“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1
This is a simple statement. Yet this statement is all inclusive and it assumes one key element. It is all inclusive in that it includes Space, Matter, Time, and Scientific Laws. The phrase, “in the beginning” implies that there is the start of a time frame. Time has a starting point in the initial creation of the heaven and the earth. Note also that heaven, at this point, is singular. This would also mean that these, the heaven and the earth are somehow contained in something.
When I teach a class on Genesis 1:1 I often draw a cube on the whiteboard and explain that this is very similar to the aquarium that someone would put into their home. In order to set up an environment to keep fish in, one must first have the space to put everything into. In this manner is how we can see that a container is necessary for God to put the heaven and the earth into. We also know that the universe runs in set patterns and dependencies. Everything has its place and function. There are scientific principles and laws of nature that govern how things interact within the universe. By way of example, we have the Law of Gravity, the Laws of Physics, and such things as these. We also have quantitative Scientific laws like mathematics, chemistry, and engineering. All of these things existed from “in the beginning”.
To have intelligent conversations on any subject, certain things must be agreed upon as a starting point. This first verse of Genesis is assumptive that we can agree that God exists. Therefore, it does not explain the existence of God, or where he came from. It does not do so, because the purpose of the story being relayed is not to explain the existence of God. It is given us the explanation of our existence. So, it only tells us that God it is who created. God created everything. Knowledge of God is assumed, even if we do not know who he is. God himself is taken as a literal, legitimate individual. What we learn is that it is God who had the ability to create things. Scripture says that a fool says that there is no God (Psalm 14:1).
The assumption is that any intelligent person in their right mind should know that there must be a God. The understanding that the universe could not have come into existence by itself is something that anyone who has intellect, should know. Therefore, the notion that the universe suddenly created itself, or that it somehow was always in existence is for the weak minded and unlearned. All that one has to do is to look and see how everything in this universe breaks down, wears out, and degrades over time, if it does not have something else to maintain it, or to act upon it for its restoration or betterment. Nothing in nature ever evolves into a higher lifeform. The necessity of God for creation and maintenance is plain to see throughout the universe. It is a universal law.
The Jewish and Christian beliefs of God creating everything from nothing is not shared with any other belief system in the world. This is referred to in the Latin, “creatio ex nihilo” (creation from nothing) and has been a long-held belief in Christianity dating back the beginnings of the Church. The idea that God is so absolute in his power that he can cause something to be in existence from nothing is what makes the Judeo-Christian God unique from all other God’s and belief systems in history. This ability makes him the only creator in existence.
Some other Creation Stories:
- Greek Mythology – In the beginning was chaos. This is not a creation from nothing.
- Norse Mythology- In the beginning was a chasm. This is not a creation from nothing.
- Rig Veda (an ancient Sanskrit writing) – There was the “first fashioner” he created Earth and Sky, but before him there were cosmic waters. This is not a creation from nothing.
- Chinese Mythology- Heaven and earth were in a state of chaos or cosmic egg for 18,000 years and it broke apart and formed the heaven and the earth. This is not a creation from nothing.
- Mesopotamian Mythology- the Earth was made from the killing and dividing of another god.
- Egyptian Mythology has three different creation myths. The predominant one has two gander producing eggs that are the sun and the earth. This is not a creation from nothing.
- Zoroastrian Mythology- creation was made after a cosmic war between “lies” and “truth”. Truth won and created the earth, then tried to destroy it, but cosmic man thwarted the plan by returning to earth as a plant stalk and repopulating the earth with vegetation. From the stalks we then see the produce of the first man and woman. This is not a creation of everything from nothing.
- Hindu and Buddhist see the universe as eternal with no beginning or end, it has always existed
- Scientology from what I can see of it seeks to claim that it is the oldest of creation beliefs and that the cosmic lifeforce may have initiated a spark on non-active substances and then created all things. This still is not a creation from nothing.
