Questions and Answers I
[Page 01, Questions 1 through 5]
Click here to go to [Page 02, Questions 6 through 8]
Here are some questions asked by the faithful. We have answered the questions as best as we can in the limited space. If you desire a more detailed answer please e-mail us at drstepanos@aol.com and we will be glad to expound on our response.
Questions
1. Which is correct: The Creationist Viewpoint or the Evolutionist
viewpoint?
2. Did Jesus raise himself or did the Father raise Jesus from the Dead?
3. Where in the Bible does it mention about 'oil' representing the Holy
Spirit? Did St. John the Baptist also anoint Jesus with the 'Holy Myooron'?
4. Why do we have to pay for other's mistakes? God isn't fair!
5. How can we call Christ 'king' if he died?!
1. Which is correct: The Creationist Viewpoint or the Evolutionist viewpoint?
Dear Father Stépanos,
In Sunday School I keep hearing that God created the universe and especially us,
human beings. In school there is no mention of God. I only hear that
man evolved from the animals. I am confused! Which is right?
Tommy, Fresno, California
Dear Tom,
You are asking a very good question that often
confuses people. Believe me, you are not the only one who is
confused. I must warn you though, the answer to your question cannot be
given as 'this is right' and 'that is wrong.' Instead, we need to
recognize that the Bible's affirmation of God's relationship with humanity is a
SPIRITUAL TRUTH of life whereas the Theory of Evolution set forth by
Charles Darwin is a SCIENTIFIC THEORY that tries to describe some aspects of
nature. The two cannot be compared.
They are like apples and oranges! But the two do not have to be exclusive
of each other.
For example, we can say that the human body evolved over a period of time.
However, what God instilled in the human being is His "image and
likeness." This is God's Spirit in the form of rationality and free
will. By attending Church, helping others and following the example of
Christ, men and women strengthen the "image and likeness" of God in
themselves and others, and grow to love and appreciate God and fellow human
beings.
As you read the various explanations of the theory of evolution, you will find
that it describes HOW the body and perhaps even the brain of the human being
evolved. But it will not try to describe WHY people love one another, and
why some people decide to sacrifice their life for others even if it means
death. Why? Because 'science' can only try to explain HOW living
creatures evolved over a period of time but NEVER explain WHY life started in
the first place. Another way of putting it, through science and technology
mankind may invent and build the best robot that can talk and look like a human
being, but that robot can never love or have compassion like you and I.
Why? Because love and compassion form part of the image and likeness of
God, which only He can instill! No man or woman can ever instill love or
compassion in a machine!
It is rather unfortunate that some people try to use the Theory of Evolution to
deny God's presence. That is simply trying to use a statement for
something that a scientific theory cannot do. Likewise, some people try to
deny the benefits of science and technology by trying to use the Bible as a
'scientific book' as opposed to a 'spiritual' one. This dichotomy between
the Bible and science did not exist in the early centuries of
Christianity. In fact, many Christians conducted scientific studies of the
universe as means of glorifying God by being inspired through Psalm 8. In the fourth century, St. John
Chrysostom spoke about the important uses of science in medicine as a means of
glorifying God. The writings of Armenian Saints such as St. Gregory of
Datev (Datevatzee) are full of scientific discussions. Likewise, in the scientific
community, one of the greatest scientists, Sir Isaac Newton saw his work in
physics and calculus as a means of glorifying God. It is unfortunate that
some people try to twist the true meaning and intent of a gift of God in order
advance their personal human interest. In the face of such abuses, we can always ask that
God show us His intent for giving us science and technology and ask guidance in order that we may use
these gifts to glorify Him as opposed to denying Him.
2. Did Jesus raise himself or did the Father raise Jesus from the Dead?
Dear
Dér Stépanos,
We are glad that
we have a book about the Badarak and our theology that can be easily read and
understood. But now that we can
understand what we are reading, we have questions to ask and we hope you don’t
mind answering them. On page 27 you
say that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, but is it not true that
Christ raised himself? He said:
“Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days.” [St. John 2:19]
Can you help clarify?
Dear Leon,
Thank you for a very insightful question.
Yes, Christ had the authority to raise himself.
However, in order to open the path for eternal life for us as humans, he
put himself in our shoes. Just as
we cannot raise ourselves from the dead, he too ‘emptied himself’ of this
authority, and trusted God the Father to raise him.
This ‘emptying of himself’ by Christ, known in Greek as kenosis,
is described in St. Paul’s letter to the Phillipians 2:5-1.
This is also mentioned in other locations.
St. Peter states that “God raised him (Jesus) from the dead.” [Book
of Acts 2:24] He
also states the same in Acts 10:40.
St. Paul speaks of this in Acts 13:37 and in Romans 4:24: “For us who
believe in Him who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.”
