Abandon Earth or Face Extinction, Stephen Hawking Warns -- Again

It’s always fun to interact with the big thoughts of some of the greatest thinkers of our time.  One such commonly acknowledged mental giant is the British astrophysicist, theoretical physicist and ostensible philosopher/prophet: Stephen Hawking.  In a recent interview with Think Big,  Hawking warned that the long-term future of the planet is in outer space.  The interview is provided to us in the video link below.  Sadly, his voice is slightly garbled due to “our technical ability to change the environment for good.”

Now, being the mental midget that I am, its probably the height of foolishness to display my ignorance so publicly and against such a tremendous intellect as his – I just can’t help myself.

My thoughts, such as they are, can be seen in bold below.

Stephen Hawking: I believe that the long term future of the human race must be in space. It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster on planet Earth in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand, or million.

Well, at least (like me), he has a long term view of the human race. But unlike me, the earth is central to humanity’s survival and blessing. Jesus has not given up on either man or earth, and will sustain both by His gracious will and power. I too believe that space is a place of man’s dominion activity and will indeed occupy areas of space that we cannot now contemplate.

The human race shouldn’t have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet. Let’s hope we can avoid dropping the basket until we have spread the load.

The analogy seems a strange one, and although I have no desire to stretch it too far,what is it exactly that he intends for us to spread? I’m guessing that it is the eggs that we are blessed with, and not the chicken waste that we wish be rid of. But he seems to be saying that we should not be placing all of our hope for survival as a race on the resources of earth, and yet what resources are we likely to find in space? It seems to me that, for the most part, much of what we will need for survival in space will have to be brought with us. Maybe I’m missing something.

I see great dangers for the human race. There have been a number of times in the past when its survival has been a question of touch and go. The Cuban missile crisis in 1963 was one of these.

OOOOhhhh, aaawwww! [I can't get it our of my head that in the first sentence he sounds like some fortune teller speaking from out of a trance] Great dangers that require our leaving the earth to survive! That sounds bad. What evidence is there that the human race has been in danger of extinction? Oh, yes – the Cuban missile crisis. I should have thought of that. Even in retrospect, it’s hard to see that 1963 was such an ominous time that we should remember it as a watershed moment for the human race. Such events are that scary only to those what place their hope in men, rather than Jesus, who has all been given all authority on earth and in heaven and will bring humanity and the earth through to a glorious future.

The frequency of such occasions is likely to increase in the future. We shall need great care and judgment to negotiate them all successfully.

Really – why? Certainly we have many more crisis to negotiate through – but will these necessarily be more frequent? Is it merely that they have happened in the past? Is it because we have more destructive power and weaponry and less restraint than before? Will we see an increase of world extinction possibilities because men are less careful and less able to negotiate with our enemies?

But I’m an optimist. If we can avoid disaster for the next two centuries, our species should be safe, as we spread into space.

What a relief! I was beginning to think there was no hope when such a great mind is predicting that we will have more frequent crises times than before. If we can leave all the bad people on earth, maybe we can be safe in space. What a relief to know that we can so effectively parcel out the good from the bad and send the good elements of our “species” to the peaceful environs of space. Or did he mean we should send the bad ones into space? I’m not sure. But at least their is hope, if we can only make it though the next 200 years. By the way: why 200 years? What happens after that? But at least he’s optimistic.

If we are the only intelligent beings in the galaxy, we should make sure we survive and continue.

What if we aren’t the only intelligent beings? Does that mean we will not survive? Oh, maybe he means that since we are the only intelligent beings we just need to work harder to survive – since we can’t expect any help from anyone that is not of our world. Maybe we should consider that God is an intelligent being, and we should pray to Him for survival, and trust His promises that we humans will indeed continue! Oh, yeah, I forgot, there is no God! Or at least, not a God that is not bound by the laws of science.

But we are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history. Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth, are growing exponentially, along with our technical ability to change the environment for good or ill.

