifying God as He chose for us to know Him, precisely as He has presented Himself to us in the Bible.
Is it necessary for us to believe all that the Bible tells us? Does it affect our commission to go out to tell others about Him??
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