During my sophomore year at the Christian university I attended, I took a biology class and was invited to a debate that my professor was taking part in. Our full size vanload of students drove a few hours away to an Ivy League school, where upon entry to the auditorium, it was clear our group would be vastly outnumbered in worldview.
The debate started and even in the presentation of each view, it was clear our professor was far more articulate, and far more ready to debate then the professor who supported evolution.
When the debate started, it was a bloodbath against us Creationists and they picked apart everything they could, even making it personal, and attacked Christianity itself. Our professor was poised and confident, he was no novice to their attacks, and was ready at every assault, to respond intellectually and spiritually. I on the other hand, was angry and defensive. I’d never seen anything like this and felt ill-prepared to comment.
The comment I eventually made wasn’t profound, and it wasn’t well thought through, and definitely not scientific. But because they were basing so much of their view of the creation of the world on Darwin, and other historical authors before and after him, I asked a simple question, “What did people believe about the creation of the world for thousands of years before the introduction of evolution. If you truly are a student of history, wouldn’t it make sense to go back that far, find those roots.”
It got quiet. Probably mostly because I sounded a little like an idiot, way out of my league, surrounded by a group of budding scientists. But after the debate, a few people came up and said to me it piqued their curiosity. In fact, the debate itself made them curious why they had no previous interaction over the “philosophy” of Creationism. But the vast majority of those in attendance made us to feel inferior, weak-minded, and uneducated. It wasn’t a good feeling on the ride back home, but the Lord reminded me that this world is not a friendly place for the Christ-follower. We will be ridiculed, laughed at, isolated, and at times persecuted for all the things the Word of God teaches that is contrary to the construct of this world. But one day, sadly, one day too late for many, the truth will be revealed, and judgement will be made.
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? Romans 3:1-6 KJV.
After having again dealt with the Jewish requirements on circumcision, Paul reminds them that they continue to need to carry out the “oracles” of God, not for salvation, but for the deepening of their faith.
But then he moves to addressing the special responsibilities placed on the Jews through the law, and what if they stopped believing in any part of it? It doesn’t make it any less true, it is still from God, still true, still relevant and they themselves will be judged on their disobedience.
What God says is and will always be true and will one day fully be revealed. Those who speak or mislead contrary to His Word will one day give an answer. One day they will know the truth. One day wrongs will be made right to those who stood firm on the Word of God and defended it. Though they may never on this side of heaven see that justice prevailed, we can have all confidence that “That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged”.
Dr. Ronald J. Barnes Jr.
President/CEO
November 22, 2022
