A couple days ago I posted a blog commenting on the audio book, Bringing Up Girls by Dr. James Dobson since, in the book, there was a reference to "early hominoids." In my blog article, I attributed the use of this term (which is similar in thought to old earth viewpoints such as Hugh Ross) to Dr. Dobson. What I thought was a term used by Dobson was actually part of a longer extended quote from Marc Gellman's article in Newsweek (here is the link). While it is evident in the print edition as to how far Gellman's quote extends (because of the page formatting), it is ambiguous on the audio CD.
Yesterday, I was kindly contacted by Dr. Dobson through one of his representatives. He clarified that the term ("early hominoids") was not Dr. Dobson's but that of Marc Gellman. In fact, Dr. Dobson said that he disagrees with it. I was informed that Tyndale House (the publisher) will be editing this in future editions in both the book and audiobook to remove this ambiguity.
I wanted to point this out since, while I did delete the post from my blog, it still may remain on some blog readers and I don't want to misrepresent Dr. Dobson's viewpoint.
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Comments on scientific issues from a confessional Lutheran perspective with special emphasis on creation and evolution
assumptions
I assume and believe the following to be true based upon historical-grammatical exegesis of the Old and New Testaments:
- There was only one creation event in which the entire universe was created
- This creation event consisted of six 24-hour periods -- periods which are no different than the 24-hour periods that mankind has known throughout recorded history and that today, we refer to as a "day"
- Adam and Eve were special creations of God and created directly by Him on the sixth day
- The Bible gives the impression that this creation event happened at some point in the recent past (i.e., multi-thousands of years ago). However, biblical exegesis does not allow us to conclude a timeline more specific than this
- Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin.
- There was, at some time in the historical past, a flood which was global in extent and which destroyed everything that lived on the earth except Noah and those with him.
- Human lifespans (both average and maximum) were substantially longer before the Flood than after.
- The Lutheran Confessions, as contained in the Book of Concord of 1580, express the true doctrine of Scripture.
In Addition ...
- It is necessary to distinguish between what the Bible says and what it does not say. Failure to make this distinction may result in subtracting from or minimizing what the Bible states (sometimes referred to as "a half-truth"). Or, failure to make this distinction may result in adding to what the Bible says (e.g. "a truth-and-a-half"). The reason why this distinction is important is because, on those issues where God has spoken, the matter is settled. On those issues where God is silent, we allow for a difference of opinion. Where God is silent, He leaves those things up to our Christian freedom to explore and observe, and to use our logic and reason to (in the case of creationism) come up with models which describe this world. We realize that, to a large extent, such models are human conclusions and not derived from God's Word.
- It is helpful and useful to distinguish between...
- These distinctions are helpful so as not to unnecessarily bind the consciences of others. This binding might happen if we take a scientific question and present what should be a scientific answer but rather pass it off as a theological answer. In so doing, we are presenting the issue as theologically settled, whereas in reality, the matter is open to Christian assessment and discernment.
1) "theological" questions -- questions from which Biblical exegesis may provide an answer,
2) "theological indeterminate" questions -- referring to areas where Biblical exegesis will not provide a unique answer but may still give direction, and
3) "non-theological/empirical/scientific" questions -- defined as questions in which God's Word is silent on a specific issue.
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About Me
- Patrick Winkler, P.E.
- B.A., M.Div., B.S. Mech. Eng.,
M.S. Eng.
I have worked since 1999 as a mechanical engineer. Prior to that, I served as pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Yucaipa, CA) for one year and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (Casa Grande, AZ) for five years.