[In addition see Romans 6:4 and 10:9; First Corinthians 6:14, etc.]
Theologically this is important because it implies that though
we as humans cannot raise ourselves, but we will be raised from the dead if we
believe and follow the example of Christ, and trust God just as he did.
3.
Where in the Bible does it mention about 'oil' representing the Holy
Spirit? Did St. John the Baptist also anoint Jesus with the 'Holy Myooron'?
Dear Dr.
Dingilian,
I started
reading your book (set in the pews) at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in
Costa Mesa not too long ago. You
did a wonderful job of making a lot of sense of the krapar that most of us do
not understand! The only question I
have, however, is where I read on page 11 “The Holy Myooron represents the
power of the Holy Spirit. Christ
sent out his Disciples anointing with Holy Oil.”
Would you please let me know where in the Bible there was such anointing
of oil? I know in our Armenian
Church we use the Holy Myooron during the Christening of a child.
Again I’m confused as to where in the Bible does it record that John
the Baptist anointed Jesus with oil after baptizing Him or is this merely an
Armenian tradition taking the anointing of oil from the Old Testament.
God
Bless, Seta Dembekjian, Irvine, California
Dear Seta,
Thank you for writing about one of the
most asked questions. First, when
Christ initially sent out his Disciples to preach before his Crucifixion, we
read: “They went out and preached that people should repent.
They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and
healed them.” [St. Mark 6:12-13] Here
the oil is recognized as representing the power of the Holy Spirit in healing.
You are correct, St. John the Baptist did not anoint Christ, but Jesus
made the reference to this in preparation for his death.
[See St. Luke 7:36-50.] Anointing
with Holy Myooron is a means of affirming that we as Christians have “died”
to the pursuit of this world’s values. So
we may say regarding the three Sacraments: In Baptism we are cleansed of our
sins, in Chrismation we put on Christ, and in Communion we receive his Body and
Blood. Anointing with oil is not
unique to the Armenian Church, however, the Holy Myooron is.
For centuries this Myooron has been prepared by adding some of the older
Myooron to the new, thereby affirming another sign of God’s continuing
presence, authority and work in the Armenian Apostolic Church.
4. Why do we have to pay for other's mistakes? God isn't fair!
Der Hayr,
The Bible tells us that there was no death before Adam and Eve. But
since they sinned, now all of us have to die? Why would God continue punishing
us for something that others did? Why doesn't He forgive and let us
live! God isn't fair!
Christine, East Los Angeles
Dear Christine,
You are asking a question that troubles many from all ages and
backgrounds. Thank you for being sincere in your question and
expression. God would seem unfair if He had punished Adam and Eve for
their act of disobedience and especially if He would have continued punishing us
to this day for this errors they made long time ago. However, and this is
the important point for you to realize, God never punished Adam and Eve!
That is correct. Read the passages in the Book of Genesis and you will see
that God did not punish Adam and Eve for disobeying Him, nor did He 'kill' them
because of their act. Instead, God knew that if Adam and Even did not
follow His instructions, they would die. And He warned the. Unfortunately,
Adam and Even would not listen to God. So, they brought death upon
themselves and their descendents. So it wasn't God who punished Adam and
Eve by death, but rather they brought death and destruction upon themselves.
Of course, God could have 'magically' given eternal life to humans. However, we would have never learned to appreciate God's gift of life to us nor would we have learned to grow, be responsible, become wiser and trust God. We would have remained ignorant, irresponsible and self centered. So what would God do to save us?
Christ tells us that God is our 'Heavenly Father' and He wants the best for us. So, even though Adam and Eve brought about death, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ so he could save us. By Christ dying and then resurrecting, now, all of us have the opportunity to be resurrected when we die. Even though humans did not follow God's guidance, but God remained loving and faithful and gave all of us an opportunity to live eternally if we prove that we believe in Christ through our life and relationships.
5. How can we call Christ 'king' if he died?!
Orhnetzek Der Hayr,
We call Christ the king but he
died? In the
movies those who win and kill others are the only ones who become king. So
how can we call Christ the 'king' if he died?
Ari, Glendale, California
Dear Ari,
You made a very good observation: How could a person die and yet win the
battle! Perhaps the most important point to realize is that Christ
did not remain dead! He was resurrected and he is alive today and will be
alive for ever! It is this truth that we celebrate at Easter.
Having said that Christ is alive and not dead, I hope the next question is going
to be: Why did Christ have to die? The reason is that all of us
will have to die someday. So, Christ knowing this, he essentially stepped
into our shoes and died like we will someday. By doing this, he also gave
us the opportunity to be resurrected and to live forever like him if we believe
in him. All those persons who were or are kings or presidents in this
world or in the movies, will die someday and lose the battle against
death. But Christ, who died and was resurrected, has once and for
all won the battle against death because he is alive now and forever!
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