I think I'm the first one up in regards to this issue that's listed on your schedule.
To address why I'm a creationist. I think that's how it's stated there.
And so I'll just give you some of the basic reasons.
No doubt that all of the folks that you'll hear from on this
topic or going to share much of these things.
But I have to begin that I am convinced that the very nature
and character of God is consistent with reading Genesis as a historical narrative.
I'm absolutely convinced that it is the very nature and character of God
that is expressed in those words in Genesis 1, and 2, and 3, and 4,
and all the way through the critical passages that we're talking about here in Genesis 11
and what he did at the Tower of Babel. That's all consistent with his nature. It's not inconsistent.
And I am convinced that God can speak and bring anything into existence. And he did. He brought
all things into existence by the breath of His word and that of course was Jesus.
He did that at the wedding of Cana.
He raised the dead and He brought everything into
being. So I'm convinced that it is consistent with the nature of God.
And I'm also convinced that the other approaches that we
see do violence to that nature. In particular the notion of evolution,
that God used that process of death and suffering, and the strong eating the weak.
That is inconsistent with the God that we know from Scripture. So I would begin
there. Second of all, I am convinced that the genre that is presented to
us in Genesis is the genre of historical narrative, and then it must be read that
way. It cannot be read any other way. And the only way you can read it in a different way
is if you first are coming with some other source of truth that requires you to do so.
And again, we know that the Scripture does present to us different genres.
And yet the Scripture, I believe, is very clear when there is a genre
other than historical narrative. So I'm convinced by the Word itself.
The next thing, I think, is that we're asking not just why I am a creationist,
but why I am one of those young earth creationists?
I think one of the first things that solidified this in my mind,
and honestly, I cannot I cannot think of a day in my life when I was not.
And the reason why is because I grew up as a kid reading the Scripture and
it was the clear natural reading of the Scripture.
God created the heavens and the earth and everything in six days.
But it was, I believe, it was God's presentation to Moses on Mount Sinai in the Ten Commandments.
And in the very clear reading of what we call the Sabbath command,
“...for in six days God made the heavens and the earth.” And it is on the basis of
that action of God that the children of Israel were then commanded to observe the Sabbath Day.
It is deeply inconsistent, I believe, for us to think that a non-literal reading of
Genesis would be compatible with God establishing such a clear sign in
the children of Israel for that six days and a day of rest if those were not really six days.
There are other scriptural messages I think that convinced me of this
position over and over again. I don't think that the Scripture refers back to
Genesis in any other light except the fact that it’s a historical narrative.
I don't think that Jesus, when he's referring back to the beginning and
to Noah and those things that He's using it in any other way except as historical narrative.
So from what we would call the special revelation, I believe that all of that is convincing to me.
And again, as we have spoken earlier, I believe that we have to begin with the Word of God.
It is from the Word of God, then, that we begin to interpret the world around us.
Second of all, I am convinced from General Revelation,
from what we see around us. I was telling somebody, a couple of you
the other day. I was sitting on my deck just two days ago, just before I came.
And I had a sandwich in my right hand, and I was reading an email.
All of a sudden a hummingbird flew in and was hovering right in right in front of
me. I don't know whether he was looking at my sandwich first or not, but he was right there,
and he was, you know, flitting around as hummingbirds do, back and forth.
And then he flew right over in front of my phone and he hovered there, and I just
looked at him. And then he dipped his snout in the earphone there, and finding no nectar.
Then he flew away.
Those things fascinate me.
I spent over 20 years in the Air Force.
I flew in the beginning.
Flight fascinates me.
And I understand the kind of complexity that is associated with some of the equipment and the
systems that we have to put together in order to get a metal beast off the ground and to fly.
And yet in the smallest creatures--as much as I detest mosquitoes, you have to think
about the mosquito and how the mosquito has the capability not only to maneuver,
to fly to maneuver, it has ability to detect--as gross as it is--food source.
It has the ability to detect enemies and danger.
It has the ability to land on a moving surface.
The incredible complexity that is bound up in the smallest creatures. And then
we have Dr. Joe Deweese, who is now telling us that in the very depth of
the cell we have the most incredible complexity. I'm a computer scientist,
and I know how difficult it is to build the kind of logic and systems that not only work,
but are robust and have even the most miniscule ability to to handle things that are not normal.
And for us now to look into the depth of the cell and to see the
increasing complexities we go down further. I am convinced from General
Revelation around us that this is not the result of a random process. It cannot be.
And the exquisite beauty of what has been delivered to us is not satisfied
by a naturalistic view of the universe around us.
Not only is it not satisfying I believe it is nonsensical.
And anyone who can take that position must be taking it as
a result of what we understand the Scripture saying that we are blind.
And we see not because of the good within us.
We have nothing to boast before God,
and that He has opened our eyes that we may see. But we only boast in the grace of God
and in the sacrifice that Christ made for us, that's the only reason we can see it.
But it is plain. I am convinced when God moved Paul to write those
words that it is plain to man, it's because it is plain to me.
One other thing regarding General Revelation and my time is up, I'm sure.
My father, my dad and I, used to--I grew up on a horse.
And we would we would ride up into the mountains of Idaho constantly.
We were hunting.
We were fishing.
We were just riding in the mountains.
And I remember as the smallest child, I suppose, that my dad could take out on
overnight trips up into the mountains, of lying down in the mountains and gazing up at the stars.
And that's why I am so envious of Dr.
Faulkner and the area that he's in, astronomy.
Because when you stare at the stars and you look at the sky, Psalm 19 is absolutely true.
You know, the heavens declare the glory of God.
And there is something about the immensity of the universe around us,
the exquisite beauty of the world around us, the depth of the order and complexity,
and all of that that screams out the glory of God.
So I am convinced. I'm convinced from Special Revelation. I'm convinced from General Revelation.
And I believe now I'm convinced internally because of the spirit of God that everything
that we see around us has been given to us as a result of the Creator God.
So that's somewhat of a testimony, I suppose.
Why am I creationist?
I am because I'm convinced of it.
I'm absolutely convinced of it.