A Perilous Path

Elsewhere in this blogspot, Neil Moore indicated he would provide the statement made by Perry Wiles concerning the matter of "brains" and belief on origins. Neil and I have consulted and agree that I would provide the information. We also agree that what Perry Wiles said is now a moot point in relation to Michael Jensen's concerns because Michael has since made it clear that his "libellous" intimation had nothing to do with mention of Perry Wiles. Nevertheless, because there is more that I feel needs to be said about Perry Wiles' paper, I cite and expand on the matter herein.

In his paper "Creation vs Evolution?" which was produced by Perry Wiles while on study leave in Illinois, USA, he included the following statement: "What is perhaps more tragic is that faithful Christian people can end up thinking they are doing gospel work by promoting creation science. Whether creation science is valid or not it is not gospel ministry. Gospel ministry is about the Lordship of Jesus Christ and him crucified - not about evolution. Apologetically, because again by forcing the issue of Bible versus evolution it can put obstacles in the way of unbelievers, especially those scientifically minded , and it can leave them with the impression (perhaps the justified impression in this case) that becoming a Christian means kissing your brains goodbye. Not only that, it allows people to use evolution as a smokescreen to avoid the challenge to put their faith in in Christ". (emphasis mine)

That then clarifies what Perry Wiles actually said on the matter of brains and the origins issue. There is so much else said in that paper that deserves attention and correction but space and time limits me to addressing the argument put in the statement quoted.

The argument made by Perry Wiles is, of course, a fallacy. Itself is a smokescreen to avoid leaving off the adornments of the world and a device to avoid scrutinising and exposing the bankruptcy of the evolutionary model of origins. Worse than that, it diminishes the gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified because it seems to focus solely on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with vague reference to his Lordship.

In addressing this failing I defer to one who had a much closer walk with the Lord Jesus Christ than myself.

I defer to John Owen (1616-1683), Christian, Puritan, Chaplain to Oliver Cromwell and Dean of Christ Church at the University of Oxford.

In his work, "Apostasy from the Gospel" John Owen addresses the difficult Scripture passage Hebrews 6:4-6. There were many issues confronting the church in Owen's day, the greatest probably being Romanism. The issue of the attack on the book of Genesis is much more an issue today than Romanism. However, the 'dress' of apostasy raised by John Owen can just as much be applied to today's issues as those of Owen's day. I will quote John Owen and you can judge for yourself the relevance.

First, I must make one qualification. John Owen acknowledges the existence of "partial apostasy" ie as I understand it, something along the way toward apostasy but not complete apostasy. I am not aware of anyone who has posted blogs to this blogspot holding a view that certain Sydney Anglicans are apostates. Rather, I gather that the view is held that a heretical interpretation of Genesis, something alien to the straightforward reading of Scripture and alien to the position of the Reformers, has emerged in the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church in the latter half of the Twentieth Century. If readers can demonstrate I am in error on this then I am willing to apologise.

I quote from "Apostasy from the Gospel" - John Owen - Puritan Paperbacks published by The Banner of Truth Trust - abridged and made easy to read by R.J.K. Law.

Speaking on the topic of "Darkness and Ignorance a Cause of Apostasy" and with reference to Sceptics on page 66 Owen says "Scripture, the Trinity, Christ and his offices, justification by grace and all the other great truths of the gospel are weighed and examined in the defiled, tottering scales of bold, irreverent sceptical discussions. They may be teachers of religion, but they show their ignorance of the fundamental difference between truth and error. They cannot see the glory, beauty and power of truth, so it is all one to them whether it is truth or whether it is error". The office of Christ as Creator is considered part of the gospel and ought not be subjected to assault just as Christ as Redeemer or other office ought not be subjected to assault.

