Counsels on Secular Worldview

Counsel #4 — Origins Of Biblical Disbelief

Picture: Counsel #4 — Origins Of Biblical Disbelief CSe 14.1

The shift away from a biblical worldview happened for several reasons. During the Protestant Reformation Catholic and Protestant groups developed different interpretations of the Bible, which they didn’t resolve through careful study, but instead became entrenched in their own viewpoints. These unresolved disagreements led to religious wars like the English Civil War and the Thirty Years’ War, diminishing scholars’ confidence and interest in the Bible and religion. This shift impacted many Bible-based topics, including the topic of origins. The real issue wasn’t the Bible itself but humans failing to seek thoughtful answers to their differing ideas. CSe 14.2

Disenchanted scholars no longer accepted the biblical stories of creation and the global catastrophic flood, leading them to seek an alternate theory. This culminated in the theory of evolution, suggesting life evolved over millions of years of geological history. These two stories are radically different. We will explore factors that help us understand these differences and how to thoughtfully resolve the conflict.^[11] CSe 14.3

“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” Job 40:2 NLT CSe 14.4

“The Word of God is the great detector of error; to it we believe everything must be brought. The Bible must be our standard for every doctrine. We must study it reverentially. We are to receive no one’s opinion without comparing it with the Scriptures.” Ellen White in Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 5, Letter 20a, 1888, par. 19 CSe 14.5

Reflect: In what ways could academic pride and societal pressure hinder your pursuit of truth? CSe 14.6