Yesterday at Biologos there appeared a short video featuring one Aaron Daly, a young-earth creationist. In the video he explains his views on theology and science and how he came to believe what he believes. He also talked about love.
I can’t accept Daly’s stark, one-or-the-other view of science and theology. But I can’t reject his insistence that if the science-religion debate is not grounded in love, it will amount to only so much sound and fury, signifying nothing.
But what does love look like? For me, it looks like Jesus. And Jesus could be pretty rough on people, especially when he smelled snakes. And especially when the snakes were wearing religious garb. He could be plenty compassionate, sure, but Leo “Dr. Love” Buscaglia he was not.
If Jesus were alive and teaching today, he would be approached in a public place by the powers that be. There would be a camera. Someone would stick a microphone in his face and ask, “Hey Jesus, Creation or evolution?”
Question: Which of the following describes how Jesus would respond?
(1) “Creation. Moses said it. I believe it. That settles it.”
(2) “Evolution. Haven’t you morons taken biology?”
(3) “Bring me those 70 million-year-old feathers encased in amber that were discovered a couple of weeks ago.” [Holding them up] “To whom do the feathers and the amber belong?”
(4) “First answer me this. Charles Darwin: Was he from God or from men?”
(5) “Remember the greatest commandment: You shall love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Now go and do likewise.”
(6) “While I have not come to bring peace but a sword, you clowns may wish to remove the plank from your eye before you think about using it.”
(7) “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?”
(8) I don’t know. Jesus is not big on direct answers. Plus, he knows a trap when he sees one.
(9) [Looking up] “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”
(Pick one)
