Bob Goette<\/b><\/p>\n
Is it important to accept the Genesis account of creation as factual\u2014as God\u2019s revelation to man as to how He did it?<\/p>\n
Yes, it is<\/i> important what one believes about the reliability of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Genesis tells us of the beginnings\u2014how the world and man got the way they are, and thus we can understand why there is a need for a Messiah\u2014a Savior, Jesus Christ. As we proceed through the Bible, we find how it all fits together, and how God is working out His purposes until we can experience the wonderful fellowship which Adam and Eve once had in a perfectly created world before they rebelled against God.<\/p>\n
There seem to be only two ways<\/i> to look at creation: (a) it came about by chance; matter in and of itself became more and more organized until finally man evolved, or (b) it was done by God. There are, of course, modifications to each of these positions, but all boil down to either (a) evolution or (b) creation. The problems with theistic evolution, what some call a good compromise position, will be cited later. \u201cEvolution\u201d referred to in this article means macroevolution or the \u201cmolecules to man\u201d concept, and not changes between populations (i.e., different breeds of cows), often called \u201cvariation\u201d (or \u201cmicroevolution\u201d by evolutionists).<\/p>\n
It is often stated that evolution is scientific while creation is not scientific, but is rather a faith. Science can only legitimately deal with things which can be observed repeatedly. It can make educated guesses about what might<\/i> have happened or even predict what might have happened, but there is no way a human can know what actually<\/i> happened since origins (creation) was not observed by any human. Just because an experimentis done in the laboratory today does not mean that it happened that way in the beginning. There is no way the original creation can be repeated. Both creation and evolution are faiths,<\/i> and should properly be called \u201ccreationism\u201d and \u201cevolutionism.\u201d This does not mean that scientific work is unimportant, but only that its limitations must be recognized.<\/p>\n
If science (man\u2019s work) cannot provide answers to creation (origins), then we must turn to God\u2019s revelation to man, the Bible.<\/i> God\u2019s Word contains 3808 different expressions of confirmation that it has recorded God\u2019s own words. Genesis is basic to the understanding of the rest of the Bible. In that<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1990) p. 46<\/p>\n
book are teachings about the origins of many things such as the universe, the solar system, the atmosphere and hydrosphere, life, man, marriage, evil, language, government, the chosen people\u2014just to mention a few. There are 200 quotations or allusions in the New Testament to Genesis, and 107 of these are to the first eleven chapters of Genesis. Sixty-three of the allusions are to the first three chapters of Genesis and 25 of those are from Christ himself. In Mark 7:21 we read about the sinfulness of the human heart, but where do we learn of the source of this sin? It is man\u2019s rebellion against God described in Genesis 3. Christ is the One who can heal this rebellion and reestablish the fellowship which was broken. If Scripture is not true when it speaks on \u201cscientific\u201d matters (even though it is not intended to be a science textbook), then how can we be sure it\u2019s true when it speaks on matters dealing with salvation?<\/p>\n
Talking about creation is important because we learn of the creator\u2014Jesus Christ.<\/i> \u201cBy faith we understand that the universe was formed at God\u2019s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible\u201d (Heb 11:3). \u201cFor by him (Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together and he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy\u201d (Col 1:16\u201318). \u201cBy the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. For He spoke, and it came to be; he commanded and it stood firm\u201d (Ps 33:6, 9). \u201cAnd God said,\u2019 Let there be light,\u2019 and there was light\u201d (Gn 1:3a). As such verses are read it can be seen that evolution is excluded\u2014theistic or non-theistic<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, comparison of the order of creation as described in Genesis 1:1\u20132:3 is quite different from that proposed by evolutionism- the two accounts cannot be reconciled! Some would say that there is disagreement between the account of Genesis 1:1\u20132:3 and 2:4\u20134:26, but their purpose is different. The first passage is a general account of creation and the second focuses on the beginning of human history. If the account in Genesis 1:1\u20132:3 were read without having heard all the various proposals of evolutionism, it seems to this author that the description sounds very logically like a six 24-hour-day creation week. The phrase, \u201cthere was evening, and there was morning\u2014the _th day\u201d is used again and again. Exodus 20:8\u201311 tells how the Jews were to have a work week and sabbath rest, \u201cfor in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.\u201d There obviously is a parallel between the creation week of 24 hour clays and that of the work week. If Genesis 1 is not talking about 24 hour days, but rather long or indefinite periods of time, then what is the sense of the creation of the lights in the sky (Gen 1:14\u201319) to serve as signs to mark seasons, and days and years?\u201d Without God\u2019s revelation, it would be impossible to know the length of the days of creation. In the end it becomes a choice between faith in the words of a God who was there, or a belief in the words of men who were not<\/i>.<\/p>\n