Here we go again with the increasingly dangerous and more frequently crises prone prognosis for the future. What happened to the optimism? Our over population problems (read: modern myth) and resource gobbling habits are a serious threat – but I wonder if the science and technological abilities of man (in which he so ardently trusts) can indeed provide solutions to many of the planetary problems we face?

But our genetic code still carries the selfish and aggressive instincts that were of survival advantage in the past.

Now we get to the nub of the problem for humanity – Genetics! Poor us – we have not found a way yet to manipulate the code sufficiently to eradicate our selfishness. If only the The Human Genome Project (HGP) could be relied upon to tame our aggressive instincts, we wouldn’t have to abandon the earth for space! If only we could stop the evolutionary process so that we didn’t need to use the same survival tools we did when we were more primitive. But then again, maybe the evolutionary process needs to continue and our genetic codes do not need to be modified because the survival of the fittest will assure our safety and continuance.

No sense in seeing our problems as based in sin and rebellion to God who reveals His wrath against those who suppress the truth in their unrighteousness. That would involve admitting that there is a God that is not bound by scientific laws. No sense in that!

It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand or million.

Things are getting worse already. I thought we had two centuries to avoid disaster – but now only 100 years? Lions and tigers and bears, Oh,  my!!!

Our only chance of long term survival, is not to remain inward looking on planet Earth, but to spread out into space.

Okay, good – we are back to hope again for long term survival.  Our hope is to spread out into the black beyond! May be can leave Cuba and our genetics here! That’s got to be what he means, right?

We have made remarkable progress in the last hundred years. But if we want to continue beyond the next hundred years, our future is in space.

What’s with the magic number of 100 years? Are we doomed to not making any more progress here on earth in the next 100 years? Has the progress of the last century simply ceased? Or do we just need more room to do experiments in?

That is why I’m in favor of manned, or should I say “personed,” space flight.

Yikes – He almost made a politically incorrect gaff. At least he caught himself at the last moment so that we can be assured that he’s not a  misogynist, sexist pig!  Maybe inequality is the great evil on earth that threatens us with extinction! I can’t see anything else in what he said that would lead me to share his concerns!

But then again – I have only a little bird brain compared to his brilliant insights!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. ” (Romans 1:16–25, NKJV)

Not Reformed Enough

WARNING: I know this post will be controversial – Which I seldom am here.

I have, for the last few years, become exceedingly concerned about how important it is for some people to be “Reformed” and “Confessional” and “Traditional.” I have seen, read and heard people express this commitment in ways that are sectarian beyond description, blind to the history of both the Reformation and Confessional development, and subordinate the scriptures to systematic theology (which is necessary and inescapable), confessionalism, and modern expressions Calvinism that little resembles Calvin or the 16th century Reformers. Brothers are wiling to discard, discipline and destroy brothers for the sake of what they consider matters of such great importance that the gospel is at stake.

Without agreeing with every point below (which I clearly do not), I offer the following thoughtful satire to illustrate the way this goes from”The Institute”:

This poor schmuck just ain’t Reformed enough for “The Gospel”

The poor schmuck in the photo doesn’t believe “the Gospel” because he struggles with some combination of the following (like me, Doug Hayes). He:

