Just as our concept of God will affect our lives, so will our concept of man. The main example would be the current theory of abiogenesis, or evolution - life evolving from non-life by pure chance. In this view, we are an accident. A chemical reaction. Determined. Without ultimate meaning or purpose. Animals. What comes from this view? A few things come right to mind:
- No morality. Any moral ideas we have are a "societal construct" and "arbitrary". Some may argue that right and wrong should be based on "happiness for the most people" (however you define happiness), or perhaps de Sade's version of Darwinism where the stronger deserves to oppress the weaker (in his case women). Or it can even mean:
- We don't even really make valid choices - it's all chemistry, after all. There are therefore no moral choices made. If person A kills person B, they are not guilty because of a mental problem, or maybe they just ate too many Twinkies (an actual murder defense used here in California), or probably it's their parents' fault.
- Many anthropologists love to point out the (probably faulty) statistic that we are closest genetically to Bonobo monkeys. If you have wondered why those monkeys in particular are so popular with anthropologists, I bet it's because they (according to the nature shows which constantly point this out) have sex constantly and casually with each other as part of their social intercourse (no pun intended). Since we are so 'close' them genetically, morality for us should be based on them! (Remember Psalm 115 "Those who make [idols] will become like them")
- Man becomes 'just another creature on the planet', no more important than some bug somewhere, so we can't farm, or build hospitals, or roads, or power plants, or houses, or drink water, etc., if it displaces any other insect or rodent. Why would we think that we deserve more than them?
- Since we have no meaning, there is no ultimate purpose to living. Cruelty, suicide, drug use - why not? Note that the most murderous regimes in human history (literally killing tens or even hundreds of millions just in the last century) called themselves "scientific" and usually "atheistic". They generally have had a specific hatred for biblical Christianity.
"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."
We are always taught that these verses refer to statues and idols worshiped in pagan temples around the world, and I am sure that this is the primary context of the verses, as well as what the Apostle Paul was picturing in his mind as the Holy Spirit had him write these verses. From the first time I read this, however, what jumped out at me is how specifically this seems to describe the evolutionary theory. When we trace our family tree back to "an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures" we are turning away from God to an idol of the worst kind. Yes, it is silly to carve a statue and bow down to it in worship. But evolution has us worshiping cockroaches, bacteria and blind chance.Now here is the great irony of it all: The more that we try to exalt ourselves by coming out from under God, the lower we end up putting ourselves. "I won't cower down under superstition and religion!" they yell. "We are the pinnacle of evolution!" "the sky is the limit!" "We will evolve into higher beings of light!" But what we get is: we are lower than bugs, we don't control our lives, we are animals, we are chemicals, we are just an accident in a meaningless universe. Whether we end up trying to have as much pleasure as possible in our few short years before we die, or whether we seek power over others, or just kill ourselves, it is interesting that taking God from the equation lowers people to nothing. Oh, sure, many would argue this point and use all sorts of fancy words, but in the end, after years and years of arguing about philosophy, modern man has gone postmodern and does not even believe in reality any more. "Professing to be wise, they became fools". God gives them over. Is that an active thing? I don't think it has to be. A sinful human heart is like a piece of meat. Without refrigeration it rots quickly. Without direction it wanders widely.
I was pleased this week in our FBH (Sunday School to most of you) to hear that Francis Chan used a downward escalator to describe our moral condition. I have used that metaphor for years also since I believe it is a wonderful description of just where we live. If we stand still, our old sin nature is always sinking. We need to look up and climb even to stay even. Without looking up at God the escalator is a very quick downhill ride, where even the best of us can barely stay even in his own strength. (If you don't believe this, try Benjamin Franklin's experiment of making a chart of moral virtues and try to get rid of all moral failings - like laziness, bad temper, overeating, etc - be sure to pick the bad habit that has plagued you for your whole life and just decide that you won't do it any more - see how long that lasts.)
What we believe about ourselves is very important indeed!
...to be continued
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