The importance of a \u201cliteral\u201d interpretation of the Bible is perceived even by an atheist. Richard Bozarth in \u201cThe Meaning of Evolution\u201d(The American Atheist,<\/i> 2\/78) says, \u201cBut if death preceded man and was not a result of Adam\u2019s sin, then sin is a fiction. If sin is a fiction, then we have no need for a Savior\u201d (p. 19). \u201cChristianity has fought, still fights, and will fight science to the desperate end over evolution, because evolution destroys utterly and finally the very reason Jesus\u2019 earthly life was supposedly made necessary. Destroy Adam and Eve and the original sin, and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the son of god and take away the meaning of his death. If Jesus was not the redeemer who died for our sins, and this is what evolution means, then Christianity is nothing!\u201d (p. 30).<\/p>\n
Romans 1:18\u201325 gives some insight as to<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1990) p. 47<\/p>\n
why man is unable to interpret the \u201cbook of Nature\u201d correctly, \u201cThe wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God\u2019s invisible qualities\u2014his eternal power and divine nature\u2014have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator\u2014who is forever praised. Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n
God created the world so that His glory might be made manifest, and for our good, so that we might give Him praise from grateful and adoring hearts. According to this passage, when man suppresses the truth and does not glorify and give thanks to God as the Creator\u2014worships the creature rather than the Creator\u2014then God gives man over to his sinful desires and man cannot see the truth no matter how diligently or how long he searches for it. Pascal (1623\u20131662) said, \u201cAs all things tell of God to those who know him, and reveal him to those who love him, likewise they conceal him from all those who do not search for him and know him.\u201d Paul, in 1 Corinthians 2:14, expressed it first: \u201cThe mart without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Apparent<\/i> \u201cconflicts\u201d between God\u2019 s creation and His Word should not be cause for panic, nor for ignoring the Bible or reinterpreting it, but rather reason for more diligent study under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, seeking to let the Bible interpret itself by reading parallel and connected pas sages. The \u201cscientific\u201d data should be reexamined and if it still seems to \u201cconflict\u201d with the Bible, just hold it until more data comes in.<\/i> When so much of God\u2019s Word has been found true and understandable, then that which is not yet clear to man\u2019s understanding can be trusted to be true too. God\u2019s Word is true, whether man perceives it to be or not. It is not God\u2019s purpose to lead man astray!<\/p>\n
While the Bible does not need data from the laboratory to support it or vindicate its truthfulness, there is much evidence from science which does<\/i> support the Biblical creation model. Examples can be found in other issues of Archaeology & Biblical Research:<\/i> \u201cHas Anyone Ever Created Life in a Test Tube?\u201d (1:1); \u201cCan Scientists Prove that All Forms of Life Came from One Original Cell?\u201d (1:2); \u201cIs There Evidence for a Young Earth?\u201d (2:1); \u201cIs There Evidence for a Rapid Formation of the Grand Canyon?\u201d (2:3).<\/p>\n
While it is important to be able to share scientific data supporting the Biblical creation model (1 Pet 3:16b commands, \u201cAlways be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.\u201d), it is important to remember that even if a non-believer accepts the data as convincing evidence of creation, it will be of no avail to him in eternity unless he meets the Creator as his Savior and Lord. (There are creationists who are not Christians.) The unsaved cannot be argued into believing in creation any more than they can be argued into accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit must work in their hearts first. The Scriptural and scientific evidence for creation should be shared with the non-believer. If only the scientific evidence is shared it should be considered a type of pre-evangelism\u2014a preparation of the soil for the seed of the Gospel.<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 3:2 (Spring 1990) p. 48<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bob Goette Is it important to accept the Genesis account of creation as factual\u2014as God\u2019s revelation to man as to how He did it? Yes, it is important what one believes about the reliability of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Genesis tells us of the beginnings\u2014how the world and man got the way they … Continue reading “WHY
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