Oct 12
30
On Thursday nights, we have been using Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology to guide our study focus. We have finished our study in the area of the doctrine of the Word of God (part 1) and have begun to study the Doctrine of God (part two). The last two weeks we have discussed the existence of God by examining the cosomological and moral argument. The cosomological argument states that “every known thing in the universe has a cause. Therefore, it reasons, the universe itself must also have a cause, and the cause of such a great universe can only be God” (pg. 143). The moral argument “begins from man’s sense of right and wrong, and of the need for justice to be done, and argues that there must be a God who is the source of right and wrong and who will someday meet out justice to all people” (pg. 143).
This week, we will examine the teleogical argument. “It focuses on the evidence of harmony, order, and design in the universe, and argues that its design gives evidence of an intelligent purpose. Since the universe appears to be designed with a purpose, there must be an intelligent and purposeful God who created it to function this way” (pg. 143). [1]
We will be viewing and discussing the section on irreducible complicities from the documentary, Unlocking the Mystery of Life. Michael Behe in his book, Darwin’s Black Box, explains irreducible complexities as followed:
“By irreducibly complex I mean a single system composed of several well-matched, interacting parts that contribute to the basic function, wherein the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning. An irreducibly complex system cannot be produced directly (that is, by continuously improving the initial function, which continues to work by the same mechanism) by slight, successive modifications of a precursor system, because any precursor to an irreducibly complex system that is missing a part is by definition nonfunctional. An irreducibly complex biological system, if there is such a thing, would be a powerful challenge to Darwinian evolution.” (p. 39)
While these arguments are edifying for believers and helpful in sharing our faith, we must never forget that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
I’m looking forward to another great night of discussions and fellowship with the youth of Emmaus!
God Bless
-Phil
[1] Grudem, Wayne (1994). Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; Zondervan Publishing House.
