Two Origin Stories
Randy Alcorn once depicted the two origin stories of the universe that are vying for the minds of our culture. Although Occam’s Razor is a rule of thumb that is, at best, an acceptance of glorified hypothesis, the choice is then given to the hearer of which is true.
One thing that Randy Alcorn tries to impress, though, is that, regardless, it matters which one is true.
SECULAR ACCOUNT
“You are the descendant of a tiny cell of primordial protoplasm washed up on an empty beach three and a half million years ago. You are the blind and arbitrary product of time, chance, and natural forces. You are a mere grab bag of atomic particles, a conglomeration of genetic substance. You exist on a tiny planet in a minute solar system in an empty corner of a meaningless universe. You are purely biological entity, different only in degree but not in kind from a microbe, virus, or amoeba. You have no essence beyond your body, and at death you will cease to exist entirely. In short, you came from nothing and are going nowhere.”
Pretty peachy outlook, no?
CHRISTIAN ACCOUNT
You are the special creation of a good and all-powerful God. You are created in his image, with capacities to think, feel, and worship that set you above all other life forms. You differ from the animals not simply in degree but in kind. Not only is your kind unique, but you are unique among your kind. Your Creator loves you so much and so intensely desires your companionship and affection that He has a perfect plan for your life. In addition, God gave the life of His only Son that you might spend eternity with Him. If you are willing to accept the gift of salvation, you can become a child of God.”
Dinesh D’Souza summed this difference perfectly when he wrote, “Now imagine two groups of people - let’s call them the secular tribe and the religious tribe - who subscribe to these two worldviews. Which of the two tribes is more likely to survive, prosper, and multiply? The religious tribe is made up of people who have an animating sense of purpose. The secular tribe is made up of people who are not sure why they exist at all. The religious tribe is composed of individuals who view their every thought and action as consequential. The secular tribe is made up of matter that cannot explain why it is able to think at all.”
The true irony of the secular tribe is that the clarion call of the secular tribe is “Survival of the fittest”. In loui of the description above, which group is more likely to survive?
Job 12:7-10 - “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
Jared Williams
One thing that Randy Alcorn tries to impress, though, is that, regardless, it matters which one is true.
SECULAR ACCOUNT
“You are the descendant of a tiny cell of primordial protoplasm washed up on an empty beach three and a half million years ago. You are the blind and arbitrary product of time, chance, and natural forces. You are a mere grab bag of atomic particles, a conglomeration of genetic substance. You exist on a tiny planet in a minute solar system in an empty corner of a meaningless universe. You are purely biological entity, different only in degree but not in kind from a microbe, virus, or amoeba. You have no essence beyond your body, and at death you will cease to exist entirely. In short, you came from nothing and are going nowhere.”
Pretty peachy outlook, no?
CHRISTIAN ACCOUNT
You are the special creation of a good and all-powerful God. You are created in his image, with capacities to think, feel, and worship that set you above all other life forms. You differ from the animals not simply in degree but in kind. Not only is your kind unique, but you are unique among your kind. Your Creator loves you so much and so intensely desires your companionship and affection that He has a perfect plan for your life. In addition, God gave the life of His only Son that you might spend eternity with Him. If you are willing to accept the gift of salvation, you can become a child of God.”
Dinesh D’Souza summed this difference perfectly when he wrote, “Now imagine two groups of people - let’s call them the secular tribe and the religious tribe - who subscribe to these two worldviews. Which of the two tribes is more likely to survive, prosper, and multiply? The religious tribe is made up of people who have an animating sense of purpose. The secular tribe is made up of people who are not sure why they exist at all. The religious tribe is composed of individuals who view their every thought and action as consequential. The secular tribe is made up of matter that cannot explain why it is able to think at all.”
The true irony of the secular tribe is that the clarion call of the secular tribe is “Survival of the fittest”. In loui of the description above, which group is more likely to survive?
Job 12:7-10 - “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
Jared Williams