Now I know that these are extremely abridged versions of these beliefs. But I only have them here to show you that Judaism and Christianity are not the only cultures who believe in a creation event that is not some string of cosmic accidents that somehow led to men being formed. Instead, in these we see that generally all cultures in history have believed that there was an actual creation event in antiquity, and that one or two gods or entities are responsible for this spectacular one-time experience in cosmic history. The purpose of Genesis 1:1 is to introduce God (the I AM) as the ONE who is the actual creator. This is where Judaism and Christianity differ from all other people, religions, philosophies, and theories that have ever populated the earth. We believe, according to scripture, that God is the one who created all things from nothing. That means that there was absolutely nothing when God created everything. God is the point of origin for all things we know. This means that everything we have ever seen, touched, smelled, and felt comes from God who created all things:
- Psalm 90:2 – Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
- Colossians 1:16-17 – For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
- John 1:1-4 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
- Revelations 4:11 – Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Therefore, having read these verses, we can see, with just a quick glance, that God existed before the creation. There is only one God and he created everything. All powers and authorities within this creation are subject to his creation authority. We can also see that everything was created for his own pleasure, not ours.
Yet there is another theology out there that rejects this whole premise of a God, or even an unnamed divine essence that created everything. They reject all matters of faith in the claims of science. This theology is known as Atheistic Humanism. They are armed with what they call scientific evidence that destroy the faith-based creation of Christianity. They attempt to remove God from the creation event. In doing so they are attempting to remove his authority over them. The approach is simple, their claim is that someone who could believe in an invisible God to create everything and to just take it on faith is unhealthy thinking and ludicrous. However, when you get to investigating what Atheists accept (believe) as truth, you will find that it also takes a great amount of faith. Lee Strobel who has become famous for switching his stance from atheism to Christianity tweeted, “To continue in atheism, I would need to believe that nothing produces everything, non-life produces life, randomness produces fine-tuning, chaos produces information, unconsciousness produces consciousness, and non-reason produces reason. I simply didn’t have that much faith.”[1]
I like you have known quite a few individuals, some friends, some family, who have looked down their nose at me for believing in Jesus Christ, and for taking the Word of God at face value. Yet this statement made by Mr. Strobel is one that I have heard from many people who used to be atheist. At some point their mind realizes that everything they believe to be true is just that… it is a belief and when confronted with the lack of real evidence to support their rational mind, they concede that this belief takes just as much faith as believing in Jesus and the Word of God. Then they begin to ask questions. They begin to want real answers. In finding no answers anywhere else then turn back to that ignorant Christian, and to what God says. They begin to examine the Word of God and for the first time they begin to see what God has been telling all of us.
Isaiah 45:11 – Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
The Lord is not hiding in the darkness and hoping to not be seen. Instead, he is putting out an invitation to all men. To seek him out. He says to ask about the work of his hands. The entirety of creation speaks to his glorious work. (Psalm 19:1-7; Romans 1:20) God wants us to know that he is the creator. That is why Genesis 1:1 starts with “In the beginning God Created the heaven and the earth.”. Later the gospel of John tells us that in the beginning was the word and that all things were made by him. (John 1:1-3) The very word of God is tied to his being the creator. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6) God’s revelation of himself in the first verse of Genesis, and the steps that he took to create everything, is his guarantee of his word. It is given to us so that we can have confidence in everything else that is revealed in the scriptures. The first sentence in Genesis is the foundation of all Jewish and Christian faith. God exists. God created everything. God is all powerful. God has all authority. The word of God is trustworthy. Psalm 148:8 says, “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” What a strong foundation for faith and hope. If he created all things, then he can make you a new creation in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
God tells us that we can ask him about his works. He tells us that the heavens declare his majesty. Everyday we can look up to the skies and see proof of the work of his hands. The creation shows knowledge. No matter what language you speak or education level you reach, God’s creation is speaking to you about the God who created all things, including you.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:1-7)
It is amazing to me that this verse speaks of the cycles of nature and the manner in which the sun circles the earth. This reveals from the very beginning that people of faith have always know the earth was circular, well if they read anyways. Approximately 150 B.C. the ancient Greeks made a globe to represent the earth. It is believed that Moses wrote the Pentateuch (1st five books of the Old Testament) around 1445 B.C. I make this point to show you that men and women of faith do not need to fear what science says. Instead, we should run to science and get involved and ensure that the science being performed is in fact science. Just because someone claims a theory, that does not make the theory true. The book. “On the Origin of Species” published in 1859 which is used to promote the theory of Evolution has yet to be proven with the principles of the scientific method. Yet it is taught as an indisputable fact. Now this undisputable fact is not just one set of facts or a unified theory either. Darwin had four principles to his theory. Enst Mayr writes saying that Darwin had five theories of evolution. [2] Within each of these theories there are many more theories that have changed over time. Other theories on the origins of like include:
- The Big Bang
- The Electric Spark
- Extra-terrestrial Origen (Panspermia)
- Spontaneous Origin
- Biochemical Evolution
- Community Clay
These are just a few of the many that Humanistic Theology seeks to use in their running away from the truth. When you look at these theories (fancy ford for “belief”) you will see some very big leaps taken on speculation. Talk about “faith”. It is a tragic comedy that those who believe in a constantly changing and scientifically unsupported theory are calling those who believe in an unchanging biblical view of creation to be fools. We see the proper demonstration of the pot calling the kettle black.