Speaking on the topic of "Pride, Neglect and Worldliness, Causes of Apostasy" on page 79, Owen says "The corrupt mind exalts its own ideas. It loves, applauds, dotes on and firmly embraces its own ideas and opinions. This is the origin of all heresy" and on page 80 "The corrupt mind exalts itself as the sole and absolute judge of God's Word....... whatever the mind rejects as not in agreement with its own ideas and system of logic is scorned and despised". On the same topic on page 89, Owen says "(2) Secondly, God delivers up willful apostates to false teachers and deceivers. These, deceived and taught by Satan, are used by God to carry out his just displeasure on wicked apostates whom he delivers into their power. The deceived people exalt these false teachers and deceivers into high positions in the church and then submit implicitly to them".

Speaking on the topic of "Apostasy from the Doctrine of the Gospel" on pages 92, Owen says "So none will remain constantly faithful to Christ who is not able to spiritually discern the glory of his person and his offices" and on page 93, "The whole foundation of all gospel faith rests in the glory of Christ's person and offices (Heb. 1:2, 3; Col. 1:15-19)". Note that Owen specifically cites passages of Scripture addressing the creative work of Christ in this assertion.

Speaking on the topic of "Apostasy from the Commands of the Gospel" on page 103, Owen says "By the Word of God and the Spirit of Christ, multitudes have been made holy, and multitudes more are still being called out of this world to holiness of life. These shall never utterly and finally fall away from true holiness, but shall be preserved by the power of God through faith unto salvation. Yet even these may fall away from wholehearted obedience to the holy commands of the gospel and become for a while unfruitful in their lives. In every backsliding there is a partial apostasy, with much dishonour to Christ. Nor does anyone know whether his backsliding will not end in total apostasy".

These and so much more are sober words from John Owen for reflection on all aspects of our life and testimony to Jesus Christ. In connection with the full gospel of Jesus Christ, they have relevance to the glory that is his in his office as Creator and are a caution against diminishing the glory due.

Calvinists should remember that it is not us who convert the unconverted. It is God working through Holy Spirit in the revelation of the person of Jesus Christ and his works. God is able to create out of nothing and is thus able to save through a faulty message but that message more desired and honouring to God is that which is true to his Word.

In closing, I give an example of an apostate who, if he read it, failed to heed the advice of John Owen. His name is mentioned elsewhere on this blogspot. His name was Charles Templeton, now deceased.

Charles Templeton, born 1915, rose to evangelical prominence in the 1940's in the USA and Europe. In 1946 he was listed among those "best used of God" by the National Association of Evangelicals. He was a good friend of contemporary evangelist Billy Graham and spoke to audiences numbering in the thousands. Newspapers reported him wining 150 converts per night. He became a troubled man because he couldn't reconcile the book of Genesis with the world's view of origins and the age of the earth.

Templeton warned Billy Graham that it was "intellectual suicide" to not question the Bible and to go on preaching God's Word as authoritative. He commenced theological studies at Princeton University but received no insights to qualm his doubts in the Bible. Finally, the doubts about everything he stood for became too great and he resigned his ministry.

In his 1996 book "Farewell to God" Templeton listed his reasons for rejecting the Christian faith. Most of these reasons related to his view of the accuracy of the book of Genesis. Sadly, the church of his day did not adequately answer Charles Templeton's questions. Answers are available but even more sadly, many in the church will not trust their own brethren and instead run to those who reinterpret God's Word in Genesis or who reject it altogether.

Upon accepting an evolutionary long age view of origins, Charles Templeton logically perceived "How could a loving and omnipotent God create such horrors as we have been contemplating?"
Charles Templeton died an Atheist. His life portrays the image of an Apostate described by John Owen when addressing Hebrews 6:4-6.

It puzzles this writer how so many in the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church can do what Charles Templeton could not logically do ie reconcile a death, disease and frustration riddled means of origins with the Word of God and the glory of Christ contained in Genesis. The charade will be seen through by many of the generation now coming through. A strong stand on the reading of God's Word as it is presented in Genesis and likewise presented in the New Testament accounts of the acts of Jesus Christ is the will of God and returns the church to its former position with the Reformers.

Sam Drucker