Unseen Ripples

We never really know what God is planning. We can always look back later and say, "Oh, that's what He was up to!" But usually, at the time, we stumble along in confusion, clinging to our Bibles and His promises, somewhere between hope and faith that He really does know what He's doing.

That is not to say I don't trust God. But there are days--admit it!--when I say, "I just don't see how this is to Your glory."

And then there are other days when you think you see His purpose, and your prayers are, "Lord, this is what You want, yes? Let me obey Your will, let me do what will please You...but I'm pretty sure this is it!"

I did a play recently, to help out a friend. Of the six other people in the theater for the play, one was a Christian. The director and one of the actors is Jewish, the other three seem to be mostly and cheerfully Heathen. And they all cursed like sailors, except for us two Christians. Nice people, pleasant to work with, not uptight, and capable of reining in the swearing (which they did when my little sister dropped by the theater). But they really don't believe in God.

I met the director, Jackie, last March when I did my first play. I ran into her again when I assisted with "Fiddler on the Roof" and she came in to advise the cast on some Jewish traditions. The second night she was at the theater, she and I and four others hung out for a few hours and discussed religious differences. At the end of the evening, I asked if she believed Christ was the Messiah. No, she said. The Messiah is prophesied to bring peace, and there've been an awful lot of wars since Jesus's time!

Either that night or after I joined the cast of the other play, I asked how literally she took Genesis, and then we debated evolution versus creationism. She emailed me, I emailed back, and we've been at it off and on for about a month now. (It's only half a dozen emails because I'm a lazy butt.) So far, our debates remain very friendly and inconclusive. We're both articulate people, both convinced of what we believe, and both willing to say, "We differ, but you're still a nice person."

Here's where the ripple comes in. Last night, the lead of our play asked how the debate was going. And it hit me that they're watching. I knew before--he's asked before and it's something of a joke among the cast. But last night, it occurred to me that our discussion might very well be repeated to others. It occurred to me how much this debate could matter. And I think it's about time to move from squabbling over scientific facts, which can be interpreted myriad ways, to spiritual topics.

I disagree with evolution because it reduces man to a clever animal, whereas creationism sets him as regent over creation, created in the image of God, and a soul destined for eternity. I doubt, too, that evolution adequately addresses the problems of evil and sin. But mostly, I believe that I have found truth, that the Bible is to be taken literally, that God tells no lies and has told us what we need to know about the state of the world, our souls, and our eternal destination.

I hope I can convey that to her.