Abstract

Table of Contents

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII
  

Volume 9: The Doorway Papers Series

THE FLOOD:
LOCAL OR GLOBAL?

Abstract:

     This volume is a miscellany of 8 studies dealing with various aspects of biblical faith and experience. Three subjects throw light on the inerrancy of Scripture: evidence for the extent of the Flood from the Bible and from Flood traditions; the effect of the curse ("in the sweat of thy brow") as stated in Genesis in the light of scientific studies; and how names are viewed in the Bible and other cultures. Some of the physical aspects of evil which impact daily life (diseases, earthquakes, wars, etc.) can be viewed as expressions of God's common grace. Two Papers, which are more personal, are concerned with worship and prayer. The final Paper defines Christian scholarship.

    From the point of view of the course of human history, this Flood was either a local incident or a total break in the thread of man's cultural development. Present reconstructions of prehistoric times make no allowance for it. What really did happen?
    A strict adherence to the literal wording of chapters 6�8 of Genesis leaves us with little atlernative than to view the Flood as universal insofar as mankind was concerned since the human race was reduced to eight souls only, but local insofar as extent is concerned since man was at that time still confined to a comparatively small geographical area. Some of the physical problems are discussed.

     This collection of Flood traditions (some 140) from all over the world are "variations on a theme" (with one exception). While each tradition emphasizes one particular aspect (though omitting others), by putting them all together the total event of the biblical account has been preserved. The implications of this are discussed.

   The problem of suffering seems beyond us. Everywhere men, women and children, innocent and guilty alike, suffer unbelievable hardships. Disease, disaster, earthquakes, typhoons, war, oppression, etc., hourly add their awful total to history until one wonders whether God is still in his heaven, whether He cares. And we question the goodness and mercy of God � even his sovereignty.
    Yet Scripture declares that evil (which is not the same as sin or wickedness) proceeds from God � just as blessings do! This Paper shows that every evil has an element of mercy and potential blessing in it. These evils, then, are expressions of God's 'common grace' to all men. In spite of appearances to the contrary, this may well be "the best of all possible worlds".

     Sometimes statements in Scripture seem to be simply matter-of-fact � like Adam being asked to name the animals. But to people of other cultures this is a significant act, and its significance is profound. In our culture a word or name identifies the thing or person. In most other cultures the name is much more. The name IS the thing or person, his very soul. Wrapped up in it is the nature, the significance, the power, the very identity of what is named. To know a name is to have power over what is named. To change a name is to change one's nature; new experiences require new names. Many passages in Scripture reflect this attitude.
    It is one of the wonders of Scripture that it can accommodate, and use, our strangely variant ways of viewing reality to make its own revelation clear without compromising the truth of what is being revealed.

    Scripture has very little to say about sweating, but what it does say is remarkably significant � a significance apparent to the author whose research involved the physiology of sweating.
    Sweating seems like such a simple thing:  in reality it is highly complex, and exactly suited to man's situation. Since "in the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread" is a curse pronounced on fallen Adam, it might be asked whether this would have been true of unfallen Adam.
    Scripture, such as Genesis 3:19, when taken literally, shows itself to be abreast of modern discovery.

  True worship, even when practiced corporately, is a voluntary, personal, and private act. The achievement of the Lord's presence may be assisted by such external factors as beauty, the music, the form of the service. While these externals are designed to help, they may just as often hinder the achievement of corporate worship. On the other hand, lack of these things does not assure achievement either.
    This Paper discusses architecture, music, imagery, ritual, liturgy � forms of art intended to assist in the act of worship.

  This Paper is made up of selections from a journal which the author had kept for some forty years of the Lord's faithfulness in answering his prayers. He notes a progression from the early specific requests to the 'conversation' with God of later years. But it is more than simply a personal testimony � and so inspiring � for it can also serve as a guide on prayer.

     What is it that qualifies a serious work as Christian rather than merely scholarly? It is here suggested that the hallmark of Christian scholarship is not that it states the Truth (which any scholarly work certainly ought to do) but that it faces up to the Christian implications of the truths presented.
    It is not in the presentation of the facts or ideas themselves that an author shows his true colours, but how he deals with their implications. Any work which fails to deal with implications as they relate to the body of Christian Faith cannot qualify as Christian scholarship.
    This Paper is a protest against the growing tendency of recognized scholars who are also known as Christians to ignore this responsibility: and a plea to authors, editors, publishers and reviewers to re-examine their own responsibilities in this regard.  

1979 published by Zondervan Publishing Co.
1997 published online
2001 2nd Online Edition – corrected, edited and reformatted.