How Should Creationists Deal With Non-Christians?

[CPman2004]

So most of the world believes in Macroevolution. They have been taught this theory thought school. Now how do we approch them? How do we convince them that creationism is true?

Well, I have a suggestion. First, we must disprove Macroevolution. Which is fairly easy because when you really think about it, it is nonsense. Then we should show them how creationism would work. However, in comes the silly diffrences between creationists. Do we tell them about YEC or OEC? I think we shouldn't tell them about either. The basic idea of creationism is that God created the Universe and Evolution can not explain how the Universe and us came into being.

I like how C.S Lewis put it "problems within the chruch stay in the church." There is no need to expose non-christians to our disagreements. That just damages the image of Christianity. So we should leave out the whole "YEC vs. OEC" debate out of it when we try to disprove macroevolution and prove creationism to non christions. I recently read a thread where a person who favored OEC was called basicly an heritic by YEC in a non-christian forum. What image does that portray? If we don't have an agreement on how everything was made why should they listen to us?

When dealing with non-christians who believe in macroevolution we should stick to the basic ideas of creationism. That Macroevolution is false and that God created the universe and man and leave OEC/YEC out of it. Teach the basics of creationism, they don't need to hear the debate on what does day mean. They need to hear that it is logical to say macroevolution is false and creationsism is true.

Sorry for the shorta rambling post.

 

[Remus]

Nice post CPman. Very well said.

 

[Ave Maria]

We should deal with them out of love, with patience, and with kindness.

 

[TwinCrier]

CPman, are you suggesting we disprove evolution first, before presenting creation?

 

[CPman2004]

CPman, are you suggesting we disprove evolution first, before presenting creation?

Really depends on the situation I guess. If the person refuses to listen to creation because they KNOW that evoloution explains life, then you might want to provide evidence aginst. I am not suggesting an in stone way of going about it, but I am mainly saying leave the whole YEC/OEC debate out of it.

 

[Novaknight1]

No. We should submit evidence supporting Creation. And there's evidence aplenty. 3 good apologists are C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, and Ravi Zacharias.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

I suggest people read this free online book on how to witness to nonchristians.

 

[mark kennedy]

Occasionally I encounter a creationist that tells me trying to convince an evolutionist from the evidence is a waste of time. Being something of a Calvanist I have to agree that their naturalistic assumptions often dictate what they will accept. Over time I came to realize that the evidence is so strong that they have allready realized the truth of what I am saying about special creation.

The New Testament makes it clear that no matter how much we are mistreated we are required to be gracious. It is our good conduct that is supposed to convict them (heap burning coals on their head, so to speak), not the weight of our arguments.

They have allread experienced the glory of God reflected in the created world but their natural mind rejects it as foolish and weak. Keep in mind that left to our own devices we can be no different. We have every reason to go the extra mile, look how far God had to go to get to us.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[tryptophan]

Is this only with non-Christians? What about Christians who do not believe in Creationism?

 

[GodSaves]

When talking to a non-christian your point should never be about evolution or creationism. Your point is about Jesus Christ. There is salvation at the cross not in the earth. If the issue is brought up one can humbly say (as a creationist) that the Bible leads me to believe in creationism. Then continue with what Christ has done. Christ must always be our sole focus when talking with non-believers. It is in Christs' blood that we are saved, not in the mud of the earth.

As for Christians who don't believe in creationism. If you are talking with them the ask for Scriptural support of evolution. The Bible already supports creationism, not only in Genesis but throughout the whole Bible. Because the Bible supports creationism already one needs to look for Scriptural support for evolution, thus testing the theories of against what is written in God's Word.

Now I understand there is another side, the OEC and Gap Theorists. OEC mainly believe that day really means age, not 24 hour day. I believe, correct me if I am wrong, that OEC believe God spoke everything into being, and when God speaks it has already happened and when God did speak things into existence it happened. I don't think OEC believes man evolved from primates, or whatever.

Gap Theorists believe there is a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. This is a really interesting idea, I think. It is one that involves the word was in the english Bibles in verse 1:2. The Hebrew word for was can also mean became, which it usually is translated as in other passages. Thus the earth is much older because of this span of time.

I don't see OEC or Gap Theorists as being unScriptural at all. Both rely heavily on Scripture. These are more of an original language issue.

Obviously my problem lies with theistic evolutionists saying man evolved when God's Word speaks otherwise. For them this is cleared up if you just read it allegorically as if it is all one big figure of speech. If one reads Genesis then reads Psalms or Proverbs one will understand that Genesis is not allegorical or poetic like Psalms/Proverbs.

God Bless

 

[meebs]

what? im a christian who beleives in evolution. so what? i love and beleive in Jesus. thats all that matters. If i am proved wrong when i get to heaven so be it. You should be focusing on telling people about Jesus not scaring them away with creationism. We can find the rest out from God after. I stick by evolution, but i love you all no matter what you beleive about world origin.

Im not here to debate E vs C, but to point out God loves us all and that is what matters.

Please witness without bias.

