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Truth is amazing -- as amazing as a beautiful butterfly
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Butterflies are beautiful, but many only live a few days or weeks. The life of a caterpillar that becomes a creature that flies is incredible. For those who love God's Word, it is even more amazing. It never grows old. It will live for eternity.
Creation or Evolution?
In reality, it is not a battle between religion (faith) and science (evidence), but between two faith-based religions. Both see the same facts - the fossils and the things of nature -but they see a different story about their origin.
A non-Christian Evolutionist believes the Bible is a flimsy foundation; the Christian Creationist believes the text books are not a solid foundation. We would ask the Christian Evolutionist -- Upon what is your faith based? On the Bible or on the science text books? It is a serious question that needs to be considered.
The next question that needs to be asked -- Are the two belief system compatible? We need to be careful not to interpret by eisegesis, reading into the text something not there. Truth will be on one side or the other. On our next page we will discuss the two belief systems.
In the meantime, consider the amazing metamorphosis of the butterfly cycle. Who can explain the incredible change from a leaf-eating grub to a graceful butterfly?
The subject of Creation has become become very controversial over the last few decades. Why is this? Well, there are a number of reasons.
1. The devil is out to deceive men and women about the God of creation.
2. Science has put forward the notion that there is a conflict between religion and science. Religion is said to be by faith alone, whereas science is based on true facts.
3. The diligence of true Bible study has diminished over the years.
4. Christians in general have not understood that creation does have evidence and when asked by young people why we believe in creation are told, 'We believe by faith'. This is not satisfactory for young students who would sooner accept science with its evidence than believe in something they cannot see.
5. The media pushes evolution wherever it can put a foot in and we are bombarded with the concept of millions years at every turn.
The Bible tells us that "the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Romans 1:20.
In this verse the apostle Paul tells us that the things we see reveal God's invisible power, and therefore the whole world is without excuse if they do not believe in the God of creation. Any person who can see the beautiful things of nature has no excuse for not believing there is a God.
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The Bible makes very strong statements and for some they are too strong. However, as this site is for the purpose of analysing and studying Scripture, we cannot apologise for the words spoken by the prophets on behalf of the Creator. In the end, it is not man who speaks, but God.
Today there are Christians who believe in the Bible and in Evolution. To the Creationist this is a contradiction, however, it does not take away from the fact, that those who believe this way are dedicated Christians. This page is designed to give the Christian-Evolutionist food for thought. Does the Bible support this belief?
The question for these Christians is not Chance or Design, but whether God used evolution to bring this world into existence.
For those who do not believe in the Bible, the question is always Chance or Design. It is one or the other. This site may not give satisfactory answers to your questions, however, on the subject of creation and evolution, there will be information to give new thoughts. We hope you stay with us.
The Bible tells us it is "through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Hebrews 11:3.
This is an important fact for Christians. No matter how God created the worlds, we are to believe it by faith. We do not need demonstration. And faith, according to the first verse in this chapter, "... is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.
Did you see that? Faith is "the evidence" for our belief. This might seem impossible, and for a non-Christian mind, it is impossible. But for a Christian, faith is "the substance" of our belief.
An example from the secular world will make it more real. When you buy a block of land, you receive (or did before computerization) a title to the land. This title is the 'evidence' that the land belongs to you. We often call something printed from a computer 'hard copy', and this is what the title is to you. You might not have seen the land as someone else could have checked it out for you, but the title confirms that it belongs to you.
In the Christian faith, heaven is the land to which our faith is focused. No one has yet seen it. But we believe in our heavenly home based on the promise of God's Word that one day we will go there. We believe it by faith. This makes faith 'evidence' for the heavenly land. It is the 'substance' we hold on to while we wait for Jesus to return and take us there.
A non-Christian might say, 'Well, it depends on whether you believe the Bible', and this is true. If you do not believe in the Bible, there is no evidence, no substance, and no faith. So we assume, as a Christian who believes in evolution, you believe the Bible to be the Word of God. This unites your faith to the Bible. They must go together. It is like faith and works, unless there are works, there is no faith, for "faith without works is dead". James 2:20.26.17.
Faith is a gift of God to the Christian. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." Galatians 5:22.23. This type of faith is not the same as worldly 'faith'. Everyone believes the sun will rise in the morning, the gas will go into the tank when you fill up your car, the train will go to the destination stated, and many other worldly activities. Sometimes this is called faith. People say, 'I have faith in my doctor' or 'I have faith in this medicine' or 'I have faith in my neighbour' and others.
But this is not Christian faith, although there are similarities. True faith is God's gift to those who choose to surrender their lives to Him, not only to believe in the invisible God, but to obey Him. This faith will stand in the face of trials, persecution, even death. And in the end, Christians believe they will live in the kingdom of God for eternity.
So we need to say clearly -- true faith stands and falls on a belief in the Bible and a surrender of the life. This allows Christians to believe in the invisible and to worship the God of the invisible. When they look at the beauties of creation, they see the handiwork of God. The Creationist will see everything designed and created by God. The Christian Evolutionist will see everything formed through the work of evolution, but at the command of the Creator. And both will worship Him.
To the non-Christian Evolutionist I want to speak. You might say, 'The Creationist did not see creation happen', and you would be right. He has faith in the Bible. But let me ask you, Did you see evolution take place? Did you watch the 'big bang' or the moment the soupy mix became a living cell? Or when the first living cell divided into two, or when it became an actual creature? Did you watch the 'fish' that crept onto the land and gradually changed into an amphibian? Did you see how its fish lungs became suitable for breathing in air? Did you watch the ape-like creature gradually become homo sapiens? We could go on.
No, you did not see any of these things. So how do you know they are true?
Think about it. How do you know they are true? You just believe. Upon what do you base your belief? The Bible? No. You base it on science text books. Or on your teacher's word, or your professor's biology classes. Or on DVDs about evolution, or the word of a friend or family member.
In other words, you have faith to believe in something you have not seen. As I said, it is not true faith, but there are similarities. And this 'faith' is based upon the word of another, whether text book or word of mouth.