“In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
I was six years old when I first memorized this verse. It was the first in a collection of verses I memorized as part of our Wednesday night kids ministry. Back then, it seemed simple to take it literally: in the beginning God creates everything we see out of nothing. Didn’t everyone believe this?
As I grew older, the answer was “no”. Many of my friends were being taught the theories of evolution and the Big Bang in school. They were told that real science supported the idea that the earth was millions of years old and that man evolved from monkeys. They learned that believing anything else was foolish and the Biblical account of creation was an antiquated myth.
For many Christians, the so-called “science” created a problem.
They wanted to believe the Bible, but they also wanted to believe the science.
Some abandoned the Bible’s account of Creation, choosing to believe what secular society taught. Other tried to “blend” the two accounts by interpreting “day” to mean “time period” during which the process of evolution took place. This way, they could live in both worlds—still believing the Bible without standing against what was called science.
Thankfully, I had the opportunity to attend a Christian school where they presented us with the theories of evolution, but they also exposed us to the flaws in evolutionary science. We also learned the scientific facts that support Creationism. This balances approach taught me that:
1. Evolution is really just a theory; it isn’t scientific fact.
Actually, it requires just as much “faith” to believe in evolution and the Big Bang as it does to believe the Bible. There are incredible gaps they cannot prove and inconsistencies with what we know to be scientific fact. For instance, why do cells no longer evolve, but currently degenerate? The theory of evolution holds as many questions as answer. It isn’t irrefutable science—it’s theories.
2. On the other hand, there is a ton of legitimate science to support the theory of a young earth created by intelligent design.
Many scholars have done great work using actual archaeology, carbon dating, and the scientific method to establish the validity of the Biblical account of Creation and Noah’s Flood.
Why is this important?
Because it’s the basis for everything.
According to the Biblical account, a loving Creator intentionally created the universe for His purpose.
He created men and women in His image with the intention that they would have a personal relationship with Him.
He also gave man free will, but unfortunately, man chose to sin. This created a barrier between man and God, so God again took the initiative and sent His Son to die on the cross to pay the price for man’s sin. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, anyone who asks can have forgiveness and a personal relationship with their Creator.
These are the essential truths of Christianity.
If we remove Creation and Adam and Eve, we deny the entrance of sin into the world.
If there is no sin, why do we need salvation?
There is also a big problem when we start choosing which parts of the Bible we will believe.
What gives us the right to reject Genesis, but accept John? What other Scriptures can we ignore if we don’t like them?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 answers this question:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
All Scripture means Genesis through Revelations—all of it is the inspired Word of God.
It’s also important to recognize that it isn’t only Genesis that recognizes God as the Creator of all things. It’s throughout the Bible including Psalms, the New Testament, even the book of Revelations.
The fact is that it can’t be both ways. You can’t say you believe the Bible, but reject God as Creator of the Universe. So what do we do?
The first option is to accept the Scriptural account of creation with the same faith that causes us to believe the rest of the Bible.
However, that is very difficult for many who have been taught that the Bible and science are in opposition to one another. The good news is that there are plenty of resources available that give scientific proof for the Biblical Account of Creation. There's a whole museum in Kentucky dedicated to teaching Creationism science.
Another great resource is the movie: Genesis: Paradise Lost. Our friends recently watched it with their young adults group and they highly recommend it.
Of course, there are lots of Creationism websites you can out. Do your research. Don’t blindly follow those who teach evolution, but look at both sides and see the truth for yourself.
As you learn both sides of the argument, your faith will be strengthened and you will be assured that the story of Creation as told in the Bible can be trusted and God did, indeed, create the world.
Adessa Holden is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God specializing in Women's Ministry. Together with her brother, Jamie, they manage 4One Ministries and travel the East Coast speaking, holding conferences, and producing Men's and Women's resources that provide practical Biblical teaching for everyday life.
When asked about herself, she'll tell you "I'm a women's minister, a sister, and a daughter. I love to laugh and spend time with people. My favorite things are chocolate, the ocean, sandals and white capris, anything purple, summertime and riding in the car listening to music. It is my absolute honor and privilege to serve Jesus and women through this ministry."
