DO YOU HAVE TO BE A CREATIONIST TO BE CHRISTIAN?
I am pleased to present a very topical article about the Creation/Evolution controversy. Short and to the point – a must read!
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https://creation.com/magazines
To read Gary Bates’ biography click on his name at the top of his article.
Gibber! Gibber!
Chugley
“Do you have to be a creationist to be Christian?”
A tactical question that avoids the real issue.
By Gary Bates
First published as Creation Extra, CMI-US, 2022.
This question often comes up, particularly during QA sessions at ministry events. In my experience, the type of person that usually asks this question is not, what we would call, a biblical creationist, and has subscribed to some sort of view that adds millions of years or some evolutionary process to the opening chapters of Genesis.
For example, I was once invited to speak at a Christian high school as part of an origins series. Those with differing views were invited to share opinions on the creation/evolution debate. The teacher leading the meeting said that the purpose of exposing students to different views was to allow students to make up their own minds on the subject. However, this approach is already problematic, as it obviously suggests to students that Genesis can possibly mean many things, rather than what it clearly says. During the lectures, I recall that the leader (only) interjected during my talk on several occasions with one question; “Does that mean you have to be a creationist to be a Christian?’In my 30+ years of ministry I have never once heard an informed creationist claim that belief in a six-day creation was necessary for salvation. In my own personal experience of coming to faith, I journeyed from evolutionist/
atheist to evolutionist/
Christian to creationist/
Christian, and it has been the same for countless others, including many in CMI.
The real point of this question is an attempt to undermine the vital importance of taking the creation account in a straightforward manner (as historical narrative).
‘Just believe in Jesus’
Some years ago, the Editor of an official publication of a major denomination in Australia wrote, “In my experience proponents of ‘creation science’ too often get distracted from evangelism, and become obsessed with persuading other Christians to their ‘creation science’ beliefs, as if these were necessary for salvation.”1
This tired old allegation is an example of a ‘straw man’ fallacy where one posits a false argument not actually made by your target, which you can then criticize. First, in my 30+ years of ministry I have never once heard an informed creationist claim that belief in a six-day creation was necessary for salvation. In my own personal experience of coming to faith, I journeyed from evolutionist/atheist to evolutionist/Christian to creationist/Christian, and it has been the same for countless others, including many in CMI. When I confessed Christ as my Savior, but still believed in evolution, I was obviously saved but I was still clearly ignorant about biblical creation and its importance. And this could have applied to many other Christian doctrines. For example, I had no concept of the Trinity, or eschatology. Even many who have been in the church for years still struggle to have a complete understanding of some of these and other important doctrines. It doesn’t mean that they are not saved, but it is testimony to the beautiful, saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ignorance is bliss?
Second, when someone claims that focusing on biblical creation is a distraction from evangelism, I immediately know that such a person has little or no experience in evangelism. If they did, they would know that biblical creation is arguably the most important aspect for evangelism today. Ask any street preacher, or evangelist on college campuses what the most-asked questions are when witnessing, and they will tell you that they have their basis in the evolution vs creation debate. For example, at the beginning of my speaking events, I often ask the audience the following questions.
“When witnessing to your friends, work colleagues or when discussing Christianity with family members, do they ask questions like:”
- “If God only made Adam and Eve, where did all the different races come from?
- And if it was just Cain and Abel, who did Cain marry?
- How do you fit dinosaurs into the Bible?
- And, if God is a God of love, why does He allow death and suffering in the world?”
… this is a key issue for people when questioning the divine authority of Scripture. So, to say that the creation issue is a distraction for evangelism is, frankly, nonsense.
Once I’ve posed just these four questions (there are dozens that relate to the events in Genesis), I usually ask for a show of hands. And despite ministering in thousands of churches and in many different countries, without fail at least 75% of the attendees raise their hands with the figures most times being around 90%. That so many have been confronted with these questions aptly demonstrates that this is a key issue for people when questioning the divine authority of Scripture. So, to say that the creation issue is a distraction for evangelism is, frankly, nonsense.
