Showing posts with label Evolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Evolution. Show all posts
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Are There Different Races?
Monday, September 3, 2018
From One Man
"For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 1 Corinthians 12:13
A couple at church was having a conversation about race. As they were talking, I put my forearm next to the wife's forearm to show how there was pretty much no difference in skin color between us. Her husband added his forearm to the mix and there was no real discernable difference between all three. But, here is the kicker. The husband is White, his wife is Asian and I am Black or African-American. Unless you were aware of our features and only saw our collective forearms, you would not have any idea of any "racial" differences. And that is the point. There is no difference because there are no different "races" in the world. There is only one race; the human race. Granted, there are different skin colors, features and, cultures depending on the people in question, but they are still humans. However, in the context of different "races," the only ones who focus on race are those, in my opinion, who stand to gain from it. Who are the ones who say they want unity and a "colorblind" society, but who view everything through the prism of skin color as well as other differences like gender, sexual preference, etc., want all the differences to be acknowledged in some way, yet cry foul when those differences are pointed out? I will let you figure out the answer. The idea of different races is both unscientific and unbiblical. According to Answers in Genesis, "When the Human Genome Project published a draft of their findings in 2000, the New York Times reported that “the researchers had unanimously declared there is only one race—the human race."” "He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation ... (Acts 17:26)" The Bible says that all mankind came from one man. That man is Adam. One of the things that people who read the scriptures notice, but often avoid studying because of the tedious nature of doing so, are all the lineages described in the Bible. For example, look at how the first book of the gospels, Matthew, opens up. "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king (Matthew 1:1-6)." While we may get mesmerized by all the unpronounceable names and reading begot multiple times, the point is to show you how people throughout history are linked together. It is a biblical version of a family tree. Nobody knows, and the Bible doesn't seem to care about the skin color of all these people. That is because they are all related by the simple fact that they are all descendants of Adam. That is a lot different than the origins of different "races" that is believed today.
According to Wikipedia, "The mid-20th-century racial classification by American anthropologist Carleton S. Coon, divided humanity into five races: Caucasoid (White) race. Negroid (Black) race. Capoid (Bushmen/Hottentots) race. Mongoloid (Oriental/ Amerindian) race. Australoid (Australian Aborigine and Papuan) race." In my opinion, this is all a lie from the devil. It is this type of thinking that has led to much of the racism that our world still deals with today. We have accepted the lie that there are different races and then try to live our lives within the context of that lie. It only leads to the divisiveness and chaos we see daily because everybody thinks that they are different from one another and the powers that be just use it to play us against each other. Nothing gets solved and we are left in a constant state of angst, frustration, anger, fear, you name it. But, when we look at this from a biblical perspective, that we are all one race, God's brilliance shines through. The Bible says that "just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned (Romans 5:12)." The one man that sin and death entered into the world through was Adam. That is why Jesus is called last Adam. Scripture points out that, "“The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45)." Without being able to link Adam to the entire world and Jesus to Adam, then God's entire plan of salvation crumbles. Otherwise, would we have to have a Jesus for the White race, one for the Black race, a third for the Capoid race, a fourth the Mongoloid race and a fifth for the Australoid race? Would we have to have five gospels, five Bible's, etc? Do you see the chaos that ensues when we get away from the truth? We have been so deceived by the idea of different "races" that we don't even know we have been lied to in the first place. Whether it is how we identify ourselves, our political views, filling out applications or areas of life too numerous to mention, race permeates it all. And it is all a lie. However, because we are all part of one race, the human race, we are all able to respond to one gospel message and put faith in one Jesus. That is why the Bible reminds us that when we come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, God no longer sees those things that separate us like race, but only the one thing that unites us all; our faith. The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live inside of us and we become one body; the body of Christ. The body of Christ is made up of every "race," gender and nationality. So much so, that those things are no longer taken into account by God. In Christ, there is no Jew or Gentile, slave or free and dare I say it, there is no White, Black, Capoid, Mongoloid or Australoid. The only identity we have is as children of God (John 1:12) because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. God doesn't see your skin color. Therefore, we shouldn't either.
