Why is it important to discover the truth about origins? If Creation is correct, what are the implications? If evolution is correct, what are the implications? Does the origins debate matter at all?
One person at a time, one conversation at a time. I find it helpful to ask questions to encourage people to think through some of the false ideas about molecules to man evolution that they have been taught. We speak the truth in love with gentleness and respect.
All of those are very important points, and they bring up a very important question. How can we educate people about the importance of the creation-evolution debate, especially people in the community outside our churches?
It seems to me that the origins debate matters because three very important questions are intrinsically involved in this discussion.
1. Who is Man? Evolutionists answer that man is merely an advanced animal. Since man is just a more highly evolved life form, human life is nothing special. A person does not have any more inherent value than the life of his alleged ape-like ancestor. In contrast, biblical creationists believe mankind is distinct from the animal kingdom. After creating the universe and filling the earth with plant and animal life, God created human life on Day Six of the Creation Week. God personally formed man after his image (Genesis 1:27). He gave people unique linguistic, aesthetic, rational, moral, and spiritual faculties not given to animals.
Even the way a person develops before birth displays God’s handiwork (Psalm 139:13–16). From the moment of fertilization, the zygote has 23 pairs of chromosomes, which contain the information for the gender, eye color, appearance, and all other characteristics of the physical body. The heart starts beating a few weeks after fertilization, often before the mother even knows she is pregnant; eyes, ears, arms, and legs are forming by five weeks after fertilization; and brainwaves can be detected six weeks after fertilization.
A person's position in the origins debate has a huge influence on their view of the sanctity of human life. Creationists believe in the sanctity of life from conception and that elective abortion on demand is an act of rebellion against the authority of the Creator and Giver of Life (Exodus 20:13). No matter how young or elderly, no matter how disabled or unwanted, human life is precious because it is given by God and has been made in His image.
2. What is the purpose of death? Evolutionists assert that death is a means of evolution. Species evolve through the survival of the fittest to higher life forms. In nature, predators often prey on the young, who are less fit and often more vulnerable to disease and predators. This process of death supposedly weeds out all but the best. If humans evolved from animals, their existence is derived from the survival of the fittest. From an evolutionary perspective, therefore, abortion can be viewed as a brilliant method to aid natural selection. Why not end the lives of those with genetic defects or disabilities before they can be a drain on society? Might abortion even be saving these weak ones from lives of suffering?
Creationists, on the other hand, see death in a far different light. Rather than death being a violent means to an evolutionary end or the "answer" to our problems in life, the Bible describes death as an enemy and as the just consequence for sin against an infinitely holy God (Romans 6:23). While God created Adam and Eve to live forever in fellowship with Him, He warned them that disobedience would bring death. Adam’s sin brought the curse of sin and death on the entire human race (Romans 5:12).
In contrast to the “survival of the fittest” mantra, Christians are urged throughout Scripture to defend and care for the fatherless, the widows, the weak, the blind, the lame, and the poor. God has appointed each person’s mental and physical abilities (Exodus 4:11). While individuals have disabilities in this sin-cursed world, even these weaknesses can bring him glory (John 9:1–3; 2 Corinthians 12:9). Wherever God gives life, He gives purpose and meaning to that life, whether or not we always see or understand what that purpose and meaning is. This conclusion is directly tied to the origins debate.
3. Who determines right from wrong? Many evolutionists answer that no higher authority exists, believing the world evolved through mindless chance. Therefore, the evolutionary worldview supports relativism, the idea that there is no absolute truth. Instead, the individual or society determines right and wrong. Tolerance is often seen as the ideal to pursue—at least tolerance toward issues secular society wants to tolerate, like homosexual behavior, same-sex marriage, abortion, and transgender modifications.
"Molecule to man" evolution allows -- and even exhorts -- people to become their own gods, choosing their own standards of right and wrong. Creationists, however, believe that the Creator, who ordained absolute physical laws like gravity, also has ordained absolute moral laws, stemming from His own moral perfection. Since he is the God who creates and sustains life, He makes the rules. The Lord has revealed right from wrong in His written Word, the Bible.
I submit that these three very important questions find their foundation in the origins debate. The answer to the question, "Where did we come from?" (which is at the heart of the discussion) has a profound impact on the answers to these other three questions, as well. That's why the origins debate matters.
