BIG BANG THEORY OUTMODED

The Editor, Christian Outlook

Dear Sir,

Howard J. Van Til in his book The Fourth Day Poured scorn upon such creation scientists as Henry M. Morris. The Stars of Heaven; Paul M. Steidl’s The Earth, the Stars and the Bible; and John C. Whitcomb’s The Bible and Astronomy. He was scornful of these Christian writers because they denied the reality of stellar evolution and of the so-called “Big Bang Theory.” Now it seems these men were scientifically nearer the truth than the professor of Astronomy at Calvin College.

Thus Sir Harold Jeffries in The Earth: Its Origin. History and Physical Constitution concluded: “I think that all suggested accounts of the origin of the Solar System are subject to serious objections. The conclusion in the present state of the subject would be that the System cannot exist” (page 359). Fred L. Whipple in Orbiting the Sun (1981) agrees: “All of the hypotheses (regard ing solar system formation) so far presented have failed or remain unproved. When physical theory is properly applied” (page 284). Of the Big Bang Theory Sir Fred Hoyle concurs: “I have little hesitation in saying that a sickly pall now hangs over the big bang theory. When a pattern of facts becomes set against a theory experience shows that the theory rarely recovers” (“The Big Bang Linder Attack” Science Digest 92 (May 1984). p. 84.

The overwhelming evidence of design throughout the entire universe as well as in the solar system and our own planet Earth has never been more obvious than now. Not only is this the case with regard to stellar evolution but also with regard to biological evolution. Within a few short years there have been published numerous scathing indictments of Darwinian mega evolutionism. I refer to Michael Denton: Evolution: A Theory in Crisis (1986): Michael Pitman, Adam and Evolution (1984): and Francis Hitching, The Neck of the Giraffe (1982).

In spite of this overwhelming evidence of design in the universe Howard Van Til still expects Christians to accept his mega evolutionism. Why? By whose authority? In this matter of origin we either accept what God said happened or what man says happened. I still prefer God’s account of the creation of the universe given in the Book of Genesis. For an elaboration of what the Genesis account of creation means I recommend to all readers of your esteemed magazine, Paul D. Ackerman, It’s a Young World After All (1986) and John C. Whitcomb, The Early Earth (Revised 1986) Meanwhile Van Til’s speculative efforts to undermine the Word of God should be ignored from now on.

Yours truly Reverend Stacey Hebden Taylor 8826 South D St Tacoma. Washington 98444

     

“YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN, ORAL”

(This personal letter to Rev. Oral Roberts comes from a wounded heart. It is in spired by a letter of concern written by Mr. Skip Stogsdill to Mr. Roberts in the February 1987 issue of the REFORMED JOURNAL.)

February 27, 1987

Dear Rev. Roberts,

Greetings! I’m quite sure we will never meet this side of the Lord’s second coming: so I hope you don’t regard this as an impersonal slam from someone who doesn’t believe God still gives visions to His children. Let me assure you that I believe God is Almighty and is free to reveal Himself as He sees fit.

Now I realize that you TV evangelists don’t have the best reputation among many of us ministers. Sometimes it is because we are jealous. For that reason I try not to criticize you too much publicly. It is better that I pray for you in private than criticize you in public. But this time you have gone too far!

I remember hearing about your vision of a 900 foot Christ and cringing inside. I’m sorry that I am so leary of visions these days. The problem is knowing when the dream is from the Lord or the product of a very vivid imagination or God forbid—from someone else. That’s a pretty serious problem, wouldn’t you agree?

I remember reading about imaginative people in church history. I always had a fascination with them and so I wrote more than one seminary paper on a few of them. I marveled that a great Christian thinker like Tertullian was thoroughly convinced that Montanus (156 A.D.). Who claimed to be the passive instrument through whom the Holy Spirit spoke. was right: I was saddened to discover the fanatical apocalypticism of Melchior Hoffman that led several people to a premature death during the early period of the Reformation (only the Lord knows how many scars he left on the lives of sincere people who were seeking God): I shudder when I hear the false prophet Joseph Smith’s testimony of the appearance of at least 2 out of 3 persons in the Trinity (depending on which edition of the testimony you hear) and consider the damage that single man has done to the cause of Christ; I marvel at the ability of the charismatic Sun Myung Moon who met an “unsuccessful” christ on a Korean mountainside with marching orders to complete the work Jesus was unable to finish; the Lord will not let me forget the more recent horror of Jonestown and Jim Jones . . . Oral, where’s it going to end? Now here you come, a prominent Methodist evangelist to add another “God-told-me” sensation.

You said God ordered you to raise $8 million in scholarships for your medical school and that unless you received over half ($4.5 million) by March, the Lord is going to “call you home in one year.” It never dawned on me that God could be so concerned about money that He· would stoop to taking a man’s life if the money was not available!

Have you thought about the consequences of your request? All those who have contributed to your organization or will contribute out of guilt because of your latest “revelation” are now responsible for your death. Just think, if you die it is their fault for not giving you enough money. Certainly your organization. like any non-profit organization, needs help. but did God really ask you to manipulate people to give out of sheer guilt and fear that you might die? Such an idea is repugnant to the Bible where generous giving is encouraged from those who love the Lord and want to give from a generous heart (II Cor. 9:7). Maybe some Christians will think that it is better for you to go home to be with the Lord since. as the apostle Paul says. that would be to your gain (Phil. 1:21). Which is more important 4.5 million dollars or eternity with Christ? That’s a foolish question isn’t it?

This request will certainly receive a lot more media attention than if you had simply made it known that you were hurting financially and needed help. But I fear that such sensationalism does more damage to the Lord and His kingdom than it does good.

Oral, what happens if you don’t get our 4.5 million this month and the Lord decides to let you live on like President Reagen or Bob Hope or George Burns? Would that mean that the Lord lied? Or suppose you get the money and you die in the alloted time anyway? Would the Lord be at fault and pro1·e to be untrustworthy?

I must admit that there is something very admirable about your willingness to be made a fool for your cause. Cartoonists should have a hay day with this vision I realize that Paul, writing to rebuke the Corinthian Christians, said that he and his fellow workers were “fools for Christ” (I Cor. 4:10). Maybe there will come a time in all of our lives when we will have to be fools for Christ. I just hope there never comes a time when we will have made God look foolish.

Oral, certainly all of us will be held accountable to God for our words and actions—especially preachers. And I write to you as a forgiven sinner, not a perfect saint. But I sure hope the next time a vision or a wild dream comes along you will check it out with God’s Word, pray sincerely about it. look for the advice of fellow Christians and allow them to hold you accountable for these times of embarrassment you have thrust upon the Church of Christ. May God be merciful to us all!

In the King’s Service,

Reverend Virgil L. Michael East Paris Christian Reformed Church Grand Rapids, Michigan