A couple at church was having a conversation about race. As they were talking, I put my forearm next to the wife's forearm to show how there was pretty much no difference in skin color between us. Her husband added his forearm to the mix and there was no real discernable difference between all three. But, here is the kicker. The husband is White, his wife is Asian and I am Black or African-American. Unless you were aware of our features and only saw our collective forearms, you would not have any idea of any "racial" differences. And that is the point. There is no difference because there are no different "races" in the world. There is only one race; the human race. Granted, there are different skin colors, features and, cultures depending on the people in question, but they are still humans. However, in the context of different "races," the only ones who focus on race are those, in my opinion, who stand to gain from it. Who are the ones who say they want unity and a "colorblind" society, but who view everything through the prism of skin color as well as other differences like gender, sexual preference, etc., want all the differences to be acknowledged in some way, yet cry foul when those differences are pointed out? I will let you figure out the answer. The idea of different races is both unscientific and unbiblical. According to Answers in Genesis, "When the Human Genome Project published a draft of their findings in 2000, the New York Times reported that “the researchers had unanimously declared there is only one race—the human race."” "He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation ... (Acts 17:26)" The Bible says that all mankind came from one man. That man is Adam. One of the things that people who read the scriptures notice, but often avoid studying because of the tedious nature of doing so, are all the lineages described in the Bible. For example, look at how the first book of the gospels, Matthew, opens up. "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king (Matthew 1:1-6)." While we may get mesmerized by all the unpronounceable names and reading begot multiple times, the point is to show you how people throughout history are linked together. It is a biblical version of a family tree. Nobody knows, and the Bible doesn't seem to care about the skin color of all these people. That is because they are all related by the simple fact that they are all descendants of Adam. That is a lot different than the origins of different "races" that is believed today.
According to Wikipedia, "The mid-20th-century racial classification by American anthropologist Carleton S. Coon, divided humanity into five races: Caucasoid (White) race. Negroid (Black) race. Capoid (Bushmen/Hottentots) race. Mongoloid (Oriental/ Amerindian) race. Australoid (Australian Aborigine and Papuan) race." In my opinion, this is all a lie from the devil. It is this type of thinking that has led to much of the racism that our world still deals with today. We have accepted the lie that there are different races and then try to live our lives within the context of that lie. It only leads to the divisiveness and chaos we see daily because everybody thinks that they are different from one another and the powers that be just use it to play us against each other. Nothing gets solved and we are left in a constant state of angst, frustration, anger, fear, you name it. But, when we look at this from a biblical perspective, that we are all one race, God's brilliance shines through. The Bible says that "just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned (Romans 5:12)." The one man that sin and death entered into the world through was Adam. That is why Jesus is called last Adam. Scripture points out that, "“The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45)." Without being able to link Adam to the entire world and Jesus to Adam, then God's entire plan of salvation crumbles. Otherwise, would we have to have a Jesus for the White race, one for the Black race, a third for the Capoid race, a fourth the Mongoloid race and a fifth for the Australoid race? Would we have to have five gospels, five Bible's, etc? Do you see the chaos that ensues when we get away from the truth? We have been so deceived by the idea of different "races" that we don't even know we have been lied to in the first place. Whether it is how we identify ourselves, our political views, filling out applications or areas of life too numerous to mention, race permeates it all. And it is all a lie. However, because we are all part of one race, the human race, we are all able to respond to one gospel message and put faith in one Jesus. That is why the Bible reminds us that when we come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, God no longer sees those things that separate us like race, but only the one thing that unites us all; our faith. The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live inside of us and we become one body; the body of Christ. The body of Christ is made up of every "race," gender and nationality. So much so, that those things are no longer taken into account by God. In Christ, there is no Jew or Gentile, slave or free and dare I say it, there is no White, Black, Capoid, Mongoloid or Australoid. The only identity we have is as children of God (John 1:12) because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. God doesn't see your skin color. Therefore, we shouldn't either.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Come back to the Sea
In John 8:44, Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil… When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” He called the devil the father of lies. Regarding the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).” Now, since born again Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling us we know that He will guide us into all truth. Why am I saying all this? If any of you watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, you may have seen a commercial by the Carnival Corporation entitled, “Come back to the Sea.” The advertisement uses a recording of former President John F. Kennedy. With beautiful video of the cruise ships in various scenes around the world as a backdrop, the words of President Kennedy play. He says that humans may have a love of the sea “because we all came from it” and that it is a “biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean.” Did we all come from the sea? The Bible says that, “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7).” One chapter later we read, “For dust you are, And to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19)." The Bible clearly states that, one, God created us from the “dust of the ground,” not from the sea, and, two, it is the dust to which we “shall return.” In short, we can’t go “back to sea,” because we are not from it.
