Naturalism = the belief that everything that exists is physical in nature (consequentially, immaterial things like God, souls, spirits, etc. do not exist).

Evolution = the proposition that we originated and evolved according to contemporary evolutionary theory.

Plantinga argues that if naturalism is true and evolution is true, then the probability that our cognitive faculties are reliable is low. This is because evolution rewards ‘survival’ behavior, not accurate beliefs. So, this argument depends largely on the relationship between beliefs and behavior. For example, if you believe that a tiger will eat you (and do not want to be eaten), you will run. But you may also believe that the tiger is playing a game of tag with you (and since you want to win), you will run as a result. There are numerous incorrect beliefs that illicit ‘survival’ behavior for every one correct belief that accurately reflects the actual state of affairs. So, you can see why there is little evolutionary advantage for a species whose cognitive faculties are reliable.

This is especially true for abstract beliefs such as the propositions that God exists, that courage is a virtue, or that our mind and our brains are distinct entities. This of course is also true of the proposition that naturalism is true-it is an abstract concept. If you believe that naturalism is true, then you should also believe that the very cognitive faculties you used to arrive at that belief are unreliable. In other words, if naturalism is true, then we are all stupid. Or as Plantinga states naturalism creates its own defeater; naturalism is self-defeating.

“Sin is sin” is a tautology. It is true by definition and offers no insight as a singular statement. This implication that is meant by the statement is what bothers me so much- that is the implication that we are all morally equivalent. I’m sure putting it in those terms alone would cause most Christians to object. “That’s not what I meant.” But it is what you implied.

Moral equivalence says that anyone less than perfect is morally equal. And as a matter of fact, we are all as individuals, churches, and nations less than perfect. It does not follow however that we are all equivalent. It is this argument that leads many to say, “The United States does not have the moral authority to police the world or to fight Al-Qaida because the United States commits the sin of __(fill in the blank)__.” Popular sins to fill in include water boarding, racism, or arrogance. It is important to realize the implications of this statement. If only the perfect can make moral judgments, then no one can make moral judgments. It takes away our power to call evil, evil. It is a position of moral cowardice. And it ultimately will result in the harm of countless human beings. For examples of this we need look no further than the last century. In Vietnam, our withdrawal in 1975 resulted in the deaths of 100,000s under the oppression of the communists just in Cambodia and So. Vietnam alone. The Cold War provides another example. It was portrayed as a conflict between two super powers and nothing more. In reality it was a war between the champions of freedom in the Western Hemisphere and the communist forces of death and poverty in the Eastern Hemisphere. This moral equivalence argument left millions dead in Russia and China and left the millions that bought into it stupid in America.

Some sins are worse than others. It is not true to say that the woman who lies about how much she paid for her purse is morally equal to the thug that steals the purse. It is not true to say that the man who gets revenge on the filth that raped his wife is morally equal to Adolph Hilter. Our legal systems, almost everywhere, demonstrate this. We have gradations of guilt and gradations of murder (i.e. First degree, second degree, manslaughter, etc.). And consequentially, we have gradations of punishment (i.e. the death penalty, life in prison, 20 years with parole). We also have gradations of praise. You get a gold star when we you study and perform well on a test in school. When you donate money to a school, you get a building named after you. And when you issue the Emancipation Proclamation, you get a memorial in Washington D.C. First place gets a blue ribbon, fourth gets honorable mention.

When you are morally blameworthy, we believe that the punishment should match the crime. When you are morally praiseworthy, we believe that the recognition should match the heroism. It is our God-given desire for justice that leads us to hold such beliefs, which for many are darn near self-evident truths.

Don’t get me wrong. I know that I fall short of the glory of God and need mercy and forgiveness. When it is ever possible mercy and forgiveness should trump justice, but in many cases pure justice is what is required of us. I pray to God for the humility to realize my own condition. On my own I’m a sinner in need of a savior. I also pray to God for wisdom and discernment that we may always have the courage to stand up for what is right and the clarity to speak the truth.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Obedience to God is worthwhile.

Here is a partial list of the things God has given me and my wife in the past year, since we started giving ten percent of our gross income to the church (less than $200 a month):

-         I thought I needed a job in Santa Barbara. I had two interviews at one job and they turned me down. We ended up moving to Sacramento. I got good a good job in the field I hoped for after a couple weeks. It pays the rent, the car insurance, the gas, and the groceries every month.

-         My wife thought she was going to lose her temp job this May. The new person that was supposed to take her spot fell through. Now she has a job for the summer.

-         We got into a good apartment when we moved and we pay $300 a month less than the neighbors next to us because we got in when management changed and they ran a discount deal.

-         I got a flat tire and an oil leak on my Vespa. The repair cost less than expected.

-         Both of our computers broke. Dell sent my wife a brand new computer ($1000+). My computer was fixed. So was my ipod.

-         We’re getting a great tax return ($2000+).

-         Saving the best for last, Pepperdine offered me a full ride scholarship to their law school for the next three years ($150,000+). I didn’t even pray for a full scholarship. I thought it was too bold, but my in-laws prayer for it. And God answered.

If you are not obedient to God, what are you waiting for? I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll prosper financially, but you will be blessed exceedingly and far beyond your expectations. It will happen time and again. Each time you will ask yourself, “why didn’t I trust God?”