Creation Evangelism: Reading

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Theistic Evolution/Progressive Creation

by Larry Kisner, M.S., Physics

Those who embrace Theistic Evolution or Progressive Creationism accept the following evolutionary timescale of creation:

About 16 billion years ago the universe came into being out of a big bang. Then, about 4.billion years ago the earth evolved. About 3.5 billion years ago life evolved on earth. Finally, humans evolved from ape-like creatures 1-2 billion years ago.

Basically, the Theistic Evolution worldview is based on the acceptance of the current big bang theory and resultant stellar evolution of galaxies and planets, then biological evolution. In other words the big bang was initiated by God and then everything was left to natural processes. In terms of interpreting the scientific data, evolutionists and theistic evolutionists believe the current theories set forth by the evolution model. Therefore the Theistic Evolution worldview is a compromise because the Bible cannot be taken as the literal word of God. The creation days must be accepted as long periods of time.

Progressive Creationism also accepts the evolutionary time scale, big bang, stellar evolution, life on earth evolving up to pre-adamic apemen. The progressive creationist professes to believe in God, and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior; however, when it comes to science they accept the current evolutionary theory. Thus they deny the literal Bible account of creation, saying the stars and sun evolved out of the big bang, so the earth started out as a fiery mass, not as water and land, the stars and sun must have been created before the earth, and the birds could not have been created before the reptiles because the birds supposedly evolved from bird ancestors. They also deny the literal six days of creation and take each day as billions of years to accommodate the supposed evolutionary time scale.

Thus Progressive Creationism, in an attempt to appease the scientific community, denies what God clearly says in Genesis 1-11 and Exodus 20:11, and what Jesus affirmed in the New Testament about creation. Do you want to put your faith in the Bible, which is unchanging, or in the latest theories of science that continually change.

In this article we will begin to explore several creation worldviews or belief paradigms:

Intelligent Design
Theistic Evolution
Progressive Creationism
Gap Theory or Ruin-Restoration Theory
Biblical Creationism

First, we will look at the basic questions of life. You can ignore these questions and just live your life the way you want, but you are traveling down a slippery slope toward destruction. Pr 14:12 There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Who am I? An animal with higher intelligence evolved from the primordial soup? Am I made in the image and likeness of God? Am I fearfully and wonderfully made, or just a cosmic accident? Do you believe Gen 1:27, Ps 139:14 or your Biology teacher?

Why am I here? Does my existence have a purpose? Is there really a God and he loves me? Can I trust in the Bible verses John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Titus 3:4-7?

What is going to happen to me when I die? Is this all there is: struggle, suffering, maybe a few happy days, then you die? Is there any way I can know how to go to heaven? Do I need to believe in Jesus to be saved? Can I believe the Bible’s answer? Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23, John 3:3, John 14:6, 1 John 5:13

You basically have two worldview choices: creation or evolution. However many people try to mix these worldviews, but we shall see that these mixed worldviews are all compromises. The Bible says God formed man out of the dust of the earth; evolution says we evolved from apes. How can you believe in God and evolution at the same time? As we shall see, you must twist the Bible interpretation of days, add gaps, or have ape-creatures before Adam was created. Let's look at some creation worldviews. First Intelligent design:

Intelligent Design Points to Creation but not the Bible

Intelligent Design avoids bringing God or the Bible into consideration. Many intelligent design proponents do not believe in God. Most intelligent design proponents believe in some type of directed evolution.

The arguments for intelligent design are very compelling, for example the irreducible complexity of a bacterial flagellant. The complex cells could not have evolved by random chance; they must have been designed.

Scientists have trained multitudes of telescopes toward the heavens searching for signs of extraterrestrial life. If they receive a signal with a little information, for example a set of numbers in a geometric progression, 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21 it would prove an intelligent being sent the message.

Meanwhile, in the genetics lab, scientists find an intelligent, non-random, reproducible code in our DNA and conclude there is no intelligent design in life and fight to keep this information out of the classroom.

