Newsletter Vol.2, #47—December 10, 2006
Matthew 10 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
What Would Life on Mars Change?
by Harry Osborne
Since the landing of the rover on Mars a few years ago, we have seen endless speculation in the media regarding its possible findings. They tell us that it may find signs of water and "possibly" even indicators of past "life" on Mars. One can clearly see the glee in the eyes and voices of commentators who tell us that "everything will change" if the rover can find evidence that even a single-celled organism once existed on Mars. Excuse me for raining on this speculative parade, but I fail to see the logic that causes one to conclude "everything will change" if water or a simple life form is found on Mars.
One of the things that perplexes me about this matter concerns the nature of the organism that would cause "everything" to "change," according to our speculators. It reminds one of a few years ago when a report came from NASA claiming discovery of what was thought to be a fossilized life form in a meteorite from Mars. At that time, one Houston paper's headline caught my eye, saying, "Was There Life On Mars? Answer Could Change Everything." Later on, the report was debunked, but let us not allow the facts to stand in the way of some fertile speculation. The "life" said to have been fossilized in the supposed Martian meteor was supposed to have been a one-celled organism of tubular structure, classified as one of the lowest forms of life. Yet, the banner headlines from our press proclaimed it was "life" and touted as being of "monumental" significance. The same press commentators, however, could not determine whether the far more complex life form of a child within the womb is truly "life” and minimize the unborn child's significance. Amazing!
Let us suppose for a moment that everything suspected in the debunked report and "possible" finds of the Martian rover are absolutely true and that microscope organisms once lived on Mars beside massive reservoirs of water. In fact, let us assume one-celled organisms still live on Mars. How would "everything" be "changed" by that? What would change about the fundamental nature of man and his responsibility? When we understand the Bible's teaching, microscopic organisms and water on Mars do not change it.
No Change in Our Purpose
The wise man, Solomon, summed up our purpose for our existence in these words: "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Eccl.12:13-14).
Single-celled life on Mars does not "change" the fact that we must fear God. <snip>
No Change in Our Destiny
The fact that God will judge all of us based on our actions is not "changed" by a fossilized protozoa from a Martian meteorite or a rover finding a living cell on Martian soil next week. It is still "appointed unto men once to die, and after this comes the judgment" (Heb.9:27). <snip>
No Change in Creator
Furthermore, it would not change one thing about how the universe and life within that universe came into being. The Bible says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen.1:1). <snip>
It boggles the mind of the Bible believer to see multi-billion dollar programs proposed to "find the origin of life" on this planet or any other when one can open to the first page of a twenty dollar Bible and find the answer - God is the origin! When our evolutionary friends thought moon rocks would answer their questions about the origins of the earth, guess what they found? Moon rocks are a great deal like earth rocks! Now they hope to find support for their theories on Mars, but the first pictures show us sand and red rocks amazingly similar to the sand and red rocks I saw as a boy in the Texas panhandle. <snip>
Conclusion
While we should expect faithless speculation from worldly people who profess no respect for God's word, it is shocking to see those professing faith in God and His word, yet rejecting the plain teaching of Scripture due to the faithless pronouncements of "science falsely so called" (1 Tim.6:20). The recent teachings of Hill Roberts and Shane Scott, which they have never openly repudiated or corrected, exemplify the problem. They have denied the historical fact stated literally by Scripture that "in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth the seas, and all that is in them" (Ex.20:11). In fact, Hill Roberts said the rocks tell us more about how the world came into existence than does God's word. <snip>
Reason for Hope, Vol.2, #42, 10/22/2006, a publication of the SW 84th Street church in Oklahoma City.
The Movies You Watch
Matthew Allen
We conclude brother Allen’s article (see newsletter #45) with some questions he suggests and my <answers> to them…
1. How much time have you spent going to movies; watching television, or playing video games in the last two weeks? Could that time have been better spent?
<Time allotted for entertainment should be prudent but we cannot say that some entertainment is wrong! Time better spent could be said about most things we do!>
2. Think of your 3 favorite movies. Would you be embarrassed to admit they are on your favorites list? <No.> Why?
3. How can movies filled with bad language affect you?
<It wouldn’t affect me because I don’t generally go to the movies and I have tvguardian to blank out the bad language (for the most part; some escapes).>
4. How can movies filled with graphic violence affect you?
<Graphic violence does not bother me but I would not recommend it for very young children. We played cowboys and Indians when we were children and it didn’t make us want to go out with a real gun or bow and arrow and shot someone!>
5. How can movies filled with illicit sex affect you?
<It might make me feel like such was okay but I avoid movies of such a nature. Sometimes I might buy a video with graphic stuff in it and either get rid of it or write a warning on the cover.>
6. How real is the danger of compromise with these issues?
<I suppose it depends upon what you mean by compromise. If you mean that what I do is compromising, then the effect would be that I am objecting to bad language and nudity.>
7. Read Philippians 4:8. How does this verse fit in with our subject?
<We should not dwell on obscenities and nudity. However, we also realize that all things we engage in would fall under the scope of this verse.>
8. Is the movie rating system always an accurate guide to go by? Why? Why not?
<No, because a pg rating may have nudity and bad language.>
9. Is it possible to maintain a good influence while viewing movies with questionable and objectionable content?
<No.>
10. How can you improve your commitment to live a godly life?
<Study the Bible more.>
11. What if you found yourself in a scenario where you've been asked to go with your friends to a movie you know is filled with objectionable content? Think of ways you would respond.
<I would have to decline the invitation.> End