When it comes to the issue of origins where should we look? Scientists were not there to observe the beginning of creation. So maybe we should look to the only one who was there. God himself is the only one who was there and is the only one who can give us an accurate account of it. God has revealed himself to us in the Bible. It is the very Word of God and is therefore authoritative and inerrant.
We must read Genesis as historical narrative because that is the way it was meant to be taken. We must go with a straightforward interpretation of it. God created out of nothing and he spoke the world into existence. So how long were the creation days?
The Hebrew word for day is yom. It can mean the light period of a 24 hour day, an extended period, or a 24 hour day. The natural straightforward interpretation seems to be a literal 24 hour day. Each of the creation days features the words evening and morning as well as a numerical adjective for each day. This provides supportive evidence for creation in six literal 24 hour days. Also Exodus 20:11 and Exodus 31:12-18 support the interpretation of a literal 24 hour day. The Bible does not calculate the age of the earth but young earth creationism does seem to be correct.
Old earth creationists employ either the gap theory or the day age theory. The gap theory puts millions of years before Genesis 1:3. This seems to be read into the text and there is no reason to believe there were millions of years before Genesis 1:3. The day age theory see the creation days as long periods of time and not literal 24 hour days. This does not seem to be the straightforward, natural interpretation of the text. It seems to be an example of reading our own views into the Biblical text.
The old earth creationists attempt to get millions of years to explain the fossil record. They end up having death and suffering in the world before the sin of Adam. The Bible plainly teaches that death entered the world because of sin. Also God called all that he had created very good. If he originally created a world of death and suffering would it be very good? Much of the fossil record was laid down during the Genesis Flood.
Attempts to get millions of years into the creation account of the Bible seems to be a compromise with secularism. It is an attempt to get credibility with the secular academic world. The natural reading of Scripture is for six literal 24 hour days. The earth seems to be thousands of years old and not millions of years old. Young earth creationism seems to be the Biblical position.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
A Look At Theistic Evolution
The issue of origins is foundational to all that we believe. Since the Bible is the inerrant, Word of God it is authoritative on all issues including creation. The Bible is not a science text book but it does speak to issues of science. The Bible and science are not opposed to each other, if we had full knowledge and understanding we would see that they are in perfect harmony. The book of Genesis must be read as historical narrative because that is the way it was meant to be read.
But theistic evolutionists interpret Genesis 1-11 in a non literal or allegorical way. They would say that God used evolution in creation. They believe we went from molecules to ape-like creatures to humans. The Bible clearly does not teach evolution. Evolution and Biblical Christianity cannot be reconciled. Evolution is the theory of origins that is foundational for atheism. It has been said that Darwin made it comfortable to be an atheist. With theistic evolution you have death occurring before the sin of Adam. The Bible teaches that death came about because of man's sin. God called all that he had created very good. If death and suffering were part of his original creation it would not have been good at all.
The Bible also plainly teaches that Adam and Eve were actual, historical people. Humans were made distinct from the rest of creation, being made in the image of God. They did not evolve from lower forms of life. The rest of the Bible views Adam and Eve as actual, historical, people. For sin to have entered the world through Adam he must have been an actual, historical person. In fact the gospel itself depends on it (Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 15). Also the Bible teaches the Genesis Flood as being worldwide and global in nature. The theistic evolutionist sees it as merely a local or regional flood. God promised not to destroy the earth again with a flood. There have obviously been other regional floods.
The theistic evolutionist sees the earth as being millions of years old because it would have to be for evolution to be true. The Bible does not teach the earth to be millions of years old but thousands of years old. Teaching that Adam and Eve were not real people and that the Genesis Flood was local and not global are just compromise positions. Theistic evolution is an attempt by those in the Christian community to gain respect with secularists. They have taken their naturalistic worldview and tried to read it into the Bible. But we must stand with the Bible and what it actually says.
But theistic evolutionists interpret Genesis 1-11 in a non literal or allegorical way. They would say that God used evolution in creation. They believe we went from molecules to ape-like creatures to humans. The Bible clearly does not teach evolution. Evolution and Biblical Christianity cannot be reconciled. Evolution is the theory of origins that is foundational for atheism. It has been said that Darwin made it comfortable to be an atheist. With theistic evolution you have death occurring before the sin of Adam. The Bible teaches that death came about because of man's sin. God called all that he had created very good. If death and suffering were part of his original creation it would not have been good at all.
The Bible also plainly teaches that Adam and Eve were actual, historical people. Humans were made distinct from the rest of creation, being made in the image of God. They did not evolve from lower forms of life. The rest of the Bible views Adam and Eve as actual, historical, people. For sin to have entered the world through Adam he must have been an actual, historical person. In fact the gospel itself depends on it (Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 15). Also the Bible teaches the Genesis Flood as being worldwide and global in nature. The theistic evolutionist sees it as merely a local or regional flood. God promised not to destroy the earth again with a flood. There have obviously been other regional floods.
The theistic evolutionist sees the earth as being millions of years old because it would have to be for evolution to be true. The Bible does not teach the earth to be millions of years old but thousands of years old. Teaching that Adam and Eve were not real people and that the Genesis Flood was local and not global are just compromise positions. Theistic evolution is an attempt by those in the Christian community to gain respect with secularists. They have taken their naturalistic worldview and tried to read it into the Bible. But we must stand with the Bible and what it actually says.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Republicans To The Rescue?
