UFOs, aliens and Jesus, oh my!

via Robin Schumacher, exclusive Columnist | Monday, August sixteen, 2021 Greg Rakozy/Unsplash

I actually have an admission to make. A gazillion years ago when i was in high faculty, i was definitely into UFOs.

i used to be enthralled analyzing Erich von Däniken’s Chariots of the Gods, which put forth the hypothesis that the applied sciences and religions of many historic civilizations got to them via aliens who they welcomed as gods. moreover, von Däniken asserted that we're all the descendants of these “galactic pioneers.”

a section of his publication is dedicated to claiming that parts of the Bible are money owed of alien visitations. Examples include Ezekiel's vision of angels and wheels, which von Däniken interprets as a description of a spaceship; the Ark of the Covenant, which he claims was a tool intended for communication with aliens; and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, which he asserts became a nuclear explosion.

After high school, although, I at once discarded von Däniken’s thinking in a way that Paul describes in a single of his letters: “When i used to be a child, I used to talk like a child, consider like a baby, reason like a child; after I grew to become a person, I did away with childish issues” (1 Cor. 13:11).

however flash ahead a couple of many years and, oh my, what a comeback some of von Däniken’s theories have made.

right through the 2020 election, I laughed out loud when Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., made a crusade promise to expose any secret executive counsel about aliens. I had an incredulous look on my face when President Donald Trump made considered one of his ultimate acts in workplace the ordering of a file from the director of countrywide intelligence on “unidentified aerial phenomena,” which was launched in June.

It looks that whereas I don’t take the thought of aliens critically, numerous other people do. further, Christians are now revisiting discussions in regards to the theological implications of extraterrestrial lifestyles. as an instance, in the event that they exist, what impact does that have on God’s plan of salvation via Christ?

Did Jesus die for aliens?  

however admittedly a extremely offbeat question to ask, David Instone-Brewer wrote an article on this very discipline just a few months returned for Premier Christianity journal. In it, he tackles a few connected topics whereas dispelling conjectures some Christians have made over the years about alien existence.

within the identical way von Däniken imports his presuppositions into Scripture (i.e., eisegesis), some believers who hang that aliens exist radically misread materials of the Bible to help their perception. for instance, some Christians contend that the “worlds” in Hebrews 11:three refers to different planets with alien existence, and that Jesus’ “different sheep” in John 10:16 represent ETs.

Yeah, no.

As Instone-Brewer rightly points out in his article, the biblical contexts clarify that the Hebrews verse refers to the universe and the part in John signifies gentile believers.

That mentioned, if we’re forced to achieve this, let’s sober up for a moment to more severely entertain the query of how alien life might impact our concept of salvation via Christ.

Apologist William Lane Craig says this: “i would say, frankly, that theologically I have no issue in any way with the conception that Christ may additionally have skilled multiple incarnations â€" that he no longer handiest grew to become a human being on this planet, however he might have develop into a Klingon on any other planet to shop them if they fell into sin at all. it be additionally possible that there are planets with extraterrestrial clever life the place people didn't disobey God and hence sin isn't a controversy for them and that they do not deserve to have an incarnation and a redeemer. but when they do, I can't think of any theological reason why the 2d adult of the Trinity could not have distinct incarnations.”

while that’s an interesting tackle the subject, in my view, I’m greater drawn to the answer Instone-Brewer provides in his article: “Does the incontrovertible fact that Christ “died to sin as soon as for all” (Rom. 6:10) mean that there can’t be sinners on different planets? Are different worlds either empty or crammed with decent americans? Or does it mean that Jesus died once as a human for all people?

"We should keep away from hunting for hidden records concerning the universe in the Bible," he delivered. "whether it issues life on other planets or other unknowns, we shouldn’t come to doctrinaire conclusions without a sound groundwork within the Bible. The Bible doesn’t try to inform us everything we wish to know, however it does inform us with absolute sure bet every little thing we deserve to recognize for salvation: the good news that Jesus died for all our sins and that God wants to forgive everyone who repents."

If I’m pressured to theologically consider the question of aliens, then my opinion is that it's a extra radical edition of the “what about those that have on no account heard the Gospel?” problem. The reply is the same â€" the judge of every little thing shall do what is appropriate (Gen. 18:25) and, as C. S. Lewis wrote, “when you are worried about these on the outdoor, the most unreasonable thing you could do is to continue to be backyard your self.” 

Robin Schumacher is an achieved utility government and Christian apologist who has written many articles, authored and contributed to several Christian books, seemed on nationally syndicated radio classes, and presented at apologetic activities. He holds a BS in business, master's in Christian apologetics and a Ph.D. in New testament. His latest booklet is, A assured faith: successful americans to Christ with the apologetics of the Apostle Paul.