Chris's Corner -- Sunday, January 23, 2022
UFOs (unidentified flying objects) some call them flying saucers or alien spacecraft. Inside them are extraterrestrials responsible for abducting humans from their cars while traveling on lonely roads. Then there’s Roswell and Area 51. All these things have preoccupied many books and movies for decades. Much expense has gone into developing telescopes and listening devices to penetrate deep into space, looking for life on other planets or in galaxies far, far away.
If you’re like me, you may have some curiosity about what these unexplained phenomena might be, but you know there must be a logical and rational explanation. We admit it may be something, but what?
According to a Pew Research study earlier this year, two-thirds of Americans believe aliens exist. The number increases with younger people. One aspect of this study revealed a growing connection between religion and belief in intelligent life on other planets.
Recently, some news came out that NASA has hired twenty-four theologians to offer religious guidance to people if and when we contact beings from outer space.
These NASA theologians are brainstorming on the religious implications and consequences for the dignity of human life when we meet up with extraterrestrials someday.
Didn’t God already give instruction on the dignity of human life and the consequences that will come if we don’t obey Him? For starters, shouldn’t the concern of everyone on the earth be to protect our own offspring from the hands of murderous, greedy doctors and selfish mothers? Next, shouldn’t we be mustering some compassion for millions of starving people around the world who we could feed? What about homelessness, lawlessness, and abusive behavior? There are many implications and consequences for not dealing with the problems here on earth, instead of hiring theologians to sit back and wonder what people will do when we meet up with some outer space aliens.
Everyone should be preparing for our meeting with the Son of God when he returns. The great and mighty One will come from beyond the universe He created. He will open the Great Book He left for us to study and know and judge us all. Shouldn’t these be the most critical implications and consequences we should be considering? Unfortunately, far too many do not see God in the picture.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:20-23).
When Christians look into the heavens, we stand in awe of the power and vastness of God who made everything that exists (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), including outer space, the innumerable stars, and all the galaxies that exist (Genesis 1:14-17). When we contemplate what we cannot see in the enormity of space, those who trust in God do not consume their thoughts with extraterrestrial speculations. We look for the Almighty, who can be found (Acts 17:27).