Today’s blog is more of pure speculation than anything else. But as one who likes to gaze at the stars through my telescope and have submitted my name to the dearMoon Project, I think there is an issue that needs to be addressed. Recently a co-worker shared the following image with me:
And it got me thinking how today’s church by and large is repeating history. While there exists myths that both Galileo and Copernicus were actually executed for their scientific discoveries, none the less they were highly persecuted for their discoveries. (See the following reference pages):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei#Death
These men did suffer greatly for their belief that the sun revolved around the earth and not the earth around the sun. While maybe not the aforementioned astronomers were put to death for their scientific beliefs, others were . . . another horrific phase in church history and mankind in general.
Today there is much speculation about whether or not we have craft visiting us from other worlds or dimensions. Many are coming out on record that this is a deception by the Nephilim, a hybrid race of spiritual beings and men.
- Genesis 6:4 ESV – 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
Some scholars do dispute that the Sons of God refers to spiritual beings. But it is not my intent today to jump into that realm. None the less, some see unidentified flying objects as a similar deception by the Nephilim. Which is kind of scary because of the unspoken implications. The unspoken theology once again, that man is the center of the universe and though not explicitly stated, that the earth is the only world created by God with beings made in his image. Much like the sun and earth debate, once again, man has to be at the center of the everything.
I was reminded in a quite tongue and cheek point of view in college made by a speaker at a Christian conference, that even though the English reads:
- John 3:16 NASB95 – 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
The Greek word for “world” is κόσμος. The speaker clearly implying that if alien life is found elsewhere, that Christ died for the entire universe. (I do not likewise wish to jump into the exegetical or eisegetical arguments. For those who may not be familiar with those terms I refer you to my blog entry):
But my key point in all of this brings us back to the original point made by the minion. The world does not revolve us around and nor does God. It is clear that God has way more to creation than what has been revealed. While I am clearly not suggesting that we let our guard down against deception, as I firmly believe there is no one not capable of being deceived. But there have been many times in history when what was to be taken as metaphor was taken literally. And as a result, we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought, because how we see ourselves does interfere with how we see the world and universe.
One of the things that has fallen out of favor modern evangelicalism is that one can hold a strong theological position and not appreciate the discoveries that science has brought into our lives regarding the world and universe we live in. If anything, to be selected for dearMoon Mission would only enhance my position that we need to love much. Because in the end, we truly occupy only a very small place and tiny place in a much grander universe than previously thought. My small place in that universe is to help you be a better person tomorrow than what you are today through learning to love more. So as a result, I am not afraid of addressing unspoken theology. I may not make discoveries as grand as the astronomers in the past who likewise have challenged the unspoken theology of their day. But who knows who we may influence to not be afraid to make discoveries tomorrow by teaching others that surround them to love more today.
So as always, love much my friends.
Unspoken Theology 