(1) Does not believe that any Reformed confession is divinely inspired and understands a confession to be a consensus document to provide theological space for differences so people can get along and get to work. Subscription to a Confession is the floor not the ceiling.
(2) Believes that the Hebrew word for “day” does not limit the days of creation to a literal 24 hour-day cycle.
(3) Actually thought that “Reformed and always Reforming” was true (what an idiot, what a schmuck).
(4) Believes that Christianity started before 1517.
(5) Does not find evidence in the Bible that drums, guitars, etc. are prohibited in Scripture or that the Bible prescribes everything in worship
(5.5) Does not believe the liturgies of the Geneva and other Reformation churches provide the closed canon for liturgical style in worship.
(6) Reads N.T. Wright (even if he doesn’t agree with Wright on key issues). The poor schmuck didn’t know that reading Wright defiles you and requires priestly purification. Wright reading will land you outside the city gate. (Personal note: this is why I haven’t really read much Wright, and probably won’t, but I do read Thomas Sowell).
(7) Believes that baptized covenant children should be treated as such throughout the liturgical life of the church and not quarantined to “youth and children’s” ministries for outsourced spiritual nurture.
(7.5) Wonders why the Lord’s Supper has such a low sacramental role in “Gospel-centered,” “Christ-centered” Reformed churches that Christ’s people only partake of it monthly (maybe) following the Methodist practice of using grape juice instead of wine like Jesus said? Seriously, grape juice? Why not grape soda or grape kool-aid?
(8) Believes that the tradition of adopting Sunday as “The Lord’s Day” allows him to watch football on Sunday, or even play the game if he’s in shape enough for physical activity (warning: please see a doctor before beginning strenuous physical activity).
(9) Has come to learn that church judicial courts actually play out on the internet (blogs) instead of following denominational procedures developed in accordance with Matt 18 and other conflict resolution passages. Oops! Did you know that blogs are credible and authoritative?
(10) Is willing to say when Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, and others Christian communions “get it right” theologically or otherwise (esp. social issues).
(11) Does not conflate “The Church” of Jesus Christ with his denomination.
(12) Believes the 1973 publication of Rousas J. Rushdoony’s Institutes of Biblical Law and in 1977 of Greg L. Bahnsen’s Theonomy in Christian Ethics both missed the mark (theologically) in key areas.
(13) Remembers the Norman Shepherd controversy on the relationship between justification and the covenant and understands that this new N.T. Wright controversy may just be a variation on theme regarding the level of Lutheran centrality of that doctrine for all Protestants.
(14) Is not a Republican or, even more worse, confesses to be a Democrat–even though libertarianism is more consistent with Althusius!! (haha–fodder for another discussion).
(15) Is more concerned about what women can do in the life of the church than what women cannot do. Rejects the notion that women exist primarily for managing the Kingdom’s hospitality, teaching children, making crafts, baking for church functions and knitting.
(16) Wonders why it is that when conservative Baptist folk join Presbyterian churches those churches tend to become Bapto-Presbyterian with the only distinction between 1st Prez and 1st Baptist being the baptizing of children (maybe) and the occasional consumption cheap beer and bottom-shelf alcohol (maybe). Everything else is the same (Lord’s supper, “youth” ministry, etc.).
(17) Knows that SEC is the best college football conference in America!!

At any rate, the schmuck deserves the stones to hit him right in the head. He should have known better? What a schmuck? Idiot.

I thought I was being provocative with my list and then I saw a similar list here so I added a couple. I hate not being original!!!

by Anthony Bradley

On top of all of the economic difficulty in Greece, the Greeks are also now experiencing a plague reminiscent of the Egyptian plague of Frogs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSvPb0_NLU4

As with all such things – this should be viewed as a reminder not to be hard-hearted like the ancient Egyptians. Rather than just have a bit of a laugh (which I did), ignoring it or writing off this small symbol of God’s continuing judgments in the world – we must trust the Lord and obey His word in all things.

Hopefully Europe and the United States will turn to Jesus – our only hope in this world and the next.

I really liked the concluding Final Episode of Lost, but:

Okay, I couldn’t resist making another political post – This is too fun to keep to myself. This will be most humorous for people that are somewhere near my age (nearly 50) – During that golden age of 60-70 television – Dragnet.  It was  a serious drama that had comedic moments – and now it is viewed as a humorous (almost a police spoof show) with seriously outdated moralism. Combine that with the plan of our President to reform the American health care system (now the law of the land), and voila, you have more fun than one blogger is supposed to have.

This hailstorm happened last Sunday, May 16th,  in Oklahoma.

Too often when we see something like this we are merely amazed and amused.

