Shaken Theology

Have you ever had your theology shaken before? Whether you know it or not it happened yesterday when multiple websites reported that, "…Astronomers have detected gravitational waves and confirmed [that] the inflation theory of the Big Bang is a game-changer for astrophysicists everywhere..." (click here for full story) When we read something like this we should ask ourselves the question, “Am I open to hear other sides of the story?” For example, do you take the first chapter of Genesis literally or metaphorically? Many Christians have a hard time with metaphors. If Scripture tells us elsewhere that a day to the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day, did the creation of the world have to literally take place in six days? Moreover, we can choose to believe that God was the source of the Big Bang, the cosmic reverberation of "Let there be light," if you will. I am not saying I believe in that theory but perhaps this would be a great time for you and us collectively as the church to talk about it. I am certainly not ready to jump ship but I believe this is an ongoing conversation worth having. We simply cannot say, “You weren’t there so how can you know?” like Ken Ham famously said during a debate. That’s just not good enough and that answer won’t hold up when discussing this topic.
 This conversation will definitely carry over to the upcoming release of the movie, “NOAH.” If you have not heard about the movie starring Russell Crowe as Noah you might want to check it out here. Whether the discussion is about creation, the great flood, or the giants depicted in the film, I promise you this movie will get people talking about the Bible. And yes, you read what you thought you read: GIANTS. Nephilim, the giants portrayed in Genesis and Numbers, will be a part of Noah’s story in this upcoming Hollywood blockbuster. I will address this topic head on the Sunday after the movie’s release.All of this reminds me of 2 Timothy 4:2 NIV, "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." These are exciting times for us to defend the Bible and Christianity because we are being forced to dive deeper into what Scripture actually has to say so that we can give an answer to a questioning world. I will be honest and admit that it is easy to talk about salvation, blessings, and seeking God through your trials. It takes more study and hours of research to talk about end times and creation. I guess that’s why it saddens me to hear so many fellow pastors say, "I hate talking about end times and creationism, so I simply don't do it." They’re challenging topics, but ones that deserve our attention. Are you ready to dive in?