Because I teach/tutor a govt and an economics class my thoughts have been attuned to all Marxist thoughts that seem to be running rampant in our culture. On top of trying to understand our descent into this proven catastrophe, I became enmeshed in a the battle with BSF Headquarters concerning their heretical teaching of the chapters 1 -11 of Genesis.
The notes make is very clear that Susie Rowan, the head of BSF is a theistic creationist. Without going into a great deal of detail about what is the Theistic creationist belief, it is enough to understand that it is completely at odds with the true reading of Genesis. Why would BSF promote such heresy?
I have been so dismayed that I need to be fighting a battle with an organization that I have trusted with my own spiritual education and also that of my family for the last 17 years. The angst has been indescribable.
When I graduated from Calvin College many years ago, I was a firm believer in all things opposed to a literal understanding of Genesis. Thus I continued in this arrogant state of mind for about 15 or so years until I attended a creation seminar whose speakers were Henry Morris and his son John. They convinced me beyond a shadow of doubt that what I had been taught at Calvin were lies. The return to a literal understanding of Genesis brought me great joy and renewed my faith in it's Author. I grieved profoundly at having been intellectually "raped" while a student at Calvin.
Last spring, I researched via the internet to see what my alma mater was currently teaching about Genesis and found information that totally rocked my boat, so to speak. I found a blog from a Science professor that claimed he had no trouble at all with believing that man and animal have common descent, and another link to an article in the periodical, Christianity Today, written by two Calvin Profs that disclaimed the historicity of Adam and Eve.
Without a real Adam and Eve, the salvation story is moot. Christ is called the second Adam, so maybe his purpose was to just be a good man??? When bogus science becomes the means to interpret the Bible, man gives us hope for any eternal security. What can be more alarming?
As I contemplated this unbelievable reality, it became crystal clear to me that once one leaves the path of a literal interpretation of Genesis, the outcome will only be progressive disbelief in the authority of Scripture and of it's principle character, our Lord Jesus. Of course disbelief does not occur overnight, and so such teaching is not so alarming to the unsuspecting. In fact, while in the midst of such heresy, one is pridefully aware that one is so much smarter than the "simplistic" literal readers.
After having read all those alarming missives, I felt compelled to write both to my BSF teaching leader and to Susie Rowan. The Study in Genesis was coming in the fall and I wanted to alert them to the dangers of misinterpreting this book. Several weeks later, I received a curt letter (a form letter for the most part) of response from Ms Rowan with a claim that BSF presents all various interpretations to allow the reader to make up his/her own mind.
In September then, this class began, and as I read her teaching concerning Genesis 1-10, I felt as though someone was kicking me in the stomach. Her claim to be presenting all sides was a bald faced lie. She gave a cursory description of various schools of thought concerning Genesis; but the bulk of the lessons were given to asking her readers to listen and not be dogmatic or judgmental in their analysis of Genesis. I was truly shaken. She was attempting to muzzle all those who believe that in a literal understanding of Genesis. Her message is that truth is relative, what is ok for me, may not be ok for you, etc.
Her claim that BSF presents all sides was completely false, I saw that she had an agenda , and that was to confuse our understanding of our beginnings so that we become unable to discern truth, For a BSF CEO to be so devious and destructive is beyond belief. And she hides behind claims that she is simply carrying on what BSF' has been historically teaching about Genesis.
This post is just a draft, for I realize that many claims need to be fleshed out with quotes, etc.
