An Open Letter to Jan Paulsen

Dear Jan Paulsen

Re: Honoring the Creator God. Adventist World-NAD July 2009

Most of the time I am content to allow criticisms stand or fall on their merits, but there comes a time to speak up. I am astonished that Angel Rodriquez would write an article attacking teachers in our Adventist schools and I am absolutely appalled that The Adventist World would publish such biased and unfounded misrepresentation of another person’s interpretation of scripture. Our church was founded on the work of honest believers diligently searching the Bible for not just any truth, but Present Truth. Attacking our teachers in this way goes against every principle of decency, honesty and integrity that we as Adventists stand for. I call on our President Jan Paulsen and administrators at every level to oppose such malicious attacks on our teachers and schools in every way possible.

Aside from the time, based on Usher’s chronology, which no one believes is inspired, Genesis 1-3 is astonishingly congruent with modern interpretations of the development of the Universe. God claims to be the creator, and then says, “I the Lord change not” Mal 3:6. The only way God can be a creator and not change is if he is continually creating, which by definition means that the Universe will evolve as God continually creates. He is also eternal, which means that we should see some pretty old things around, which we in fact do. Besides, why would God lie to us by creating a world only 10,000 years ago and making it look like it is millions of years old? Who could trust a God like that? If you let down your prejudice and look around, you will see that everything evolves. It looks to me like evolution is a fundamental part of God’s character.