Why I Believe - Why I Believe in Creation, Part 2

Creation versus evolution, the never ending debate right so many both scientists and theologians want us to believe that science and faith are incompatible, mutually exclusive. Well, what if they're not what science actually supports faith what they actually inform something today were going to take a fascinating look at some of the latest findings you don't want to miss.

Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry start helping Christians like Christians. In just a minute will have the second half message why I believe in creation. But before we begin, let me encourage you to try using chips message notes while you listen to contain his outline your references and much more. Chips notes will really help you remember what you hear, maybe even share what you're learning to download these message notes just go to the broadcast tab@livingontheedge.org Listeners Fill in will is to get started, he continues unpacking the tough question why did life begin, which informs our thoughts about morality and eternity. Let's dive it was CS Lewis who talked about this ought or should that every human being has in your heart.

It's the sense that this is right and this is wrong.

That makes us different than all the other animals.

In fact, his book mere Christianity is what Francis Collins was reading he was making his rounds and he had all this intellect get a PhD over here. He's now a medical doctor he's making his rounds and as he was making all of his rounds. He met people that were dying in the Meeting people of faith that had this piece and this certainty in the way they responded and he said there was one particular patient who is dying and he kept pressing me what you believe what you believe is and basically had rejected religion and I thought it was people just asking God and it was a crutch. I just couldn't get away from this man's life and he gave me a copy of mere Christianity. As I read mere Christianity. Despite all of his intellect. He said it made sense.

I realize there was something more than just random chance. And then he talks about the power of creation spaces. I remember one morning wrestling with all of this and I was out in the meadow and it was breathtakingly beautiful right this is Romans chapter 1, the creation screams of the character of God, his invisible attributes are screaming about his power.

Is he terminology his love's purpose, and Francis Collins says I knelt down in the grass in that do and I receive Jesus as my Savior. He would go on after that to discover the genes that cause cystic fibrosis and then become a leading scientist in the course right that classic book the language of God. What I want you to see is that this is so much more than just facts and figures it's about what do you believe what is your faith proposition. Why do you believe what you believe or have you unconsciously as many of us have.

I think in Christian circles basically had a sort of a compartment over here of science and compartment of religion and and pretended that they don't connect the fact of the matter is your morals, your values, your purpose, what you teach your kids how you live your life is fundamentally goes back to you believe in a Creator that has a purpose where there is meaning or do you believe that your product of random chance and those two worldviews in the multiple worldviews that flow out of each. I mean they're at war there at war in the world. Question number three is how did the various plants and animals develop according to classic evolution. One simple cell slowly evolved into more complex plants and animals through a process of time, chance, natural selection, mutation and survival of the fittest. That was the what Darwin right in origin.

The species and he believed in spontaneous generation. What I mean by that is, at that time. Darwin believe that just life could happen that chemical soup will a year later 1860 Louis Pasteur proved that spontaneous regeneration was absolutely impossible. The Scripture, by contrast, says, where did they come from. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, his eternal power's divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from that which he made so that people are without excuse. God made plants and animals, and species, and stars and he made them all to reflect his glory and his character long before there were these amazing telescopes and before we put that humble out there and we could see into galaxies. The Scripture declares the heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech.

They use no words, no sound is heard from them yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the earth. You have to ask yourself what is the best explanation for all the things that we see in one of the things I like to do next. I do it nearly every morning. I'm actually very disappointed when they're not there. I guess there really there.

I get up early. I get a cup of coffee and feed the dog that's my assignment for my wife and then I walk outside and every morning I look up at the stars.

And there's just something about remembering how small and how finite we are, and how big God is and you have done enough research that I know that I'm just with my eye looking at a tiny part of the Milky Way in the Milky Way has somewhere between 100 to 200 billion stars and what I know is outside the Milky Way. There's another 100 to 200 billion galaxies and what God's word says.

He says that I spoke that and I hold it by the word of my power and that God also says chap and to every human being I've placed my affection on you. You matter. I love you. I'm for you.

And when I look up at the stars that passage from Psalm 19 comes to mind you what I think. I think that's a big God. And he can handle all my problems. That's a big God that is sovereign over all the issues that were facing politically and racially and things are happening around the world. That's a God that I can put my trust in, and as I've claimed his promises a faith statement. I watched him deliver, and you have to. But what I want to ask you is are you communicating that kind of faith and what do stars mean to your kids is that making it into the world view of education of how your teaching your kids or your grandkids or your nephews. This message is not so much about our we can understand everything about evolution and creation. It's much more about what are you going to do with the fact that if you and do believe that God created you. What are the implications for your life for your worldview for how you live. For where your kids are educated for what you teach them. I hope you're getting that when you compare and contrast these basic questions. It's pretty amazing. Now I want to jump into those aspects that are a bit technical and very enlightening.

