Removing the Stumbling Block

[PotLuck]

So we ignore both a literal Genesis and evolution to reach the global population then later on IF they "know" Darwin then we can give them the whole truth.
Or are we going to discriminate against the uneducated to ignore teaching anything about Genesis until they are smart enough to understand it.
Are we centering on our education more than their salvation?

 

[PotLuck]

I've been supporting a native missionary in India through "Gospel For Asia" headed by K.P. Yohannan for quite some time now. Thousands are being led to the Lord through their efforts without evolution and are teaching a literal Genesis as per the newsletters I get every month.
It's been found that training the natives of a country for missionary work has been much more successful than foreign
missionaries for obvious reasons.

 

[Vance]

Potluck, you are still talking about presenting evolution as true, rather than what we are saying, which is just presenting the simple fact (and it is a fact) that many Christians believe in evolution and do not believe that it conflicts with Scripture.

How could this possibly be a bad thing?

 

[PotLuck]

Potluck, you are still talking about presenting evolution as true, rather than what we are saying, which is just presenting the simple fact (and it is a fact) that many Christians believe in evolution and do not believe that it conflicts with Scripture.

How could this possibly be a bad thing?

I honestly believe that it is not the teaching of evolution or an ancient earth which is a threat to Christian Faith. I believe that the great threat to Christian Faith is the preaching of YEC'ism

Why do I see a one-way street here?
Accept mine as not bad but yours is wrong and destructive?

 

[gluadys]

So we ignore both a literal Genesis and evolution to reach the global population then later on IF they "know" Darwin then we can give them the whole truth.
Or are we going to discriminate against the uneducated to ignore teaching anything about Genesis until they are smart enough to understand it.
Are we centering on our education more than their salvation?

We ignore evolution for two reasons: it is not essential to the gospel, and it takes some education to understand it.

But remember as well that providing education has always be central to Christian evangelism. From the medieval monasteries to the modern public school system, Christians have always promoted education. We encourage literacy because we want converts to be able to read the scriptures for themselves. So its not a matter of leaving people in ignorance.

As soon as they start studying science they will study evolution, and that is what evangelists must keep in mind.

Yes we ignore a literal Genesis, but by no means ignore Genesis. The theology of Genesis IS essential to the gospel, is simple enough for a child to understand, and absolutely cannot be overlooked.

But it is not necessary to teach Genesis, even to the uneducated, as being irrevocably tied to YECism. Leave space for other interpretations of Genesis as well.

I've been supporting a native missionary in India through "Gospel For Asia" headed by K.P. Yohannan for quite some time now. Thousands are being led to the Lord through their efforts without evolution and are teaching a literal Genesis as per the newsletters I get every month.
It's been found that training the natives of a country for missionary work has been much more successful than foreign
missionaries for obvious reasons.

Absolutely. We have not had a big "foreign missionary" program for decades. While we do still send people overseas, it is mostly on short term, and to fill a need identified by the church partner overseas. Almost never for direct evangelism, which the local churches are quite competent to handle themselves. We do send financial support to many churches around the world so that they can sustain their own evangelical, educational and Christian service programs.

They are also winning souls to Christ teaching creation without creationism. Nor do they preach evolution. But it is part of some of the excellent science programs in church-operated schools and colleges.

 

[PotLuck]

I do not believe man came from the apes.

You want me to leave room in my teachings to pave the way so you can teach something that you feel makes better sense, which I don't believe in the first place. But because you believe science which hasn't proven as yet a conclusion that Adam's great-great-grandfather was an ape and because society accepts that then move over.

Gotcha.
I think

 

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

No. He wants you to append "but some Christians do accept evolution, so it is not absolutely central to Christianity to reject it."

 

[Vance]

Odd how YEC's want us to "teach" the controversy, but they definitely don't want to "preach" the controversy.

Potluck, if I was talking about a one-way street, I would say you should not preach YEC nonsense at all. But I don't think that would be something legitimate for anyone to tell another. What I am saying is that teach YOUR beliefs till you are blue in the face, if you like, just let the listener know that not all Christians agree with this young earth Creationist model and that others believe evolution and the Bible are completely consistent with each other. Then go on to say, once again, if you like, that you DO think there is a contradiction, etc, etc, etc.

Now, I am saying "you" here, but what I mean is that YEC's in general should do this, both with their families and with those they witness to, and especially preachers in the pulpit. I believe it is spiritually irresponsible NOT to do this, for all the reasons we have discussed. There are souls at stake here. Just like the recent testimony in which a seeker asked whether Christianity was inconsistent with evolution and, when told "no", he went on to learn more and accept Christ. Had he been told that it WAS inconsistent, it is VERY likely that he would never have come to Christ. A soul lost to YEC teaching.

And, I can honestly say that I practice what I preach in this regard. I ALWAYS mention, when discussing this subject with non-believers and with my own children, that there are Christians who believe that the earth is 10,000 years old and that evolution is bunk. I usually get "what, you mean they *still* believe that*?!" and I tell them, yes, that many sincere Christians believe this.