 

[ChrisLockhart]

Trying to urge somebody who is both pro-evolution and anti-creationism to change their mind would be particularly difficult. The difficulty would be increased by attempts to disprove evolution. At that point they would consider you a crackpot and everything else said after that point would be in one ear and out the other, as they fume about how difficult you are to talk with.

Provide what you feel supports Creationism, and leave it at that. If they are atheists, you have not only wasted their time, you've also furthered their beliefs that those who believe in God have a lack of grasp on reality. If they do believe in God, then perhaps you have given them something to think about.

Nobody likes to be told they are wrong.

 

[Micaiah]

The story of Creation directly impacts our presentation of the gospel. I like to start at Genesis and explain the origin of sin. I tell the creation story as it is plainly taught in Genesis. ie. God created the whole world good in six days. Man lived in a perfect environment with no sickness of death and disobeyed God. I speak of Adam and Eve and the serpent as real events. These events form the basis of many of the important doctrines in the gospel. I may also warn people that the best evidence for a Creator is His creation, and God holds us responsible if we ignore that evidence, and ignore God.

If people ask me why there is suffering in the world, again I point out it is because of man's disobedience to God's command in the garden of Eden.

 

[Turpius]

I have heard that given most peoples ignorance of the Bible in this day and age, you almost have to take them to Genesis even when witnessing about Christ in order to give them enough background info to make a decision for Christ.

 

[A4C]

I believe that our witness to some should be about God (Eloheim) first. I even go so far as advocate water baptism - as a baptism of repentance (from dead works) - well before Jesus is ever mentioned.
But then that's just me

 

[versastyle]

As a YEC, I think one of the first things to say is that you admit that you could be wrong about how you are reading Genesis, and that the answer regarding our origins is a fascinating one but Jesus isn't really concerned about it.

 

[Dust and Ashes]

I recently read a thread where a person who favored OEC was called basicly an heritic by YEC in a non-christian forum. What image does that portray? If we don't have an agreement on how everything was made why should they listen to us?

And if they are one of those people who knows the Bible, even though they don't believe, they will likely call to mind John 13:35 and dismiss us with a smirk.

 

[ab1385]

I'm not a YEC, in fact, I'm a TE, but I still am a Christian who has experiences of being an atheist looking for God, so I feel I have something to add to this conversation here. I'm not here to attack or attempt to disprove a YEC viewpoint, we are all free to believe what we want to believe on this, it is in my opinion, and generally accepted to be, not a salvation issue.

What I want to say is a repeat basically of what a few have said already.

Firstly, the 'Gospel' has no mention of creation at all, biblically. When Saint Paul talked about the 'Gospel', he didn't mean our neat little pamphlets with a six-step explanation of what we now call the 'Gospel', he meant very simply 'God has sent His son to save us all, and that is amazing news!' People are saved by faith and trust in Him for salvation, and that is all we need. That is my first point.

Secondly, and this kind of follows on from the first, I think it's very important, if the subject of creation/evolution comes up in discussion with a non-christian, be honest with them. There is a big debate amond christians, so tell them that it is not clear cut. When I am discussind this issue with my non-christian friends I am happy to admit that people hold YEC views, and they have many valid points, but that I feel that TE is true because etc etc etc. When I first became a christian, my soon to be girlfriend told me that she believed in YEC, but that many TEs held a viewpoint that she didn't share. If she hadn't told me that bit, I would have assumed that all christians hold YEC viewpoints, and would probably have not even considered christianity further.

And please, whatever you do, don't use YEC as an evangelism tool. To do sp is to take away from Jesus, who is the centre and cornerstone of the Gospel. He is what we should be concentrating our efforts on. Without Him as the centre of our evangelism, creationism means nothing, it cannot lead to a relationship with God.

So basically, what I'm saying is to let people make their own minds up on this issue, and not make out that your view is the only accepted view. By all means say that you personally feel that this is the only way, but make the point that others feel differently. Not only will this make you seem more open-minded (not something normally associated with christians, unfortunately) but will allow them to decide for themselves, whilst you don't have to compromise on your beliefs. And keep Christ as the centre of your evangelism. Please.

Peace and love in Christ,

Alex

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

Firstly, the 'Gospel' has no mention of creation at all, biblically. When Saint Paul talked about the 'Gospel', he didn't mean our neat little pamphlets with a six-step explanation of what we now call the 'Gospel', he meant very simply 'God has sent His son to save us all, and that is amazing news!' People are saved by faith and trust in Him for salvation, and that is all we need. That is my first point.

What do you mean by "Gospel"? Right after the fall in early Genesis is where Jesus coming to save us is first talked about. Understanding creation and everything being perfect is essential to understanding why we need a Savior and why the world we live in now is not what God has intended for us.

I have used Creation to witness to many and it's very effective. That is if you know your stuff. If you don't it can just blow up in your face.

 

[A4C]

Firstly, the 'Gospel' has no mention of creation at all, biblically

I refute that -what about:

Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

This is part of the geneology of Jesus. Isn't that gospel truth?