Intelligent Design Theory: Science or Religion?

Jesus’ audience in Nazareth reacted in amazement to His words in the synagogue, and they began to remind themselves of His personal history: “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22). They could point to no sin in Jesus’ past, but they definitely brought up the fact that He was a local boy—as if that disqualified Him from being the Messiah. In essence, they were saying, “Jesus is the son of the local carpenter; He’s common, like us. Where does He get the idea that He’s something special? The Messiah will not be a tradesman!”

Jesus’ response to their reluctance to believe was to make Himself the point of a proverb: “And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country” (Luke 4:23, KJV).

In the proverb “Physician, heal thyself,” Jesus is the physician, and the Nazarenes are demanding that He heal Himself. It’s another way of saying, “We won’t believe a word you say until you take care of what ails you”—except, being a proverb, it’s much less wordy. The basic idea is that no one wants to visit a feverish doctor who is hacking up phlegm. The advice of a dermatologist whose face is covered with an itchy, scaly rash carries little weight. “Hey, Jesus,” the crowd is saying, “before you can help us, you have to take care of your own problems!”

“Physician, heal thyself” also carries the idea of needing proof. The attitude to the synagogue-goers in Luke 4 is that a real doctor should be able to prove his credentials by correctly diagnosing and treating whatever ailment he suffers from personally. To apply the point of the proverb more specifically to Jesus’ situation, “It will take more than words to convince us. If you’re truly the Messiah, prove it by working a miracle or doing something else equally messianic.” As Jesus expounds on the proverb, He mentions the miracles He had done in nearby Capernaum—miracles that the Nazarenes had heard about and wanted to see duplicated in their own city.

“Physician, heal thyself” also communicates a demand that the Miracle-worker work some of His miracles at home. The doctor in the proverb should heal himself; that is, he should practice his medicine at home. In the same way, Jesus should display His power at home, in Nazareth, and not just in other places. In this way, the proverb “Physician, heal thyself” is similar to our modern proverb “Charity begins at home.”

The challenge was clear. The people of Jesus’ hometown demanded signs and wonders before they would accept Him as the Messiah. Jesus gave them no miracles. Rather, He used the examples of Elijah and Elisha to show how unbelief in Israel had caused those prophets to work “away from home” with Gentiles (Luke 4:25–27). The Sabbath crowd listening to Jesus grew irate at the comparison, and they attempted to kill Jesus (verses 28–29). So much for a homecoming party.

Jesus should have been given the keys to the city of Nazareth; instead, He was given skepticism, rejection, and a terse proverb: “Physician, heal thyself.” As Jesus told the crowd just before their attempted murder, “No prophet is accepted in his hometown” (Luke 4:24).

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

He does know what he's talking about and I have respect for his ideas. We just disagree on a few things. And that's OK

It's the same with Frank Apisa and me. We do not discuss religious things, I keep my science separate from my beliefs.

I've known Frank for over 20 years, starting at Abuzz.

And for the record: "Intelligent Design" is a dead religious anti-science concept.

And BTW, I AM Dyslexic, too. Screw your bigotry.

My atheism is unaffected by hyperbole and would require at least a shred of evidence to move. That said, I only ever engaged in these kinds of threads as a result of a lifetime of real-life bullying from the faux religious. I actually don't mind that believers and fence-sitters exist.

I refuse to let you goad me with inane prattle.

I used to fall for your baiting people, but what you argue is totally irrelevant to me these days.

In the 50s, a family friend, when he was about eighteen sat in church but he was waiting to be picked up by his brother. The brother made his presence known and the family friend started down the aisle to leave with him. The preacher shouted at his retreating heels, "If you go out that door I hope God strikes you dead." Scared the **** out of him. Run along and play in the traffic, Frank.

If after over twenty years of my telling you you haven't learned anything what makes you think one more time could be helpful?

It's over, Frank. The allegorical story about my family friend is intended for you. You are the preacher in the story.

Even if The Anointed could make a reasoned, logical, scientific argument for the existence of a Creator God (something he/she fails to do), it would not extend to any obligations that accrue. The “religious” aspects are still a choice rather than something that reasonably ensues.