Newspapers / The Future Outlook (Greensboro, … / July 10, 1970, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of The Future Outlook (Greensboro, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Sundav School Lesson (Continued from Pace 1) lag made in the divine Image Is that man is to be creative like his Creator. Made in the likeness of God, man is to subdue the earth and rule over all living things. The Meulni of the Trees While the Yah wist was aware of the absolute sovereignty of God, he also believed that God has left the future open, that man has been given free will and therefore the power to af fect the course of the future. This aspect of God's handiwork was clearly expressed in the de tails of his story. The tree of life and the tree Of the knowledge of good and evil are symbols of the inten tion of the Creator and of man's responsibility In the creation They indicate that creation is not a closed, predetermined system; its future is open and real. The intention of the Creator is life ? life for fellowship and enjoyment. But It is dependent life. It requires sustenance from the tree of life. Alongside God's intention for life is the possibil ity of death, m forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Death can cancel out life. The forbidden fruit is a remind er that man and his place In God's garden are not necessarily permanent but are dependent upon man's own choices. The two symbolic trees in Eden are, therefore, the Yah wist's way of saying that God has planned life and a future for his creatures, but that they may cancel out both by their disobedience to and attempt to be independent of God, the source of life. Why Two Stories? The two creation stories in Genesis never refer to each other. The explanation is simple in the case of the Yahwist's epic: It was written first The priestly account presents a more difficult problem. Some persons have suggested that the priestly writers may have omitted reference to the Yahwist's story because the priestly theology appears to be contrary to the theological per spectives of Genesis 2. The Yah wist was sensitive to sin in the world and had an explanation for this reality. The priestly narrative makes no mention of sin in God's world, since its presence would seem to be a denial of God's power over his creation. Another point of view is that of Charles F. Kraft. He com ments on possible reasons why the priestly group included both creation stories: "Perhaps, after all, this dual ity Is the very genius of the Bible. While there may be some inconsistency in details ? this was a point of no concern what ever to the final priestly edl-j tors who gave us Genesis; the! two accounts are deliberately i put side by side and illustrate the paradox of our existence. [ Primary Is God's grand, mas-, terful, and creative sovereignty over heavens and earth. The 1 earth is his. He made It And i he made man to have domin ion' over hit other creatures and i to worship him, for God's final | creative act was the Sabbath, j But while man has been given this divine origin and purpose, he Is also an earthly creature ? Infused with God's own breath of life, but needing human com panionship, and endowed with fate-filled choice of action. Thus Is laid the groundwork for the continuing Biblical drama, lor man's creation is only prelude to the history of man's redemp tion, the theme which has guid ed the major actions in the Bib lical plot" Scienoe and Religion Can the biblical records of world creation be accepted as scientifically accurate and true? Since modern science does not deal with matters of faith, we do not turn to science for in sights on the question of a di vine Creator and man made in the image of God. Nor do we normally turn to the Bible for answers to questions within the province of modern science. Thus the biblical accounts o t creation are not science in the modern sense of that term. The biblical narratives of creation do, however, reflect the science of the ancient world. (Continued on Page 7) Today...TOM MUMFORD is a Skilled Craftsman. HE HELPS KEEP "REYNOLDS NO. 1 A few years ago Tom Mumford was a machine cleaner . Reynolds offered Tom training to become a production repairman. Today he helps keep our high speed manufacturing machines turning out fine products. R.J.Reynolds Tobacco Company Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102 (AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER) PUTTING OUR BMPLOYIIB FIRST KEBPB UB FIRST IN THE TOBACQQ BUSINESS
The Future Outlook (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 10, 1970, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75