I attended an Intelligent Design conference at Arizona State University and at the end of the conference a student asked, “Is the Intelligent Designer the God of the Bible?” The professor said, “Oh No, we do not want to offend anyone by bringing religion into the discussion.” So we see this is a compromised worldview. We must lead people to God or all this scientific discovery will be meaningless. We can however use a lot of information from Intelligent Design to refute evolution before we present the case for creation.

SCRIPTURE DOES USE THE WORD “YOM” TO REFER TO A MUCH LONGER THAN 24 HOUR DAY.

Psalm 90:4. 4For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8. 8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

These verses contextually portray to us the power and patience of God, not an amount of time He requires to do a day’s work.

The most common use of the word “yom” is a 24 hour period of time.

MOSES CHOSE TO BRACKET EACH PERIOD OF TIME WITH A REFERENCE TO MORNING AND EVENING.

Scripture continued through revelation to maintain a 6, 24 hour literal creation:

Exodus 20:11. 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 31:17. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that(B) in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and(C) on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"

THE CONTINUED REVELATION OF SCRIPTURE MAINTAINS THAT GOD’S POWER WAS CERTAINLY POTENT ENOUGH TO CREATE ALL THAT HAD BEEN CREATED IN SIX TWENTY-FOUR HOUR DAYS!!!

Creation was spoken by God:

6 By(A) the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by(B) the breath of his mouth all(C) their host.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea as(D) a heap; he(E) puts the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!

9 For(F) he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Colossians 1:16-17. 16For by him all things were created,(A) in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether(B) thrones or(C) dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created(D) through him and for him. 17And(E) he is before all things, and in him all things(F) hold together.

Jeremiah 51:15. 15(A) "It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

Ed, I wanted to share this with you and thank you for your passion to have an understanding of God’s word. Hopefully this will help us to defend the Word and to lead people to Christ with an intellectual and scientific viewpoint. Obviously, you can tell I need to change my answer to question # 5. Lo l

Love you brother, God bless and thanks again for challenging me so God could change me!!!!
Pastor Billy

CHRISTIAN SCHOLARSHIP

By Mike Riddle, Director of Education for AzOSA and Full time staff at Answers in Genesis

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Christian scholarship (study, learning) is not just necessary for church leaders, but to every Christian. As Christians we have a mandate to have ready answers (2 Peter 3:15), to be discerning (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22), teach all nations (Matthew 28:19-20) and be doers of the Word (James 1:22).

If we are going to be effective in proclaiming the Gospel to a nation that has abandoned biblical authority, we must study and rightly know how to handle the Scriptures. There are at least three reasons Christian scholarship is necessary in our endeavors to proclaim the Gospel.

First, it is necessary for evangelism. Without knowledge how can someone believe? A very little knowledge is often sufficient for someone to believe, but some knowledge must be there. If someone is to trust Christ, they must know something about Him. God has provided two sources of knowledge: His Word and His creation (Romans 1:19-20). A “simple faith” is not enough for evangelism. Advocates of a “simple faith” miss the opportunity to build believers into effective Christians. Christian scholarship is important in order that we can tell the whole story of Jesus - Creator and Savior (rightfully handling the Word of God).

Second, it is necessary for a defense of the faith (apologetics). There are people in the church that teach that no defense of the faith is necessary. Christianity that avoids defending the faith is not the Christianity of the New Testament. The writings of Paul are full of argument in defense of the faith. The words of Jesus are full of argument in defense of the truth. Many of the parables of Jesus are argumentative in character. The Bible mandates all Christians to know how to defend their faith (1 Peter 3:15, Jude 3, Col 4:5-6, Titus 1:9). It is ineffective to proclaim a Gospel that people cannot hold to be true. We are living in a time of great conflict against the authority of God’s Word. It is not easy to defend the faith against the forceful attacks from proponents of evolution and the secular media. Therefore, knowledge of the truth is necessary (study to show thyself approved).

Third, it is necessary for building up the church. Paul, the great evangelist, thrived in preaching the Gospel in places where it not been heard. Yet his writings are full of edification and building up those who had already been won. There is a great need in the church today to return to solid instruction. We need teachers whose instruction goes beyond teaching current events and social issues and focuses on Christian doctrine (A workman that needs not be ashamed).

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (Hebrews 5:12)

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