But, what about the statement that it is a “biological fact” that we have the same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean? We can turn to science for this answer. Without going into a bunch of detail that is over my head, I will share one true fact. According to Dr. Jerry Bergman, in an article written for Answers in Genesis Ministry, the level of Sodium (i.e. salt) in our blood is about 3,220 mg per liter, whereas the amount of Sodium in seawater is about 10,800 mg per liter. That is far from the “exact same percentage” put forth by President Kennedy. I don’t say any of this to disparage the Carnival Corporation or President Kennedy. I say this because I believe while I was watching this commercial, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and took a brief moment to lead me into the truth of the matter. Saints remember this, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).” If you are in Christ, you are no longer a “natural man” who doesn’t “receive the things of the Spirit of God.” You are a spiritual man who receives the things of the Spirit of God that are “spiritually discerned.” God can separate His truth from the devil’s lies at any moment so long as you remain available to the Him to teach you; even during the Super Bowl.
But, what about the statement that it is a “biological fact” that we have the same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean? We can turn to science for this answer. Without going into a bunch of detail that is over my head, I will share one true fact. According to Dr. Jerry Bergman, in an article written for Answers in Genesis Ministry, the level of Sodium (i.e. salt) in our blood is about 3,220 mg per liter, whereas the amount of Sodium in seawater is about 10,800 mg per liter. That is far from the “exact same percentage” put forth by President Kennedy. I don’t say any of this to disparage the Carnival Corporation or President Kennedy. I say this because I believe while I was watching this commercial, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and took a brief moment to lead me into the truth of the matter. Saints remember this, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).” If you are in Christ, you are no longer a “natural man” who doesn’t “receive the things of the Spirit of God.” You are a spiritual man who receives the things of the Spirit of God that are “spiritually discerned.” God can separate His truth from the devil’s lies at any moment so long as you remain available to the Him to teach you; even during the Super Bowl.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Neil deGrasse Tyson
"The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory." Psalm 97:6
Evolutionary astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and television host Neil deGrasse Tyson made headlines recently regarding what he wrote on Twitter. Tyson, a self-described Agnostic, tweeted the following: "On this day long ago, a child was born who, by age 30, would transform the world. Happy Birthday Isaac Newton b. Dec 25, 1642." To Tyson, Isaac Newton is, "The Man;" the greatest physicist in history. While Isaac Newton may have been born on Christmas Day (some calendars put his birthday as January 4, 1643), the way in which Tyson wrote these words is an obvious dig at Jesus Christ, specifically, and Christianity, in general. Otherwise, he would have simply said, "Happy Birthday Isaac Newton." But to use phrases like, "a child is born," "by age 30" and "transform the world," no matter how universally these terms can be applied. and regardless of whom they can be applied to, is an obvious dig at the Lord. He is free to do this and by the 62,000 retweets he received, many of his followers enjoyed it. But, what is most interesting to note is that Isaac Newton, by many accounts, was a Christian at best and a believer in God at worst. Isaac Newton did not hide his belief in God and did not see his belief as a hindrance to his scientific pursuits.
Regarding the sun and other heavenly bodies, Newton wrote: "This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intellectual Being." On the Lord of the heavens, he wrote: "This being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord of all." On atheism, he writes: "Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance." When it comes to the solar system, Newton says, "The motions of the planets require a Divine Arm to impress them." On God, his Savior, we read: "The true God is a living, intelligent and powerful being." Newton wrote, in reference to the trials of life: "Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise physician gives because we need them; and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires. Let us trust His skill and thank Him for His prescription." About God's presence, he said: "His (God's) duration reaches from eternity to eternity; His presence from infinity to infinity." Finally, Newton wrote on the Bible: "I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily." The conclusion can only be that what Neil deGrasse Tyson meant as a thinly veiled condemnation of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is really a glorification of the Son of God he is denying.
Regarding the sun and other heavenly bodies, Newton wrote: "This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intellectual Being." On the Lord of the heavens, he wrote: "This being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord of all." On atheism, he writes: "Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance." When it comes to the solar system, Newton says, "The motions of the planets require a Divine Arm to impress them." On God, his Savior, we read: "The true God is a living, intelligent and powerful being." Newton wrote, in reference to the trials of life: "Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise physician gives because we need them; and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires. Let us trust His skill and thank Him for His prescription." About God's presence, he said: "His (God's) duration reaches from eternity to eternity; His presence from infinity to infinity." Finally, Newton wrote on the Bible: "I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily." The conclusion can only be that what Neil deGrasse Tyson meant as a thinly veiled condemnation of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is really a glorification of the Son of God he is denying.
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