The book “Wrested Scriptures” has now been set in type and the proof readers are busy reading and re-reading it in preparation for printing. Others are working on a scriptural index which will help make the book more useful in finding an explanation to a particular Bible verse.
A book of this type represents many thousands of hours, not only by the author, our Bro. Ron Abel, but also by many sisters who have typed and re-typed the manuscripts, and by many brethren who read the various sections checking for technical accuracy.
The interest in the book has been sensational and all who have worked so long and hard agree that it is all worth it if the brotherhood will read and use this valuable book to help teach the Truth in these last days.
We appreciate the patience of all who are so anxious to secure a copy and we hope that very soon we will be sending them out to all who have placed advance orders. To be sure that you get your copy, please send your order now to The Tidings, Box 1066, Pasadena, Calif. 91102. The price is $3.00 for the soft cover and S4.00 for the hard cover. Please enclose with your order to facilitate handling.
Here is a portion of the section on Evolution as it will appear in the book, ‘ W rested Scriptures.”
Preliminary Points
Most Christadelphians, it would seem, are far more comfortable instructing friends who accept the authority of the Bible, rather than those for whom this remains to be demonstrated. But it is likely that the latter group of questioners and students will make up an increasingly large number of contacts.
One of the main factors in the general decline in belief of Biblical inspiration is the widespread acceptance of evolution as the “scientific” explanation for the origin and development of life. As one writer observed:
The tale could be told a thousand times, of a Christian church or school or mission society or some other organization, founded by men of strong Biblical faith (belief in the verbal, plenary, and infallible inspiration of Scripture) … slowly but steadily drifting off its foundations and gradually sinking in the sands of modernism and secularism. This tragedy repeated times without number, almost always begins with a questioning of Biblical creationism. The Scriptural account of origins must somehow be accommodated to the latest scientific theories of origins (which are always evolutionary). This accommodation inevitably and necessarily leads to a softening of the doctrine of Biblical inspiration and infallibility. Other creative acts of God (that is, the recorded miracles) begin to be questioned, and a view of Biblical inspiration which allows for cultural limitations and even for outright contradictions becomes adopted . . . The proper activity for modern Christians eventually becomes more ‘social action,’ striving to help in the future evolution of the social order into a more advanced and enlightened humanistic society.
Many Christadelphians feel an uneasiness about tackling an evolutionist on his own ground. There is usually good reason for this, since the Christadelphians may lack familiarity with the specialized language and data of a particular area of science. The Christadelphian is far more competent to expound the great Truths of the written Word. Amateur though he may be, there is no monopoly on logic. Every Christadelphian should equip himself with sufficient knowledge to clearly formulate the kind of evidence which would be required to reasonably support evolution. Any evidence which may be raised (even if previously unknown) may then be considered in terms of a set criterion. Such an approach has the advantage of ordering a discussion on evolution to avoid the wrangling which can occur over insignificant or even irrelevant considerations. The ground can then be cleared for constructive Biblical teaching to follow.
Suggested Strategy
- Insist on a definition of the term evolution. Biology tests use the term in the following three ways:
a) The gradual change in the characteristics of species over the course of time. The Christadelphian need not concern himself with this definition of evolution, since minor changes do occur within species without a change in their essential nature. (E.g. humans today are on the average taller and heavier than humans of a hundred years ago.)
b) ‘Horizontal differentiation’–the diversification of a single type into a number of types of creatures with similar characteristics. Again, the Christadelphian need not concern himself with this definition since different types of dogs may have come from one dog type, but they are still dogs.
c) ‘Vertical evolution’—the development of existing forms from a few primitive forms with increasing complexity and development through the ages. It is this definition which conflicts with the special creative acts of God outlined in Genesis
Evidence for a) and b) is often mistakenly advanced in support of c).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One