Apologetics

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The question of identity, who am I is a very important question that has been asked by all manner of people ranging from kings in palaces to subjects in cottages. This question has been asked by philosophers, scientists, pastors, musicians etc and it is amazing how every individual responds to the question of identity. Can we know the truth about our identities? In this section, I have explored this question and provided the answer to the question of identity from the Biblical point of view. In this section, identity is defined as one’s personal worth in life. In other words, what is the worth of humanity? The question could also be reframed as, who am I?
Millions of people who walk on the surface of the planet, from the slums in Bombay to the mansions in Beverly Hills, do not know who they really are and having lived in one of the designated poorest countries in the world, I have been exposed tremendously to this canker of loss of identity. Others who also think they have unlocked the answer to the question of identity are unfortunately living in their own world of illusion. The booming cosmetic industry, fashion industry, entertainment industry and the increasing materialistic attitude (consumerism) is a clear indication of the extent of perversion of the question of identity. Perhaps Charles Darwin, the British celebrated scientist played an active role in this perversion.

Evolutionist‟s Perspective
If life is a result of Time+ Space+ Matter as most Darwinists wants us to believe, then the question of identity is not worth a minute of our time, simply because we can easily conclude that if we are a product of mindless matter plus time and space, then we are worth nothing more than a rock or a chimpanzee and the same fate awaiting the rat in the bush awaits the man living in the mansion, vanity!!!. Are we really better off than the chimpanzee in the jungle? Now the question of identity itself, presupposes that we expect answers to our questions. It also presupposes meaning in the question which also assumes that there is meaning to life. These presuppositions clearly indicate that man has some intrinsic worth and as such expects to find answers to his questions. Allow me to put it this way, if there is no meaning and purpose to our existence in this world, then so do our questions. Reptiles do not organize conferences to discuss the question of identity neither do amphibians nor mammals in the jungle (with the exception of man), they simply live by instinct.

The question of identity could be discussed from various world views as I indicated in the earlier part of this section. The atheistic answer to the question of identity is simply man has no intrinsic worth and probably the best value of man is an advanced Salamander. This particular worldview is mostly shared by the evolutionists, humanists, Darwinists etc. The challenge with this world view is very enormous and simply unsustainable especially at the background that the whole Universe came into existence by an act of a creator. Also the evolutionist’s worldview is unsustainable because in the light of these assumptions, what motivation must man have to live a moral life especially if he believes he is simply a product of mindless matter+ time+ chance? How then shall we trust or make sense of the product (Origin of Species) of the mind of Charles Darwin when he tells us his mind is a consequence of mindless matter? To put it another way, how can we trust his reasoning abilities if his mind is as a result of mindless matter? C. S. Lewis, the Christian scholar stated that, ‘In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.’

What the proponents of these various philosophies are saying is that, in fact we cannot even trust the mind that came out with those philosophies they hold on to neither their philosophies. It is all made up of mindless matter!!! Do you realize how derisory all these so called postmodern philosophies are? Nothing makes sense. Who defines what is right or wrong and how are we even in a position to assume someone is wrong at the backdrop that there is no antic point of reference (creator). Ravi Zacharias sheds more light on this when he narrated a dilemma this young man encountered. This man got to the red light on a highway and thought he had stopped but he looked at the vehicles right beside him in the parallel lane and realized they were still moving. This man, to be absolutely sure that he had stopped stepped on his brakes again, but he realized the vehicles on the next lane were still moving, confused, he looked out his window to find an unmovable structure just to be sure he had stopped but when he looked out he realized the trees and buildings were also moving.

This is the challenge of evolutionists’ world of relativity, which shall be discussed into detail in the ensuing sections. How do you tell me I am wrong, who has the moral authority to prescribe how I should conduct my life if we are all simply made of matter and are passing through time simply to return to the dust, everything is relative, everything is doable, there is no accountability and finally everything is worthless!!! But is everything really worthless? Can we really do anything we want to do in this life and not be held accountable for our actions?
God‟s Perspective

A lot of people today are wearing other people (designers) today, molding their image after certain so called ‘stars’ and some even go to the extent of tattooing their body parts in the name of these so called brands or stars. The humiliating aspect about all these is that these people tend to belief that these actions add value to their personalities and raises their profile in society. It may indeed raise their profile in a society that is blinded by the god of this world system but in the eyes of loving father, it is a heart ache!! It is a reduction in the true worth of humanity. It is simply demotion!!!
The question, who am I, has been widely distorted across nations, today, in most parts of the world, many people toil all year round simply going after material possessions to increase their self-worth and importance in society. But, is this how God intended it to be? Are we supposed to feel important and worthy simply because we have a million dollar job or because we drive the latest Mercedes Benz in town.
To be continued.
Article by Gideon Sarpong.
Contact: [email protected]

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