Evangelism must start at home
Furthermore, our college surveys of once-Christian youth featured in our DVD called FALLOUT2, demonstrated that not having answers to questions such as above was the major reason for students abandoning the faith that they were raised in. If we recognize that our children will be exposed to evolutionism at schools, then teaching creation at home and in the church is a major key to raising them with a resilient faith. One does not have to accept biblical creation to be saved, but it is vitally important for a robust faith that will withstand the challenges. For example, Andrew L. wrote to say that he dropped out after his first year at seminary:
“…due to the lack of defence against the documentary hypothesis and the multiple, non-biblical interpretations of Genesis 1; both from college teachers and pastors. Their teaching sapped the joy and confidence of my faith, and I drifted, un-moored for about a decade … until my kids asked questions, and my research brought me to the biblical defence given by CMI and others. My faith is renewed. Thank you.”
The Gospel starts in Genesis
It is understandable to doubt the point of salvation if there isn’t a need to be saved in the first place. We only need to be literally saved if there was a literal fall in the Garden of Eden.
Don’t let anyone try to stump you with ‘Do you have to be a creationist to be a Christian?’ question, because it is just a ‘cop out’ that seek to evades the obvious and real conflicts between evolution and the Bible. Instead, show them some of the wealth of positive evidence that demonstrates biblical Creation to be true.
Gary Bates
CEO
Creation Ministries International–US
Published: 26 October 2023
References and notes
- Kerry Nagle, Autumn 2000 edition of SALT magazine, by Scripture Union Australia. Return to text.
- See creation.com/fallout. Return to text.
6 thoughts on “DO YOU HAVE TO BE A CREATIONIST TO BE CHRISTIAN?”
Thanks for sorting this one out for us, Gary. Spot on. Saved through Jesus first, the rest falls into place.
So glad it helped Milton! Gibber! Gibber! Chugley
DOES GOD REALLY WANT US TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS?
Someone said to me that we are not commanded to keep the Ten Commandments of God. God tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. So, my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to see just how many times in the Bible that God tells us to keep His commandments. I was amazed at the number of times we are commanded to keep God’s law. God is very serious about us keeping His law! There are at least ten pages of scriptures commanding us to keep, or telling us what will happen to us if we do not keep God’s law from Genesis to Revelation.
Everything bad that has happened to mankind, has happened because he refused to keep the law of God, the Ten Commandments. Exodus 15:26 explains a lot. If we would have kept God’s laws, we would have had no disease. Our days upon this earth would have been prolonged. Deuteronomy 28: 1 promised that if we would have diligently obeyed the commandments of God that we would have been placed high above all the other nations on the earth.
But we didn’t want that did we. We wanted to wallow around in the mud and fight wars and kill each other until we destroy ourselves!
I know this is not an article, but if you would like to see how many times our God has tried to tell us He really does love us and does not wish for us to be in Satan’s world, then look and see. We have brought all of this on ourselves because we believe Satan and not God.
But God has not left us defenseless! We can still get out of the sewer. All we have to do is Obey the voice of God and Keep His Commandments and Satan will flee from us!
Jas 4:7 Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(In the Old and New Testament, there are approximately 158 commands from God to keep His commandments!)
Most profound! Thank you Wylie for caring about my Blog and my readers! Gibber! Gibber! Chugley
Dear Wylie,
Isn’t the fundamental problem with human beings that they cannot keep The Holy Law of GOD?
Ever since Adam disobeyed The First Commandment of GOD and ate of The Fruit of The Tree of The Knowledge of Good And Evil – after His Wife had been deceived by Satan- it has been impossible for Mankind to perfectly obey GOD’S Laws.
But, Glad Tidings! The Last Adam, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE SON OF GOD, has perfectly obeyed all of The Laws of GOD.
And , even more wonderful, HE has bestowed HIS HOLY SPIRIT upon all those who repent and believe this good news.
We chimpanzees, with all Creatures, rejoice in GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY TO ADAM AND EVE AND ALL THEIR OFFSPRING.
Chugley The Thinking Chimpanzee.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your reply to Chugley’s response. Chugley, The Thinking Chimpanzee, is only allowed by The Chief Chimpanzee to respond once to any comments. The Chief Chimpanzee does not approve of sustained argument on The Blog.
Respectfully,
Chugley, The Thinking Chimpanzee
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