When Darwin looked into a microscope because he only had one that would multiply what he see it's all by maybe two or 300 X today we have microscopes that multiply them electron microscopes, way, way more so when he looked into this the center of them of a cell. He saw just a membrane and he thought it was very simple fact that's what he called it, and there wasn't much in there and it has whole philosophy was that unit is very simple to ghost complex and what has been the core behind especially non-Christian scientist challenging Darwin is they now can look inside that cell. It's anything but simple.

We now have microscopes that are super complex. Some cells are you ready are so small that you can fit 150,000 cells just on the tip of a strand of hair. I mean it's unbelievable molecular scientist describe a single cell ready is a high-tech factory there complex with artificial languages and decoding systems.

They have a central memory bank that store and retrieve impressive amounts of information that approved precise control systems that regulate automatically and assembling in components and parts. I mean what's happening inside of the cell is what led the Michael B. He's of the world and the Michael Denton's of the world to say this simply can't happen by random chance cells also have a system that will replicate you understand it's not just the size of the cell and the complexity of the cell.

It's the actual DNA in the cell it if I had a spoon appear I could take a spoon and if I could fill just a tablespoon with DNA, there's enough information there for all the information and all the species for all the planet that has ever lived with room left over if I could take when you were little dot in your mother's womb one single cell.

If we could take that cell and pull your DNA and uncoil it. It would be 6 feet long. In fact, expert in DNA world-class Dr. Robert Shapiro was asked what he thought the chances were that DNA could have been formed by a random process is answer none is absolute nonsense, the genius and the complexity of a single cell in DNA challenge the very core and the presuppositions of classic evolutionary thought. In fact, so much so we heard earlier about member Anthony flew he was the most famous atheists at 84 years old, near the time of his death. He did something that you almost never hear. He renounced his atheism, to be fair because I think sometimes we Christians want to read into things and make it sound a little bit better to support our position. He did not become a Christian. But what he said was after 50 years of looking at the science, especially DNA. He could not believe any longer that life occurred without intelligent designer. Now he didn't come to believe that Jesus was at intelligent designer but think of what the facts are doing, even among agnostics and atheists. Now let's turn our attention from what's amazingly small to what's amazingly big.

Albert Einstein published his equation on general relativity in 1915 and a Dutch astronomer Wilhelm visitor discovered a solution that predicted in expanding universe. The importance of these discoveries show that the world and the universe was expanding. Here's the deal. If galaxies were moving farther and farther apart.

The implication was they were once closer together from this realization.

Hubbell went one step farther and he laid the foundation for The Big Bang Theory providing evidence that the universe exploded into existence with a furious burst of energy has been expanding ever since it was a shattering blow to centuries old notion of a static universe. The theory of an expanding universe was consistent with Einstein's theory, but it wasn't accepted early by scientist and they were very honest about it that they just said we understand if we actually believe there was a beginning.

We could be in trouble in terms of our faith assumptions about random chance and there is no God.

Robert just drove an American astronomer and a planetary physicist, argued that the reason that scientist were slow to accept the Big Bang because if it was true, it would imply a moment of creation. In an interview with Christianity today. This scientist said astronomers now find themselves painted into a corner because they've proven by their own methods that the world began abruptly in an act of creation which they can trace the seeds of every star every planet every living thing in the cosmos and on earth, and they found that this all happened is a product of forces they can't hope to discover that there are what I and anyone would have to say is a supernatural force work and I think a scientifically proven fact and then had in his book God and the astronomer Jester says for the scientist who is lived by his faith in the power of reason this story ends like a bad dream.

He is scaled the mountains of ignorance is about to conquer the highest peak and as he pulls himself over the final rock he is greeted by a band of theologians who being sitting there for centuries. To be fair, the Big Bang does not disprove classic evolution, but it strongly argues for a specific moment in time. What I want to know is that we could go on and on with more and more scientific discoveries we could look at Darwinian evolution and ask ourselves some basic questions like what were the social implications I alluded to Nazi Germany Huxley would say that. Actually, I'm so thankful for Darwin because whether I believe it or not, it gave me moral license to live any way I want. Apart from God. Another great scientist said Darwinian evolution is the engine of atheism. Here's what you need understand your worldview really matters. You have two great options with a few that are developing on either side, but your options are this.

Do you believe that life is a result of a single cell, random chance, no plan that you in fact in all the world is the product of billions of years of chemical reactions and all of the logical implications or do you believe that there is a personal God that made you and made everyone but every single person. Those that you disagree with those that are different. Those who believe different there made in the image of God.

God created them and he loves them and he calls you and he calls me to treat them with dignity that there's no room for prejudiced.

There's no room for all the kind of things that mankind is done for one another because the infinite personal God has made all of us and he's created us for himself and here's my question. Do you honestly believe with your life, not just in your head that God created all that there is an are you teaching your children and your grandchildren.

The worldview that by faith flows out of that.

Are you willing to spend some time and say you know science is great. There's no dichotomy God created it all would you introduce them to some great Christian scientists. Would you be willing to have a dialogue and talk about evolution not like you're afraid or intimidated what I can tell you is brilliant people, Christian and non-Christian are not buying evolution. So you're not a minority. And you not anti-intellectual. What I want you to know is that I have confidence and I believe that God is spoken, and I believe when I look at all the questions that my intellect is intact.