With the November 4th election Republicans have gained control of the U.S. Senate and increased their numbers in the U.S. House. Will they be able to bring about great change and stop the agenda of President Obama? Do not count on major change but maybe the Obama agenda can be curtailed somewhat. It will be nice not to have Harry Reid as the Senate Majority Leader. But there is also a good chance that the Democrats will regain the Senate in 2016. And the road to a presidential election victory will be very tough for the Republicans in 2016.
We must also be realistic about the situation in our country. It is hard to govern in a conservative way with a liberal culture. Our modern American culture has a secular liberal worldview. The tide of secularism and liberalism keeps rolling along. And the overall direction of our country will continue on this path even with the election of Republicans.
We must realize that our problems go much deeper than the political level. Our real problems are spiritual and not political. America is a nation in rebellion against God and is shaking its fists in his face. We actually deserve his judgment. Our country needs to turn from its secular worldview and embrace the Biblical worldview. We must recognize God as the ultimate authority. We must also recognize the Bible, his Word as authoritative. All people need to repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation.
We must also be realistic about the situation in our country. It is hard to govern in a conservative way with a liberal culture. Our modern American culture has a secular liberal worldview. The tide of secularism and liberalism keeps rolling along. And the overall direction of our country will continue on this path even with the election of Republicans.
We must realize that our problems go much deeper than the political level. Our real problems are spiritual and not political. America is a nation in rebellion against God and is shaking its fists in his face. We actually deserve his judgment. Our country needs to turn from its secular worldview and embrace the Biblical worldview. We must recognize God as the ultimate authority. We must also recognize the Bible, his Word as authoritative. All people need to repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Evangelical Views On Creation And Evolution
There are several views on creation and evolution among evangelicals. Evangelicals are those who profess to believe in the authority of Scripture. There is disagreement about how to interpret Genesis 1-11. Creation, origins, and evolution are very important issues that deal with the foundational questions. Evangelical Christians hold to three main views. There are young earth creationists, old earth creationists, and theistic evolutionists.
Young earth creationists interpret Genesis 1-11 as literal and historical. They view the book of Genesis as historical narrative. Young earth creationists view the creation days as literal 24 hour days. God created the world in 6 actual days. They believe that the earth is thousands of years old and not millions of years old. Young earth creationists also view Adam and Eve as actual, historic people. The Genesis Flood is also viewed as an actual historical event and is seen as being a global flood. Young earth creationism is the traditional view of the church.
Next there are old earth creationists. There are basically three different groups of old earth creationists. First there are those who hold to the gap theory. They believe there was a long period of time, millions of years before Genesis 1:3. They believe a previous earth existed before Genesis 1:3. This earth was ruled by Lucifer who then rebelled against God. God then judged this earth with a flood. Then in Genesis 1:3 and following God created the current earth. This view was actually taught in the Scofield Reference Bible.
Second among old earth creationists is historic creationism. They see a long period of time, millions of years, taking place between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. After this they believe God created in six literal 24 hour days. Finally there are those who hold to the day age theory. They believe the creation days were long periods of time and not literal 24 hour days. They view the earth as being millions of years old. All old earth creationists view the earth as being millions of years old and not thousands of years old. Some view Adam and Eve as actual historical figures and others do not. Some also view the Genesis Flood as global, but others view it as only a local flood.
Finally there is theistic evolution. This view accepts the theory of evolution but believes God guided the process. They believe we went from molecules to ape-like creatures to human beings. Theistic evolutionists do not view Genesis 1-11 as literal history but as symbolic. They believe the earth is millions of years old and the creation days were not literal 24 hour days. They do not view Adam and Eve as actual historic people and see the Genesis Flood as local and not global.
Young earth creationists interpret Genesis 1-11 as literal and historical. They view the book of Genesis as historical narrative. Young earth creationists view the creation days as literal 24 hour days. God created the world in 6 actual days. They believe that the earth is thousands of years old and not millions of years old. Young earth creationists also view Adam and Eve as actual, historic people. The Genesis Flood is also viewed as an actual historical event and is seen as being a global flood. Young earth creationism is the traditional view of the church.
Next there are old earth creationists. There are basically three different groups of old earth creationists. First there are those who hold to the gap theory. They believe there was a long period of time, millions of years before Genesis 1:3. They believe a previous earth existed before Genesis 1:3. This earth was ruled by Lucifer who then rebelled against God. God then judged this earth with a flood. Then in Genesis 1:3 and following God created the current earth. This view was actually taught in the Scofield Reference Bible.
Second among old earth creationists is historic creationism. They see a long period of time, millions of years, taking place between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. After this they believe God created in six literal 24 hour days. Finally there are those who hold to the day age theory. They believe the creation days were long periods of time and not literal 24 hour days. They view the earth as being millions of years old. All old earth creationists view the earth as being millions of years old and not thousands of years old. Some view Adam and Eve as actual historical figures and others do not. Some also view the Genesis Flood as global, but others view it as only a local flood.
Finally there is theistic evolution. This view accepts the theory of evolution but believes God guided the process. They believe we went from molecules to ape-like creatures to human beings. Theistic evolutionists do not view Genesis 1-11 as literal history but as symbolic. They believe the earth is millions of years old and the creation days were not literal 24 hour days. They do not view Adam and Eve as actual historic people and see the Genesis Flood as local and not global.
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