Question 1

How was the earth and life formed?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.The discoveries of modern astrophysicists have confirmed that the universe had a finite beginning. Scientists now point to strong evidence that all matter came into existence in one unimaginably powerful explosion of energy, often referred to as the big bang theory. The Bible names God as the source of this great beginning. The Bible teaches that God is eternal, which means he exists outside of space and time and, therefore, is the beginner of all things. He chose to create the universe and its inhabitants as an expression of his love. God not only began life but continues to express his love to his creation through the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ.Genesis 1:25-26God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”Romans 11:36Everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.The Bible tells us that God made the heavens, earth, and all that inhabits it. While plants, animals, and human beings may have changed over time, God formed it all and set into motion our genetic trajectory.

Question 2

What does the natural world tell us about God?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 1:1-27God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. . . . Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. . . .” Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. . . .” Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” . . . Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal. . . .” Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.”Psalm 19:1-4The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.The enormity of the universe—now believed to contain at least one hundred billion galaxies, each with one hundred billion stars—reveals a God who is powerful. The complexity of life – the hundreds of amino acids needed to form a protein molecule, the hundreds of protein molecules needed to form one cell, and the miraculous double-helix DNA molecule that encodes all the information necessary for living cells to be maintained and reproduced all points to a God intelligent beyond human understanding. The multitude of forces, elements, and precise conditions necessary for life to exist on earth point to a God who deliberately created the world for a reason—to enter into a relationship with his created beings. Creation speaks of a God who is both infinitely powerful and infinitely loving.

Question 3

Could humans have evolved from apes or monkeys?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 1:26-27God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Genesis 2:7The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.Jeremiah 51:19The God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including his people, his own special possession. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!Romans 5:11Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.God created people as unique and special beings in his own image. The Bible makes a distinction between animals and human beings, who, unlike animals, have the very spirit of God breathed into them. The Bible also states that God created people to have authority over animals. Finally, the Bible tells us that God created human beings for the purpose of having a relationship with him.

Question 4

How does the theory of evolution fit into the biblical account of creation?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 1:20-25God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day. Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.The purpose of Scripture is to tell us about who God is and his plan for the world, especially his plan to save us from sin and live with us forever in his Kingdom. The purpose of science and specifically the theory of evolution is to observe nature and describe how the world functions on a biological level. To the extent that any scientific theory accurately explains the natural world, it affirms what the biblical account of creation shows us about the Creator. The biblical account of creation tells us about a God who lovingly created the world and everything in it, including human beings, as an outpouring of his love, generosity, and goodness. Creation shows us God’s commitment to bringing order out of chaos. Science has the tools for explaining that process (or processes) in minute ways that the human authors of Scripture could not have imagined.

Question 5

Why are some Christians against the theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.John 1:1-3In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.Evolution simply refers to gradual changes that occur over time. In biology, it refers to the process by which living organisms adapt, change, and transition through successive generations in response to their environment. Christians object when interpreters take this process to mean that these biological changes occurred without God. This is atheistic evolutionism, and it contradicts what the Bible says: “God created everything.”Genesis 2:7The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.After creating all the plants and animals, God created human beings. This was a special, unique creation, and we oppose any assertion or suggestion to the contrary.

Question 6

What are possible bad effects of believing in evolution?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 14:1Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!Atheistic evolutionism removes God from the equation. When we reject God for any reason, then we become subject to sin and death. We will be separated from God forever, and we will not experience the abundant life that is available only through him. Without God, we tend to look out mainly for ourselves to the exclusion others or the rest of God’s created order.Genesis 9:5-7“I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth.”Matthew 10:28-31“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”Luke 12:24“Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!”Because God made human beings in his image, human life is valuable. Atheistic evolutionism could devalue human life, and when that happens people tend to exert terrible atrocities against other people, especially those who are less powerful and physically vulnerable.Romans 1:18-23God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.Although human life is invaluable, human beings are not most important: God is. Those who reject God, even with all the natural evidence of his “eternal power and divine attributes,” make their own gods (that they can control)—idols.