How easy it is in our modern world to fail to see that at all times and places God is the one who rules and uses all the universe for His purposes. God sometimes reminds us of His judgments in the world by sending us surprises like this.

Of course the great Exodus story includes THE hailstorm that all others are compared to so as to remind us forever to respond to God’s words with humility and submission to Him.  Notice in the story that there were some that came to fear the word of the Lord and responded accordingly, and others that refused to take seriously God’s word and suffered the consequences. Even when it is over, even when God’s rule and authority are evident to all, the hardhearted are not moved to anything but further hardening.

May God, when he shows forth His glory in such a way as this, grant fear and loving submission to all whom he softens with faith!

Exodus 9:

The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: “Release my people so that they may serve me! For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth. But for this purpose I have caused you to stand: to show you my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth. You are still exalting yourself against my people by not releasing them. I am going to cause very severe hail to rain down about this time tomorrow, such hail as has never occurred in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. So now, send instructions to gather your livestock and all your possessions in the fields to a safe place. Every person or animal caught in the field and not brought into the house – the hail will come down on them, and they will die!”

Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses, but those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Extend your hand toward the sky that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on people and on animals, and on everything that grows in the field in the land of Egypt.” When Moses extended his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire fell to the earth; so the Lord caused hail to rain down on the land of Egypt. Hail fell and fire mingled with the hail; the hail was so severe that there had not been any like it in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. The hail struck everything in the open fields, both people and animals, throughout all the land of Egypt. The hail struck everything that grows in the field, and it broke all the trees of the field to pieces. Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was there no hail.

So Pharaoh sent and summoned Moses and Aaron and said to them, “I have sinned this time! The Lord is righteous, and I and my people are guilty. Pray to the Lord, for the mighty thunderings and hail are too much! I will release you and you will stay no longer.”

Moses said to him, “When I leave the city I will spread my hands to the Lord, the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth belongs to the Lord. But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God”…

So Moses left Pharaoh, went out of the city, and spread out his hands to the Lord, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain stopped pouring on the earth. When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder ceased, he sinned again: both he and his servants hardened their hearts. So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he did not release the Israelites, as the Lord had predicted through Moses.

I have self-consciously taken care not to be too theologically controversial on my blog.  There are many reasons for this:

1. If anyone reads my blog at all (an unlikely possibility), my goal is for them to get a warm and fuzzy feeling, know me and mine better, and be encouraged in the faith.  Of course I want to be a resource (however meager) for edification and illumination, Bible study and Christian thinking. But most of all – I want to have fun!
2. Too many people write things on their blogs that they would be entirely unwilling to say to people face to face. With as many biblical admonitions to be careful in ones use of their tongue (and by extension their fingers) – It is clear that much of the Christian blogosphere is a biblical illustration of the proverb: “Where there are many words, sin is not far off” (Proverbs 10:29).
3. Blogs are generally not a very good format for theological “discussion.”  While some people are helped by an impersonal, academic forum online – when a blog degenerates into anger, bitter argumentation it ceases (in my opinion) to be edifying. Even on the internet we need to walk worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4).
4. There are some blogs that I follow that are very important and helpful to me (especially Peter Leithart’s) in my studies. May God proliferate those blogs that both edify and educate!

Blogging to the Glory of God?

As many in the Church today plant churches that are appealing to “seekers” we find that there are certain techniques that are important to success.  The following video provides a good church planting blueprint for the liturgical life of the church.

NOT!!!

For years I have been amazed, dazed and dismayed by the fact that people find it so hard to remember to turn off their distracting electronics in church.

I can see using computers and other silent aids to worship (e.g. electronic versions of the Bible) – But texting, receiving calls and generally playing in church?  What’s up with that?

Here is a solution provided by a Presbyterian Church in California

What do you think? Should we use this method at Reformation Covenant Church?

I know you don’t clean your computer screen very often ….

and it is hard to do the inside …. so here is my present to you!