Question: "Why is Biblical Creationism so important?"
Answer:
Asking why biblical creationism is important is like asking why a
foundation is important to a building. Biblical creationism is
foundational to the Christian faith. Christianity is established in the
book of Genesis chapter one, with “in the beginning God created . . .”
This one statement affirms creationism and opposes any view that
embraces evolutionism (the belief that the universe started with a “big
bang” and has been constantly evolving ever since).
The way we answer
this question reflects whether we believe the Word of God or call its
truthfulness into question. As Christians, we must differentiate between
creationism and evolutionism; i.e. how are they different, which one is
true, and as Christians, come to terms with whether it is possible to
believe in both. Those questions can be answered by defining what
biblical creationism is and how it affects our fundamental belief
system.
The importance of biblical creationism is that it answers the
fundamental questions of human existence. 1. How did we get here? Where
did we come from? 2. Why are we here? Do we have a purpose, and what is
the cause of all or our problems? Are the issues of sin and salvation
important? 3. What happens to us when we die? Is there life after death?
Genesis is the foundation for the rest of Scripture in which these
questions are answered. Genesis has been likened to the root of a tree
in that it is the spiritual life-blood of Scripture. If you cut the root
from a tree, it dies. If you discredit Genesis, you remove the
authoritative value of all Scripture.
Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,”
gives us three great truths which are the foundations of biblical
creationism and the Christian faith. First, we learn of the oneness of
God. This stands in contrast to the polytheism and dualism of modern
humanist philosophy. Second, we learn of the personality and attributes
of God in contrast to pantheism, where God is imminent in the world but
is not transcendent to the world. Last, we learn of the omnipotence of
God in contrast to the idols that modern humanists hang on to and
worship. This one verse tells us that God is eternal—He was before, is
now, and always will be—and that He created all that is out of nothing
by His spoken word. This answers our creation question of beginnings,
but what about our second question, why are we here?
Biblical creationism and the Genesis narrative answer the question of
the condition of the human race. It deals with the fall of man but also
leaves us with the hope of redemption. It is important that we
understand we are unified in one man, Adam—a literal, real-life person.
If Adam is not a literal person, then we have no plausible explanation
for how sin entered into the world. If mankind did not fall from grace
by Adam, then mankind cannot be saved by grace through Jesus Christ.
First Corinthians 15:22 (NKJV): “For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ all shall be made alive.”
This parallel of Adam as head of the
fallen race and Christ as head of a redeemed race is important to our
understanding of the salvation process, and it is essential to
understanding its efficacy. “Therefore, as through one man's offense
judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one
Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in
justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made
sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous”
Romans 5:18-19 (NKJV).
Considering this, we must then look upon biblical creationism as not
only the basis for our value system, but we must look at the creation
narrative as factual and not just a story, for if it is a fictional
story, then the values it imports are man-reasoned, subject to change as
man “evolves,” and therefore invalid. This is the basis of the conflict
between science and religion (especially Christianity), that science is
fact and religion is philosophy. If this is true, then our Christian
values are just that, values for Christians, but they have no relevance
in the secular world.
The last question for mankind is what happens to us when we die? If man
is merely part of the evolved universe and returns to the dirt of the
ground when he dies, we must contend that we have no soul or spirit and
this life is all there is. This belief leaves us with only one purpose
in life, that is following the plan of evolution—survival of the
fittest.
Christianity, on the other hand, presents us with a moral good
that has been established by a higher, transcendent, supernatural Being.
The morality of God sets an unchanging standard that not only promotes a
better life for us personally, but teaches us how to love others and
ultimately bring glory to God, which is our highest calling. This
standard is exemplified by the life and work of Christ on the cross. It
is through His life, death, and resurrection that we find purpose for
this life and hope of a future life with God in heaven.
Biblical creationism is important because it is the only system that
answers the basic questions of life and gives us significance greater
than ourselves to live for and by. It should be clear to all Christians
that we cannot believe in both systems as being true; they are mutually
exclusive, and stand in opposition to one another.
Download a printer friendly version