Christians have been told that they are stupid and ignorant to believe in the Bible when science so clearly disproves it. I would say yes, Christians have been stupid and ignorant, but not because of science disproving the Bible. Because science has not disproved the Bible, instead the deeper the science and the more serious the scholar and the archeologist looks, they find that the Bible is validated by the scientific studies performed.
Therefore, we have been stupid for trusting the wrong source for our information. Trusting in the religion of humanism and being willfully ignorant to the fact that lies are we listening to are well within the scope of words among prideful, self-seeking men. Especially those who hate and reject God and are willing to go to any length to discredit his word. We are ignorant of what science truly says concerning creation, the flood, and the events we now see unfolding as we come to the end of the age. Just as the Word of God revealed the beginning it revealed the end also. God is the one constant from the beginning to the end. It is his design, his plan, and it is for his purposes.
No, the Christian does not need to fear science. The Christian should seek out honest science and seek out the truth of God revealed in the Holy Bible. God has never said that we should bury our heads in the sand. Instead, he says to think, gain wisdom, seek knowledge, get understanding. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7) God does not want us to be ignorant of his creation. Creation teaches us about God. Good science that follows the principles of science and discovery teaches us about this creation that God has made. In this proper study we can find out so much about God and his handywork. We can see how much love he has poured into the universe, the earth, and into men and women like you and me.
There is an importance in what we discover in scripture and in science. We find that we can trust the scriptures as passed given and preserved by God as they have been passed down from one Godly man to the next generation. There are clear points in scripture where the author has put their own pen to the page and those are noted in the passages. But the events that happen in the first chapters of Genesis, especially “in the beginning”, could have only been know by God. It is God himself who passed these events to Adam. We must therefore take what we have been given by God as the very Word of God and accept the truth of what it says. We must take the text of the Creation as literal events and not try to bend them or twist them in order to make them fit into the theories of men. I repeat the warning of Paul the Apostle, “Let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightiest be justified in thy sayings, and mightiest overcome when thou art judged.” (Romans 3:4). If we cannot believe that God performed creation that way that scripture tell us that he did, then we cannot believe anything else that the scripture states about God, Sin, or Salvation in Jesus Christ.
Therefore, humanistic theology tries so hard to discredit the first 11 Chapters of Genesis, especially the creation. If it did not happen the way it is recorded, then everything else is subject to ridicule and reinterpretation. This is the same approach that the serpent took with Eve in the Garden of Eden when he asked, “Yeah, hath God said…?” (Genesis 3:1). I encourage you to put away the fables of men, and to study the scriptures and the science for yourself. There are plenty of resources available today for you to look at the science that disproves the theories of men. You will find that the only reason you are having problems is because of your own ignorance and unfounded fear of the evidence concerning creation. Evidence that supports a short earth. Evidence that supports a catastrophic flood. Evidence that proves that man was a purposeful and fully functional creation, unique from anything else on the earth. Man was not the biproduct of an accident that took billions of years to form, instead he was a thought out, purposefully engineered creation by a God who loves and cares for him, and for you as a unique and designated offspring of that life. Adam was designed for a purpose, and so are you.
Strobel, L. (2017, Dec 12). @LeeStrobel Tweet.
[1] (Strobel, 2017) Tweet from Lee Strobel Dec 24,2017@11:22AM
[2] (Gruyter)
Bibliography
Gruyter, W. d. (n.d.). https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781400854714.755/pdf. (D. Gruyter, Ed.) Retrieved Apr 21, 2022, from https://www.degruyter.com/: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781400854714.755/pdf
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