Chapter 18
A Red Herring
A red herring is anything that takes one's attention away from the main point. In the previous chapter, we explored how both Christians and those who proclaim there is no God are reaching their conclusions by faith. Neither can prove (by physical evidence) that the other is wrong. Conversely, neither can prove (by physical evidence) that they are right. Science has never been able to conclusively prove that one species of animal morphs into a completely different species. Despite the existence of millions of animals (from amoebas to zebras) all the links that would be needed to indicate an evolving chain stemming from a single6 "accidental" mixture that started life on this planet, are missing. It is not just the monkey to man link that's missing. All links from anything to anything else are missing as well. If evolution were a fact, wouldn't some evidence, anywhere along the immense line of God's creation, be found by now? In addition, since no species is able to interbreed with another species, how can there be such a variety of different types of life on this planet?
The atheistic scientist believes, by faith because it can't be proven, that a specific mixture of molecules started all of life. Unless a person becomes a believer in God, he will not be able to comprehend the existence of God, because this is done by faith, too. Christians, like the atheistic scientists in the above examples, have no physical evidence that God is real. So it could be, and is, argued intensely every day, week by week, month by month, year after year: God created the world in seven literal days 6000 years ago versus everything evolved by natural selection over billions and billions of years and God didn't have anything to do with it. This argument, though, is a red herring if it divides us and makes two separate warring camps, since the main points, as Christians should know, are that we love God and love each other unconditionally. Sometimes, if we press forward and win the argument, we may lose the love and respect we have for each other. Winning the argument is not worth that.
Don't get me wrong, I fully believe that God created the earth in a literal six days, resting on the seventh day. And I believe it is essential to the faith that every Christian believes that, too. Otherwise, much, if not all, of God's Word and Christ's, is undermined. It is very important to reject modern teachings of evolution and Darwinism, as a Christian. But don't pound what you believe about creationism on the heads of people who have not yet met the Lord Jesus in a personal way. You will lose them to a controversy. First show them the love of Jesus. Introduce them to your wonderful Savior. Let the awesome Holy Spirit of God direct them into all truth in His way and time. Don't go to war over one point and cause them to reject the truth of salvation because they cannot yet accept creationism. Once they come to see the power of the Word, they will come to believe all of it, in time. To paraphrase 1 Corinthians 13:4: "Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not provoked. Love never fails."
If someone is thirsting for the truth and his life has been laden with heavy burdens, so much so, that he may decide he cannot bear to live any longer, of what value is it to discuss whether creationism or evolution is true? As has been stated previously, neither can be absolutely proven by physical evidence, but faith in Jesus DOES lift the burdens from us. There are amazing controversies surrounding issues of faith. Most issues of faith cannot be proven. There is one, however, that can be, but it seems to only occur when the last rung on the ladder has been reached and there is no place to step, when the bottom of the barrel has been scraped and all sustenance is gone, when everything within a person's power has been done, but all to no avail—then might a person turn to Jesus and give his life to Him, turning from his own weakness, his own devices, his own methods and find a profound and viable strength in Christ, that he previously didn't know or believe existed. In desperation, many have found God to be real. But we don't need to find God under those circumstances. A conscious decision to believe without proof, is possible and will be rewarded, just as the desperate decision for Christ is rewarded with a spiritual infilling. God is always choosing us, standing at the door and knocking, so that He might enter our hearts. This is why we must pray for others and be examples of Christ's unconditional love—then God can finish the job.
Richard Dawkins, has declared, and believes in only evolution (or natural selection). He (and his colleagues) declared war upon creationists and they are at war with him. If I declare my dogmatic stand of creationism (or even intelligent design), I may be helping Satan do his dirty work, with the red herring he has thrown in my path. Let's say I stubbornly and haughtily cross my arms and turn my back on this person, who declares something that I believe is untrue (based on my faith in God's Word). Someday (Tomorrow? Next week? Five years?) this one who calls himself an atheist or agnostic, who has faith only in himself, may one day reach for the final straw and find it bent and unusable. He may come to the end of his rope and find nothing more onto which he can grasp. One day he may be on his last leg, unable to cope with life as he has been living it, and who will he be able to turn to, in his moment of need? It won't be me, for I have long since abandoned him to his own life and cursed him as unworthy of my time. I have moved on to hang out only with people who believe as I do, as I sit in my pew in church, loving God and His truth, but unwilling to share God's love where it is really needed. I have carefully chosen my friends so that my faith will not be shaken, but, in doing so, I have achieved, not greater faith, but a lesser faith, for by abandoning the "heathen," which I was called by God to reach, I have declared that my faith is too weak to remain friends with someone who is so stubborn.
Christian, do not cast this off as something unimportant. How many times do we carefully pick and choose with whom we will be friends? To bless someone, even though they are wrong, does not make you a hypocrite in God's eyes. The hypocrisy stems from your unwillingness to test God's strength in uncomfortable situations. You know, by God's Word, that with God nothing is impossible. Yet, this God who can do all things, is traded for a cowardly God who can do nothing through you, because He isn't even given a chance. Bless the sinner, by compassionately saying, "Yes, I understand that's how you feel." Remember, God loves him so much, he has given him one of his adopted sons, you, to show him Christ, even as he says things that are blasphemous, and evil, and wrong. Jesus said, "Pick up your cross and follow Me." Never cease praying for the atheist or any lost person. Never cease loving him, never cease giving him mercy, because, when the timing is right, he may come to his crossroads—and you will be there to assist the Holy Spirit, as He completes the assignment that was given to you.
2Ti 2:14 Remind [the people] of these facts and [solemnly] charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good, but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers. (AMP)
Rom 12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits. [Prov. 3:7.]
Rom 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone. [Prov. 20:22.]
Rom 12:18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (AMP)
Tremendous walls have been built that separate us from each other and from God. We build towers to creationism and atheists build towers to evolution, and God's kingdom is divided on earth. The truth will win out when only the truth is shared. That truth does not lie in things that cannot be proven, because they are believed by faith—it will only be proven as people are prayed for, shown mercy, loved and gently guided into the arms of the One who IS the truth, Jesus Christ Himself. Let everything else go. All else is a red herring that only succeeds in making both camps enemies to each other. Do not let Satan achieve his goals so easily.
Dear Lord, I ask You to help me love the obstinate, forgive the hard-headed, show mercy to the haughty and resentful and bitter in this world. I have faith that, per Your Word, Your love, forgiveness, and mercy will be showered on me as I shower it on them!
6. Professor Dawkins, says, in The God Delusion, that the mysterious concoction that caused life only had to begin once. Back.
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