A Case for Creation: Introduction Part 2 – The importance of case-making when studying the book of Genesis

Why do we need to make a case for creation?

This week we are continuing with our introduction as we look at reasons why case-making is important. As Christians we can often feel unequipped to answer when questions of human origin, purpose, destiny, the problem of evil and even the existence of God come up in conversations. How should we respond? Are we confident in answering or do we simply defer to others?

Whether you’ve thought much about these kinds of questions, people are asking, and these questions are being addressed at the highest levels of academia where the Christian worldview is nowhere to be found. If you are a Christian it is critical to know that the Biblical worldview is, and has been, under attack at the academic level even though solid evidence can be presented, it is ignored.

Here is Part 2 of the “Case for Creation” class introduction:

Reasons people leave the faith (or never get started in the first place):

Science vs God is at the top of the list when it comes to reasons people leave their faith – why? In recent polls taken by groups like Barna, Pew and others that keep a pulse on religious views, “religious nones” have moved to the number three spot worldwide behind Christianity and Islam. “Nones” are those who check the box “none” when asked about their religious affiliation on surveys- they are currently the third largest religious category worldwide behind Christianity and Islam.

Some of the top reasons cited by religious “nones” that lead to a lack of belief are as follows: 

• Learning about evolution in college (actually begins in grade school)
• Lack of scientific evidence for a creator
• Religion is not based on rational thinking
• Religion is the opiate of the people
• Too many Christians doing un-Christian things

Why has this happened?

A war of the worldviews:

Christianity vs. Secular Humanism

• 1962-63 The U.S. educational system replaced prayer and Biblical foundations with the foundational beliefs of Secular Humanism (which is based on “Naturalism” and the “preaching” of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution)
• Humanism rejects any belief in a supernatural cause as the basis for human origin, morality, or decision making—all success and knowledge will come from human discovery and innovation
• Humanism posits that humans are a part of nature (Naturalism), the same as a tree or an ant, and function on a physical basis only (Physicalism)
• This dominant view now permeates not only the educational system but politics, medicine, law, and even many churches
• Since the 1960’s we have watched the U.S. drop from number one in the world to the bottom twentieth percentile in education, and suicide rates have risen dramatically – why?

Some alarming statistics
Of Americans citizens born from…

1927 to 1945: 65% regularly attend a Christian church

These people graduated from high school before the removal of Biblical Creation, and before the official teaching of Darwinian evolution in the public schools. 

1946 to 1964: 35% regularly attend a Christian church

These people were partway through the public education system when the official indoctrination of the secular humanistic worldview and Darwinian education began. Most of their teachers had been educated with a Biblical worldview, but these students would soon be the leaders in higher education…

1965 to 1983: 16% regularly attend a Christian church

This was the first group of American children fully indoctrinated by secular humanism and Darwinian evolution, with little to no emphasis on a Biblical worldview. Most of their teachers are now completely educated (indoctrinated) in secular humanism and Darwinian evolutionary teaching. 

1984 to 2002: 4% regularly attend a Christian church

These victims are fully indoctrinated in secular humanism’s teachings by teachers who are also fully indoctrinated in secular humanism and Darwinian evolution.

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

-Psalm 11:3 (NASB)

What are some of the foundations of Christianity that are under attack?

• God’s creation (vs. evolution)
• Humans created in God’s image (if we all had this foundational belief it would eliminate problems like racism, abortion and euthanasia etc.)
• The problem of evil began at “the Fall” – Spiritual warfare and a demonic world at play today (vs. humans are basically good)
• Resurrection – the hope we have of eternal life because of Jesus’ victory over death (vs. this life is all there is)
• Salvation through Jesus Christ alone (vs. universalism=many ways to god and a heaven)
• The Bible is the inspired Word of God – the truths of God (vs. human philosophies and religions)
• Jesus and His Deity – THE TRINITY

These are the most attacked foundations by skeptics, atheists, and even some in the Church – but they are all found in Genesis!!!

What is a Christian’s foundation, and where do we find it?

Our foundation is the Word of God and it starts with the truths of Genesis!!!

If we understand the foundational beginning, everything else will fall into place…

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

-Genesis 1:26-31 (NASB)

In just this short passage we find major foundations that ARE under attack today…

• GOD’S EXISTENCE
• ORIGIN
• IDENTITY (humans Created in God’s image – male and female – separate genders)
• PURPOSE rulership (given by God over creation); be fruitful and multiply (have kids, help the next generation); subdue the earth (take care of our planet); rule over (take care of) the animals and plants; and later Jesus adds to our purpose the Great Commission (go out and share the Good News with everyone)
• Notice, God saw everything was good at the end of the sixth day – there was no death, no suffering, no sin, no problems

If the foundation of Genesis is destroyed, it calls into question all of the other foundations of Christianity.

• If we understand the foundational beginning, everything else will fall into place
• If we understand God’s ultimate purpose, life takes on meaning

Where is the real battle? Spiritual Warfare

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.   

-Ephesians 6:10-17 (NASB)

WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE, AND WHY WE BELIEVE IT –

THIS STARTS AT GENESIS!!!

Reflection

1.  What are some of the reasons we are seeing a move from “Church going Christians” to “Religious Nones?”

2.  PTRs: (Praise-Thankgiving-Repentance-Requests) Prayer Focus— Ask God to give you the passion and focus as you commit to an in-depth study of the book of Genesis and this “Case for Creation” study.

Bible Study

Each week we will do a Bible study in the book of Genesis to practice our Bible study skills. Last week we talked about the importance of practicing hermeneutics – this week let’s do that with Genesis…

Always remember to pray before reading and studying Scripture.

1.  What do you already know about the book of Genesis?

2.  Before starting a Bible study, it is important to do some preliminary investigation by using hermeneutics, which is simply a common sense method of understanding the basics of any piece of literature:

• Who is the author?
• Who is the intended audience?
• What is the genre (literary style) of the book? Most books of the Bible have a main genre (and many contain secondary ones) that fall into one or more of these basic categories: Historical narrative, wisdom literature, Law, prophecy, poetry, Jewish or Christian instruction, Church doctrine, letters/epistles and/or apocalyptic.
• What is the time period that the book of Genesis covers, and when was it written? Why is this important to know?
• What is the purpose of the book?
• What are some of the main themes found in this book?

3.  Discuss: Define the words interpretation and application. Why do you think it is important to recognize the difference between these words when studying the Bible?

4.  Going Deeper: Why do you think it is important to understand the historical context and cultural settings in which the books of the Bible are written?

5.  Share: What are some ways we can go deeper in our Bible studies? (Share some resources that help if you have them)

Join us next week as we continue our Case for Creation and A Study in Genesis – Session #2: The Nature of God and Genesis chapter 1