Today marks the 150th anniversary of the first edition of Charles Darwin’s Origin of the Species, and we have discussed it enough here on Spiritual Discourse, that I would be remiss to let it pass by without mention.
There is no question that Darwin’s book has stirred more controversy than the man himself would ever want to be party to, having sat on his own theory for nearly 20 years before finally publishing. Darwin himself was a man of faith when he first made these discoveries. He had planned to become a cleric before turning to biology and geology on his famous voyage on the Beagle, that ultimately led him to the understanding that species may not be fixed. What’s sad to me is that Darwin allowed his discovery to destroy his faith, because he held to such a hard-and-fast view of God’s nature, that when his scientific discovery didn’t fit with that nature, he had no choice but to abandon his faith.
As scientific discovery continues, we will find more and more people, like Darwin, abandoning faith in God for faith in science. Atheists like Richard Dawkins teach that current scientific knowledge leaves no room for God and thinks that people of faith should fear science:
“If I was a person interested in preserving religious faith, I would be very afraid of the positive power of evolutionary science to inspire and enthrall, precisely because it is atheistic.” — Richard Dawkins1
Dawkins further explains the wide divide between science and faith:
“Not only is science corrosive to religion, but religion is corrosive to science. It teaches people to be satisfied with trivial, supernatural, non-explanations. And blinds them to the wonderful real explanations we have within our grasp. It teaches them to accept authority, revelation and faith, instead of always insisting on evidence.”
This is the growing sentiment that our children will grow up with. Science and religion don’t mix. As Christians, we should celebrate science, not vilify it. After all, it is the understanding of how our Maker assembled the universe.
Darwinism itself is not the final answer. Many discoveries coming to life are disproving aspects of Darwinism. There will be further scientific discoveries that are going to test our faith in what we have always held to be true. I hope Christians have the faith and courage to not run from science, and I hope scientists don’t, as Darwin did, allow science to displace God.
1Richard Dawkins quotes are taken from his talk on “militant atheism” at TED Feb. 2002
Derek Webb, formerly of Caedmon’s Call, has enjoyed a prolific solo career, but one that has certainly ruffled feathers in the Christian community. Webb’s bluntness in dealing with some of the tougher issues facing the church today often put him at odds with the very vehicle that delivers his music to the masses.
Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders gathered in New York today to release a document that has been in the works for several months–the Manhattan Declaration. Dr. Robert George, jurisprudence professor at Princeton University and Catholic scholar, drafted the declaration which focuses on three issues: “the sanctity of life”, “the dignity of marriage”, and a defense of religious liberty. Cardinal Justin Rigali states that the principles of document “are not the unique preserve of the Christian community–they can be know and honored by people apart from divine revelation,” (worldmag.com). The diversity of support is striking and gives immediate pause to any accusations that this is the grasping hand of ultra-conservative fundamentalists. Christians must think seriously about such issues, and whether you agree or disagree, this document is a good example of the Church doing just that. You can read the Manhattan Declaration and choose to sign it for yourself at their 
As a professor of leadership and church ministry at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, one would expect the typical Harvard Business School recipes for “leadership” from Dr. Bredfeldt. However,Great Leader, Great Teacher is a refreshing change focusing more on Scripture than business tactics–true to its sub-title. This volume is not necessarily a comprehensive survey of biblical texts which then interprets leadership in light of those texts (such as O. Sanders’ Spiritual Leadership). Instead, Bredfeldt focuses more on the issue of the Bible’s authority within leadership. Bredfeldt’s thinking is absolutely correct when he argues that those who teach the authoritative word of God will in turn have authority or influence over those whom they are teaching. Many times Christians seem to miss this and believe that authority comes through an office or a title, while authority in the church comes through teaching the authoritative truth. Thus, pastors wonder why their congregations follow faithful Sunday School teachers more than them. This idea largely shapes the structure of the book.
In God We Trust. It’s been our nation’s motto since Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the first resolution to make it so back in 1956. On the 50th anniversary of the resolution, in 2006, the US Senate unanimously reaffirmed the motto. Prior to 1956, the defacto, yet unofficial, motto of the US was “E Pluribus Unum” or Latin for “Out of many, one”
While serving for many years as professor and president at Westminster Theological Seminary, the late Dr. Edmund Clowney produced a helpful tool that joins his theological acumen with his passion for practical godly living. The Message of 1 Peter: The Way of the Cross is a part of the larger work The Bible Speaks Today New Testament commentary series edited by John Stott.
Whenever I’m dealing with a 
The question of God’s sovereignty and man’s freedom has been tossed around churches ever since early church giants Augustine and Pelagius duked it out back in the 5th century. Typically the debate has landed on issues concerning man’s role in salvation and election, but not to be left out is the historic doctrine of God’s providence (“protective care and foresight” according to Webster’s). This biblical theodicy has produced such questions as how can mankind be truly free if God knows the future and has ordained the future, and do people really choose salvation if election is true?
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