Why Care about Genesis?

[BlessedByTheBest]

ha! indeed brothers/sisters. the original lie was introducing doubt in the Word of God!

[Guest ninhao]

Don't get me wrong. Im not saying that if you believe in evolution or millions of years, that your not a christian, its not a "salvation" issue, I know many good, solid, firm believers, including on these boards, that I hold in high regard and have a lot of respect for. Im saying, that this is a HUGE stumbling block for many, and has led many astray, and it really shouldn't-the science does not support evolution if you take a good, honest look at it.

Hello Patriot,

Whether the science supports macro evolution, or not, do you think it is something a Christian should focus upon when witnessing to someone who does believe the science supports it ?

To be clear do you believe it is better to encourage all people to focus upon the work of Christ and the crucial need to accept this without delving into evolution or Earth age etc?

[The_Patriot21]

Honestly, thats a tough question nin. I think a lot depends on the person, in all honesty, we do need to show Christs love in everything we do, Christs love first, I think we can agree with that, but the methods, may change. Some people are really hurting, and often, just showing them Gods love through you, is enough to get them turned around to the gospel, Ive seen this, but some people, especially if theyre more scientific minded, need to be shown the science-Ive seen this first hand, my dad has a friend, who was a geologist/engineer, firm believer in evolution, college degree, etc, which was also the main reason he didn't believe in God-and my dad took him alongside, befriended him, and over time, showed him the science-of how it worked with the Bible, how evolution was wrong, and that man is now a firm believer in Christ, as well as a young earth creationist. Complete turn around.

I think, showing love and friendship, in the way Christ was, is number 1. You can't just smash someone over the head with facts, and expect them to come to Christ, it just doesn't work that way, (not usually) but facts, can be a very useful tool, when used with love and wisdom. And sometimes, Ive seen this two, where a creation scientist and a evolutionary scientist will enter a formal debate, and while neither will convince the other, people watching are affected and seeds are planted, and when asked, a christian should at least be knowledgeable about the topic-because like as already stated, genesis is probably the most controversial book in the Bible-we as christians should really know what it says, and be able to defend it, not all people need the science, but some people do. Wisdom, is the better part of valor, and witnessing-most of us arnt Billy Graham-we don't get in front of 500,000 people and say a few words and have half them come forward, our best tool is to create a relationship with the people we are witnessing to, and with Gods help, learn how to witness to that individual person, to answer their questions and meet their individual needs.

[Guest ninhao]

Thank you Patriot very good words.

Today in university those who hold that macro evolution is beyond doubt are in the vast majority. It is almost given. We have little hope of demolishing the macro evolutionary defense in full; but we do have much hope in presenting Jesus and the Gospel still.

[ByFaithAlone]

Hello all,

As many of you may know, I hold an allegorical interpretation of the early chapters of Genesis which I believe to be both an orthodox and reasonable position for a Christian to hold.

Something caught my eye with these points below by Shiloh on the first post:

• The origin of sin and the sinfulness of man;
  
• The institution of marriage;
  
• Moral absolutes; justice;
  
• God as man’s eternal Judge;
  
• The origin of death and suffering;
  
• Personal modesty;
  
• The existence of God;
  
• God as Creator of the universe and the source of all life;
  
• God as man’s righteous and merciful Redeemer;
  
• The sovereignty of God;
  
• The omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of God
  

​

I am confused on this Shiloh. I think even if one accepts an allegorical view of Genesis, these themes per se are still present. How does taking an allegorical view invalidate the existence of God or his sovereignty for example? I think most Christians who hold the allegorical view of Genesis would still say that Genesis still displays these ideas and they are still scriptural. We would still hold to a Fall some finite time in the past and the concept of original sin. I fail to see conflict.

[Guest shiloh357]

Hello all,

As many of you may know, I hold an allegorical interpretation of the early chapters of Genesis which I believe to be both an orthodox and reasonable position for a Christian to hold.

Something caught my eye with these points below by Shiloh on the first post:

• The origin of sin and the sinfulness of man;
  
• The institution of marriage;
  
• Moral absolutes; justice;
  
• God as man’s eternal Judge;
  
• The origin of death and suffering;
  
• Personal modesty;
  
• The existence of God;
  
• God as Creator of the universe and the source of all life;
  
• God as man’s righteous and merciful Redeemer;
  
• The sovereignty of God;
  
• The omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of God
  

​

I am confused on this Shiloh. I think even if one accepts an allegorical view of Genesis, these themes per se are still present. How does taking an allegorical view invalidate the existence of God or his sovereignty for example? I think most Christians who hold the allegorical view of Genesis would still say that Genesis still displays these ideas and they are still scriptural. We would still hold to a Fall some finite time in the past and the concept of original sin. I fail to see conflict.

That question will be answered in the days and weeks to come.

[nebula]

My opinion - we need to show the reality of Genesis without trying to fit the text into modern Western Scientific thinking.

For example, there is far too much information missing for Genesis 1-2 to be interpreted through a modern Western scientific lens.

Likewise there is not one writing from ancient times that ever wrote historical events from a modern Western scientific perspective the way we do. Not even the ancient Greeks perceived the world as we do, where the truth of an event is based upon an accurate recording of details.

[*Zion*]

1. Mark 13:31
   Heaven and earth will perish and pass away, but My words will not perish or pass away.
   
2. Luke 16:17
   Yet it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to fail and become void.
   

[Guest]

All parts of the Bible are important....

Amen~!

~

Great Question

So Why Care About Genesis

Or About Isaiah Or John Or Obadiah Or Titus Or Job

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

And Is This Really The Most Debated (And Unbelieved) Statement

By Those Who Claim The Name Of Jesus?

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

Or Is It

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

This?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

~

And After A Few Delightful Years Reading Worthy

And Following The Published News About The Growing Apostasy

Away From The Jesus Of The Bible By Far Too Many Main Stream Gentile Denominations

I Was Shocked To See The Simple, Clear And Concise Good News

Found In John 3:16 Seems To Enrage The Hatred Of Many

Reverend (Worthy-To-Be Revered?) Church Men

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:27-28

What Do You Think?

~

Hi Jack Or Do All Scriptures Point To Jesus?

[ByFaithAlone]

Hello all,

As many of you may know, I hold an allegorical interpretation of the early chapters of Genesis which I believe to be both an orthodox and reasonable position for a Christian to hold.

Something caught my eye with these points below by Shiloh on the first post:

• The origin of sin and the sinfulness of man;
  
• The institution of marriage;
  
• Moral absolutes; justice;
  
• God as man’s eternal Judge;
  
• The origin of death and suffering;
  
• Personal modesty;
  
• The existence of God;
  
• God as Creator of the universe and the source of all life;
  
• God as man’s righteous and merciful Redeemer;
  
• The sovereignty of God;
  
• The omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of God
  

​

I am confused on this Shiloh. I think even if one accepts an allegorical view of Genesis, these themes per se are still present. How does taking an allegorical view invalidate the existence of God or his sovereignty for example? I think most Christians who hold the allegorical view of Genesis would still say that Genesis still displays these ideas and they are still scriptural. We would still hold to a Fall some finite time in the past and the concept of original sin. I fail to see conflict.

That question will be answered in the days and weeks to come.

Sounds great. Thank you. I will not be able to respond for about a week but I will try to get back at it after that. Thanks for your patience.