Creation and Evolution- Satan’s having a lot of fun with this one

Posted by Steve on September 17th, 2007 filed in Faith

Michaelangelo
Growing up in church, I always heard about how Satan worked in very discreet ways. He distracts, tells little lies, and uses half-truths in order to keep Christians from advancing the kingdom. I believe this is true. Here’s a thought-

The whole creation/evolution debate is currently one of Satan’s most successful attempts to distract Christians from doing God’s work.

I would go even further and say that not only is it distracting us, but it is truly damaging our efforts to spread the gospel.

Last May a group called Answers in Genesis opened The Creation Museum. Through interactive displays the museum portrays a strictly literal interpretation of the creation and flood stories from Genesis(although I would say that the word literal here is up for debate, we can talk more about that later). Their website says this about the museum,

“The Bible speaks for itself at the Creation Museum. We’ve just paved the way to a greater understanding of the tenets of creation and redemption. Our exhibit halls are gilded with truth, our gardens teem with the visible signs of life.”

I cannot help but feel bitter as I read, “Our exhibit halls are gilded with truth…” What if they are not? What if this Creation Museum is actually spreading lies about God’s creation?

Part of me wonders what it will be like when the people who built this museum get to heaven. “Well done my good and faithful servants. You spent 25 million dollars building this museum when 1/6 of the world lives in extreme poverty, thousands of children are dying each day of preventable diseases, and countless have not even heard of my good news. But you built a high tech ‘Creation Museum.’ Way to be.”

I grew up hearing and affirming the most common arguments against evolution. There were times when I felt very strongly about it, although I generally kept quiet in my Biology class when we talked about evolution. Later in high school however, I started having doubts about the strength of these arguments. However, I held on to them believing that true Christians had to believe in a literal 7 day creation story. I avoided reading more about the topic fearing that my faith would be in jeopardy if I started to believe in evolution.

My sophomore year at Seattle Pacific University I started studying Biology in hopes of becoming a doctor. I was slightly surprised to learn that at SPU the biology department teaches the same evolution that would be taught at any secular school. However it was clear that these professor still had strong faiths. They just believed that evolution was God’s miraculous way of creating life. I finally had role models that showed me that Christ and evolution were not mutually exclusive beliefs.

While I’m happy with where my story is now, I still think it is sad that I lived in fear for all those years. And it kills me that this is still going on. It kills me that Christians feel compelled to build museums that contradict overwhelming scientific evidence. It kills me that we have wasted so much time, money, and words fighting a battle against truth. We have much more important things to focus our efforts on.

Please, let’s start advancing God’s kingdom. While we flounder through the evolution/creation debate sometimes I can almost hear Satan laughing at us. Let’s shut him up.

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8 Responses to “Creation and Evolution- Satan’s having a lot of fun with this one”

  1. Thom Says:
    September 17th, 2007 at 9:53 am

    I posted about this a few weeks back here: http://tinyurl.com/2h78za. Definitely agree that the kingdom is more important than battling over petty foundationalisms.

  2. steve martin Says:
    September 17th, 2007 at 10:21 am

    Hi Steve,
    You have hit the nail on the head. The Evangelical focus on attacking evolution is damaging the gospel. As you pointed out, it distracts us from more important tasks. I’d like to add two other ways that it damages the gospel: 1) we cause some to lose their faith because they believe they need to choose between modern science & Christ (you actually implied that in your post) and 2) we put a stumbling block in the way of others who might consider the claims of Christ.

  3. Steve Says:
    September 17th, 2007 at 10:44 am

    Thom,
    Thanks for the comment. I tried your link, but it didn’t work.
    And Steve- thanks as well. I agree completely, I think more people would look at Christianity a little more seriously if some Christians were not so hostile towards science. *sigh*

  4. Scott Says:
    September 18th, 2007 at 5:06 pm

    Very nice well written post Stevie.

  5. Diane R. Says:
    September 19th, 2007 at 4:29 pm

    Whether creation, evolution or a combo of both are true, that really isn’t the point to me regarding the Creation Museum. The point is - how in the world can Christians spend this kind of money on this stuff? I just do not get it.

    Thanks again for a really good post.

  6. wayneb36301 Says:
    September 30th, 2007 at 8:44 pm

    It is hard not to get involved when the atheist challeges you to prove that Jesus existed. Or that God is real. Many Christians back away because they are afraid that they may make all Christians look stupid. I did this for awhile but I grew tired of letting them go by unanswered. WE must give account for the hope that is within us. WITH LOVE.
    The Church today spends to much time helping Christians feel good about themselves and not enough to defending the truth.
    And be careful of critizing Christians on spending money on something God may have told them to do. God is not running out of resources. If people starve it isn’t because someone built a ministry building they felt lead to do. Remember Mary with the box of perfume. Be careful you do not fall into the trap and critizes your Brother in front of the unsaved therefore giving them something else to hold against us. More good will come by us supporting this ministry than speaking against it. How would the world react if they actually saw us agreeing on something and helping each other.

  7. schaffer Says:
    January 11th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    I don’t think you are right. I think it is important to feed the hungery and all that crap but i also think that it is important fot people to get the message out about the lies of evolution.

    the reason creationist are hitting out at evolution is cuz the church is unbelievable. Church says: HEY! WELCOME TO CHURCH!WE LOVE TO HAVE YOU HERE! JESUS LOVES YOU!AND BY THE WAY, EVOLUTION IS CRAP AND NO ONE SHOULD BELIEVE IT!

    guess what? no one listens. the world has consistently shown more evidence of evolution than church does. The evolution lie has been out there too long… and the church does nothing about it.if someone bombards the church with evolution crap, i can almost garantee no one will have a winning argument. Unless it goes like this: DUDE, NO ONE BELIEVES IN EVOLUTION! ITS TOTALLY FALSE, MAN! OH, AND GOD LOVES YOU!

    Well, that guy goes away knowing he’s way more smart in evolution than you. He also finds the church doesn’t know the argument. well if the church can’t present any facts, how can it ever move forward? they say, “BELIEVE THIS!” spiritually but they can’t prove anything physically? who is going to ever join the church if we don’t have a firm, scientific, fact-built foundation? cuz if we don’t have a firm physical foundation, who will believe us in the spiritual part of it?

  8. Lauren Says:
    June 13th, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    I was saved by someone who was willing to refute evolution and show some facts as to why it wasn’t true. Certain people aren’t called for this type of ministry, but the lies of evolution must be exposed for what they are. If fruit is being produced and souls are getting saved, then that is what matters. I for one are one soul who is very grateful for the Christian who refuted the lies of evolution for what they are.

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