What Color Are Your Lenses? 9-20-09
I watched a video yesterday which featured Ken Ham from the Answers in Genesis organization, in which he talked about the changes that have occurred in the world since Adam’s sin. He recalled a conversation in which a friend mentioned taking others to a beach to demonstrate the love of God as displayed in creation; Ken’s admitted response was to remark on the child that had lost an arm to a shark attack recently. His response was driven by the need to explain all of the evil things that happen in the world today, which he correctly attributes not to a failing in the love of God but rather to the corruption of the creation because of the sins of mankind. I do not, however, completely agree with his response.
There is little doubt in my mind that Ken Ham is absolutely correct in his appreciation for the cause of the troubles in the world. I was very impressed by his attribution of the apparent imperfections in the world not to a lacking in the efforts of God but rather to corruption caused by man’s sin. Too many Christians have no clue how to respond to people in anguish, who wonder why the innocent suffer. Put simply, there are no innocent people! There are people who are innocent of certain things, for sure: most of us are innocent of many things, such as armed robbery. But that is a far cry from being innocent! We live in a world of corruption and degradation because we are all sinners!
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3 NIV)
All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. (Proverbs 16:2 NIV)
So in this way, I can see why Ken responded in the way he did. But I disagree with him on another level, in that while this is a corrupted and fallen world, it is still a world that was created by an awesome God and it still bears his mark upon it. Yes, because of the fall of man, we have cancer and other scourges within our bodies; but we are still magnificently designed and flawlessly created with the stamp of the Master upon us.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14 NIV)
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:18-20 NIV)
So, is it from the corruption and decay of the world around us that we can clearly see the eternal power and divine nature of God? No, but rather it is in spite of the corruption and decay that we can see the handiwork of God. And this is not some esoteric theological point that I am arguing; our ability to reach out to those who are living in darkness is rooted in our ability to see those around us as lost children of God rather than as twisted relics of what was a “very good” creation.
We often say that a person who only sees the pleasant parts of something (such as a relationship) is looking through “rose-tinted glasses.” I am not saying that we should not see the effects of sin around us – and more importantly within us – but I am rejecting that our lenses should filter all the good around us through the lenses of “the world is going to hell in a handcart.” In Romans chapter 8, Paul tells us that the creation is waiting for its liberation from the decay caused by sin; shouldn’t we be awaiting that as well?
I do not think we should avoid the ugliness of the world around us, but let’s not put blinders on to the wonders of the creation! I believe there is a tint for your glasses that will enable you to see God’s miraculous works while also remaining aware of the price of our sins: the crimson color of the blood of Christ.
-Charles Peterson