My notes for every sermon has a section called “Trim the Fat.” It’s the material I come across in study that is tempting to include but is trimmed in an effort to keep the sermon lean. Although, based on sermon length, I imagine some of you wouldn’t mind a bit more trimming.
Here are a few items that wound up on the cutting room floor but may be of interest given a chapter like Genesis 1.
Your belief about the origin of the universe, whatever it might be, is faith.
Consider this quote from theologian, Herman Bavink.
Materialism is not the result of exact science but of philosophy, of a worldview, of systems of beliefs…Granted, materialism loves to pass itself off as an exact science but it can be easily demonstrated that, both historically and logically it is the fruit of human thought…for the origin and end of things lie outside the boundaries of human observation and research. In that regard, materialism is in the same position as theism, which acknowledges the mysterious origin of things.
Ultimately, it is by faith that one believes that uncreated, self-existent, eternal matter organized itself by chance in an unguided, undirected, and purposeless process. And it is by faith that one believes that an uncreated, self-existent, eternal God created, guided, and directed everything in existence with a purpose (Heb 11:3). Both are beliefs ultimately grounded in faith.
What you believe about the origin of the universe has implications on how you see life.
On Sunday, we preached Genesis 1 considering the implications of believing in a Creator who created the universe. Likewise, a faith commitment to materialism or a naturalistic universe also has implications. Hear how Betrand Russell candidly, albeit bleakly, states the logical conclusion of his atheistic worldview.
That Man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs, are but the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve an individual life beyond the grave; that all the labors of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of Mans’ achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins – all these things, if not quite beyond despute are yet so nearly certain, that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand.
Russell is saying, if there is nothing but matter, nothing matters. Thankfully in Genesis 1, Moses said otherwise.
Additional Resources
- A brief video by Dr. Stephen Meyer, philosopher of science, addressing the question, “Are science and religion are in conflict?“
- A free online course offered by The Gospel Coalition on Faith & Science.
- A brief summary of ten evangelical interpretations of Genesis 1-2.
- A visual commentary of Genesis 1 by the Bible Project.
by Ajay Thomas
Ajay lives in Philadelphia with his wife Shainu and their kids Hannah and Micah. He is responsible for preaching and vision as a pastor at Seven Mile Road.