Training Them Up ... Evolution's Consequences!
One thing I love to do is spend time talking to my kids at night before they go to bed. I love those moments when life slows down enough to communicate at a deeper level than the hectic pace of life normally allows. And it's in those moments where my kids amaze me with the wisdom they possess and the purity of faith that they walk in.
Recently, as I was talking with my 10 year old and my 12 year old sons, I asked the question. "If evolution was in fact true, what does that mean about the bible and about who we are as humans." Okay, not your normal bedtime conversation, but I love to challenge them to think deeper. The reality is that, as students in public school, they are going to be presented with blatant anti-Christian beliefs. Our job then is to help them spot the lie, discern the truth, and understand the implications on what they believe. And as always, my sons answers amazed me. You don't have to look any farther than Genesis 1&2 to come up with 2 major issues between evolution and biblical creationism. Here goes:
1. I asked my sons if the bible talked about evolution as taught by most schools today. They said no. I asked if they believed the bible was true and they said yes! My next question was to ask if they believed that the whole bible is true? They thought about it for a second and then said yes! So then I asked if both evolution and the bible could both be right? They hesitated and then said no. GREAT ANSWER! What followed was an amazing conversation about how to process issues that are being presented that contradict biblical truth. Because if evolution is true, then the bible is false. There isn't any way that they could both be right. The bible said God created man on the 6th day! He didn't create cosmic protoplasm and watch it evolve over millions of years into man. And if the bible is wrong about evolution, then where else is it wrong? Evolution and a 6-day creation can't coexist.
2. I asked them what makes man so different from the rest of creation. Their answer was that man was made in God's image. ANOTHER GREAT ANSWER! But what happens if man wasn't created in God's image and was just the next step in the evolutionary process from a baboon to whatever is next? Than man is no more valuable than a monkey or a dog or a fish. And if you follow the path, the next domino to fall is the respect for life and the sacredness of it. If man is just a link in the evolutionary chain, then why would it be wrong for us to do whatever it takes to ensure that we survive, even at the expense of other people's lives. What intrinsic value is there in man apart from other created things? What crumbles in this line of thinking is the value and sacredness of life. The bible tells us that 'we are made in God's image.' That makes all the difference in the world because maintains the sanctity of life. Man and woman are unique among all of creation in that they reflect God Himself. Remove that fact, and it's simply survival of the fittest. Morally, I can do to you whatever I want because you are no more valuable than one of our pets. Again, the bible and evolution can't coexist.
As parents, we've been charged to help our kids to recognize the lies that are being presented as truth around them everyday. With God's help, we can equip them to think for themselves and stand for what they believe.
Geaux make a difference!
Recently, as I was talking with my 10 year old and my 12 year old sons, I asked the question. "If evolution was in fact true, what does that mean about the bible and about who we are as humans." Okay, not your normal bedtime conversation, but I love to challenge them to think deeper. The reality is that, as students in public school, they are going to be presented with blatant anti-Christian beliefs. Our job then is to help them spot the lie, discern the truth, and understand the implications on what they believe. And as always, my sons answers amazed me. You don't have to look any farther than Genesis 1&2 to come up with 2 major issues between evolution and biblical creationism. Here goes:
1. I asked my sons if the bible talked about evolution as taught by most schools today. They said no. I asked if they believed the bible was true and they said yes! My next question was to ask if they believed that the whole bible is true? They thought about it for a second and then said yes! So then I asked if both evolution and the bible could both be right? They hesitated and then said no. GREAT ANSWER! What followed was an amazing conversation about how to process issues that are being presented that contradict biblical truth. Because if evolution is true, then the bible is false. There isn't any way that they could both be right. The bible said God created man on the 6th day! He didn't create cosmic protoplasm and watch it evolve over millions of years into man. And if the bible is wrong about evolution, then where else is it wrong? Evolution and a 6-day creation can't coexist.
2. I asked them what makes man so different from the rest of creation. Their answer was that man was made in God's image. ANOTHER GREAT ANSWER! But what happens if man wasn't created in God's image and was just the next step in the evolutionary process from a baboon to whatever is next? Than man is no more valuable than a monkey or a dog or a fish. And if you follow the path, the next domino to fall is the respect for life and the sacredness of it. If man is just a link in the evolutionary chain, then why would it be wrong for us to do whatever it takes to ensure that we survive, even at the expense of other people's lives. What intrinsic value is there in man apart from other created things? What crumbles in this line of thinking is the value and sacredness of life. The bible tells us that 'we are made in God's image.' That makes all the difference in the world because maintains the sanctity of life. Man and woman are unique among all of creation in that they reflect God Himself. Remove that fact, and it's simply survival of the fittest. Morally, I can do to you whatever I want because you are no more valuable than one of our pets. Again, the bible and evolution can't coexist.
As parents, we've been charged to help our kids to recognize the lies that are being presented as truth around them everyday. With God's help, we can equip them to think for themselves and stand for what they believe.
Geaux make a difference!
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