Adam and Eve When I was a child, I learned the profound story of Adam and Eve. I accepted it as historical fact. In seminary, however, I was introduced to the idea that rather than understanding the story as historical, to think of it as saga - a saga is a way to tell a deep and profound truth in a non-historical way. When one accepts the story as true without regard to its historicity, many problems are alleviated. For example, who did their children marry? How can they have lived less than 5,800 years ago? etc. God alone is Lord of the conscience - and that is good news for Presbyterians. It allows us to view the story of Adam and Eve as historical or non-historical, as we choose, while still affirming its underlying truth. But imagine my surprise when reading the July/August issue of Christianity Today (pg. 28), I learned that when 1,000 Protestant pastors were surveyed, only 17% did not believe that Adam and Eve were literal people. If 83% of my colleagues believe and preach that Adam and Eve are literal, historical people, it makes it clear why people tell me that the preaching at Faith is different from what they have previously experienced. Now you can infer what you want - the preaching is different! As Bill Wardle once told me, "I have never heard such preaching.... " (My retort to Bill is that "Of all the piano players I have ever heard, he is one of them.") So I remind you, "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, freedom; in all things, love". We do not have to always agree in our Biblical interpretation to support other Christians in their walks. In faith,
Pastor Tim
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