One person at a time, one conversation at a time. I find it helpful to ask questions to encourage people to think through some of the false ideas about molecules to man evolution that they have been taught. We speak the truth in love with gentleness and respect.
All of those are very important points, and they bring up a very important question. How can we educate people about the importance of the creation-evolution debate, especially people in the community outside our churches?
It seems to me that the origins debate matters because three very important questions are intrinsically involved in this discussion.
1. Who is Man? Evolutionists answer that man is merely an advanced animal. Since man is just a more highly evolved life form, human life is nothing special. A person does not have any more inherent value than the life of his alleged ape-like ancestor. In contrast, biblical creationists believe mankind is distinct from the animal kingdom. After creating the universe and filling the earth with plant and animal life, God created human life on Day Six of the Creation Week. God personally formed man after his image (Genesis 1:27). He gave people unique linguistic, aesthetic, rational, moral, and spiritual faculties not given to animals.
Even the way a person develops before birth displays God’s handiwork (Psalm 139:13–16). From the moment of fertilization, the zygote has 23 pairs of chromosomes, which contain the information for the gender, eye color, appearance, and all other characteristics of the physical body. The heart starts beating a few weeks after fertilization, often before the mother even knows she is pregnant; eyes, ears, arms, and legs are forming by five weeks after fertilization; and brainwaves can be detected six weeks after fertilization.
A person's position in the origins debate has a huge influence on their view of the sanctity of human life. Creationists believe in the sanctity of life from conception and that elective abortion on demand is an act of rebellion against the authority of the Creator and Giver of Life (Exodus 20:13). No matter how young or elderly, no matter how disabled or unwanted, human life is precious because it is given by God and has been made in His image.
2. What is the purpose of death? Evolutionists assert that death is a means of evolution. Species evolve through the survival of the fittest to higher life forms. In nature, predators often prey on the young, who are less fit and often more vulnerable to disease and predators. This process of death supposedly weeds out all but the best. If humans evolved from animals, their existence is derived from the survival of the fittest. From an evolutionary perspective, therefore, abortion can be viewed as a brilliant method to aid natural selection. Why not end the lives of those with genetic defects or disabilities before they can be a drain on society? Might abortion even be saving these weak ones from lives of suffering?
Creationists, on the other hand, see death in a far different light. Rather than death being a violent means to an evolutionary end or the "answer" to our problems in life, the Bible describes death as an enemy and as the just consequence for sin against an infinitely holy God (Romans 6:23). While God created Adam and Eve to live forever in fellowship with Him, He warned them that disobedience would bring death. Adam’s sin brought the curse of sin and death on the entire human race (Romans 5:12).
In contrast to the “survival of the fittest” mantra, Christians are urged throughout Scripture to defend and care for the fatherless, the widows, the weak, the blind, the lame, and the poor. God has appointed each person’s mental and physical abilities (Exodus 4:11). While individuals have disabilities in this sin-cursed world, even these weaknesses can bring him glory (John 9:1–3; 2 Corinthians 12:9). Wherever God gives life, He gives purpose and meaning to that life, whether or not we always see or understand what that purpose and meaning is. This conclusion is directly tied to the origins debate.
3. Who determines right from wrong? Many evolutionists answer that no higher authority exists, believing the world evolved through mindless chance. Therefore, the evolutionary worldview supports relativism, the idea that there is no absolute truth. Instead, the individual or society determines right and wrong. Tolerance is often seen as the ideal to pursue—at least tolerance toward issues secular society wants to tolerate, like homosexual behavior, same-sex marriage, abortion, and transgender modifications.
"Molecule to man" evolution allows -- and even exhorts -- people to become their own gods, choosing their own standards of right and wrong. Creationists, however, believe that the Creator, who ordained absolute physical laws like gravity, also has ordained absolute moral laws, stemming from His own moral perfection. Since he is the God who creates and sustains life, He makes the rules. The Lord has revealed right from wrong in His written Word, the Bible.
I submit that these three very important questions find their foundation in the origins debate. The answer to the question, "Where did we come from?" (which is at the heart of the discussion) has a profound impact on the answers to these other three questions, as well. That's why the origins debate matters.