I'm not throwing my brains in the trash.

If you want to get more specific information and dig in a little bit deeper. I have all this in my book.

Why I believe father I pray now that we would grasp the implications of what it means that you made us. You are the creator that there is purpose and meaning that there is life eternal, that every single person matters that the sunsets that we see that when we hold a new baby in her arms.

When we looking to the eyes of some that will wreak someone that we love it. It's not some chemical reaction. It is the reality of being made in the image of God and having the capacity to love and to be loved.

Lord I pray that my brothers and sisters, I prayed it would be bold, we would enter the public square. When some kindly and completely not afraid Jesus) is application for this message.

Why I believe in creation knows you may or may not know there's actually a lot of solid verifiable evidence that supports Jesus existence and his ministry. The real challenge is articulating that and other biblical truths to those who genuinely want to know more. So how do we do that will in this series chip shares ways we can effectively and would simply answer honest questions about our faith that will attract people to the gospel not repel them from it. For more information about why I believe, or our resources go to LivingontheEdge.org the chipping roadmap or call AAA 333-6003 you before I come back and talk about today's program and give you some specific application. I just want to take a moment and share a letter from a listener that really struck me that I think you'll love dear Chip just finished reading the book. Why I believe, and had to tell you what an awesome read.

It is so much research and study given to produce such an informative work.

I ordered five more copies to give as gifts to my family members that have asked questions some of which I had no answers for. Thank you for creating such an easy read and so complete with answers to some very important questions. I've been in a relationship with the Lord for 30 years now and I'm seeing God transform her family by his love in so many ways. Many miracles of taken place revealing the transforming power of his love forever grateful for people such as you. Responding to the needs of others so that the life-changing power of Christ can be easily understood by anyone. May God continue to use your ministry to reach the masses.

Blessings, Jean and South Carolina. Well, first thanks Jean and I think the reason I'm so passionate about this why I believe series is because I found these answers and literally they change my life. I did not grow up as a follower of Christ, and shortly after, you know, kind of a real strong growing spurt. I just got slammed by intellectual people about shipped again when you don't really believe the Bible to you and Jesus being the only way you know what about evolution and and I'll just be honest with you I literally had to dig in and study and and be honest to say you know what if there's not good answers. I'm not gonna throw my brains in the trash to be a follower of Christ but what I want you to know is that the product of that study, I didn't throw my brains in the trash and you and your friends and your kids and your grandkids. They don't have to throw their brains in the trash, either, but they need to understand why they believe, not just what they believe and the research is just obvious.

Most Christians in America, let alone their children or grandchildren can't articulate what they believe is so what we've done is we put together a book we put together a small group study and we've done it in a way that in a simple without being simplistic way we can answer those questions we want to encourage you like never before to get this small group series, or if your reader get the book and began to ask and answer these questions for yourself what we want you to know is that we are asking you to really join us and create a movement if you will, were Christians in America would know what they believe, why they believe it and then share it in a winsome and loving, nonjudgmental way with the people around touch think that make a difference. Here is my plea. Join us next trip will you get your hands on the why I believe book or the small group study visit LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA 333-6003. These tools will not only help fortify your own convictions, but will help you pass them along to the next generation to and during the series. We've discounted chips book and the study guides. So take advantage now again to order these resources call AAA 333-6003 or go to LivingontheEdge.org Apple stores to have special offers which triplets get to that application. You promised thanks Dave, you know, as we wrap this up. Here's what we have to remember that no one was there at the beginning of creation. So Christianity and evolution are both faith based ideologies mean it takes faith to believe that like something came out of nothing. It takes faith to believe that a personal creator God spoke in the world came into existence. The question then is, where's the evidence. What do you base things on and there certain presuppositions with the evolutionary mindset that takes all the facts and says this is what's true and there's certain presuppositions from Scripture that if God created things and you look at the evidence.

This is very clearly true. What we need to make sure is that we never budge from what the Bible says but we do it in a way that's kind and loving and listening and we we care about the person. So often the evolutionary theory is a smokescreen for a lot of personal hurts for a lot of damage for some bad experiences with other Christians. Let's make sure they have a good experience with us that we really listen. We do our homework and then in a calm, kind, loving way. We share this is what I believe and why.

And by the way, we can agree to disagree and I want to care for you as a person, whether we end up agreeing or not. Great reminder chip just before we close. I want to thank those of you who regularly give to the ministry of Living on the Edge you're making a difference in helping Christians look like Christians. If you're benefiting from Living on the Edge, but aren't yet on the team would you do that today. You can set up a recurring donation by visiting us@livingontheedge.org, or by texting the word donate to 741 41.

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Text the word donate to 741 41 or visit LivingontheEdge.org app listener step donate and thanks for doing whatever the Lord leads you to do join us next time, Mr. continues his series why I believe until then this is the earliest thing. Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge