God and Nature Summer 2024
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By Mark Wright
In my experience, there are two extremes when it comes to interpreting the book of Genesis. Some believe that everything must have a completely scientific, naturalistic explanation, with no room for God. On the other extreme are believers who have no interest in anything to do with science.
As a child, I frequently heard pastors making fun of science. Those pastors did not know anything about science. Later, as a university student, I heard professors making fun of Christian beliefs. Those professors didn’t know anything about faith. In the churches that I attended, there was only one interpretation of Genesis that was presented as an acceptable view, that of a 6000-year-old earth.
As an educated person with two master’s degrees, one in engineering and one in divinity, I have a background in both science and in faith. Teaching in a two-year college, I have worked with many people in the sciences and have found that many of them are believers and have widely divergent views on how to interpret Genesis. Their views on creation are a combination of deeply felt convictions and the scientific evidence. My goal here is to present a balanced view of Scripture that is faithful to both perspectives.
In my experience, there are two extremes when it comes to interpreting the book of Genesis. Some believe that everything must have a completely scientific, naturalistic explanation, with no room for God. On the other extreme are believers who have no interest in anything to do with science.
As a child, I frequently heard pastors making fun of science. Those pastors did not know anything about science. Later, as a university student, I heard professors making fun of Christian beliefs. Those professors didn’t know anything about faith. In the churches that I attended, there was only one interpretation of Genesis that was presented as an acceptable view, that of a 6000-year-old earth.
As an educated person with two master’s degrees, one in engineering and one in divinity, I have a background in both science and in faith. Teaching in a two-year college, I have worked with many people in the sciences and have found that many of them are believers and have widely divergent views on how to interpret Genesis. Their views on creation are a combination of deeply felt convictions and the scientific evidence. My goal here is to present a balanced view of Scripture that is faithful to both perspectives.
God is first in creation, he is first in revelation, and finally he is first in salvation. |
An example I refer to frequently is our common experience with human aging. If there were a scripture that seemed to suggest that I was currently in my twenties, we would have two choices. If someone were to look at my face, they would see crow’s feet next to my eyes. The stubble on my face is more gray than brown. No one would look at me and guess me to be a 25-year-old man.
One might dispute this evidence, coming up with alternate explanations as to why I appear to be older than I am. Perhaps I have lived a hard life. Perhaps I spent a lot of time in the sun. An article that I read suggested that we should not say that God created an “old” earth, but rather, that he created a “mature” earth. This is merely semantics and doesn’t change the fact that the evidence does not match our interpretation. Denial is a losing proposition.
The second alternative is to question our interpretation of the scripture that seems to claim that I am young. For example, Ecclesiastes 1:5 states (NKJV), “The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it arose.” This was once interpreted as saying that the sun revolved around the earth—thus, the idea of a heliocentric solar system appeared to be heresy. Today we understand that this language is merely figurative. What was once heretical is now commonly understood as imposing a standard on the text that was not intended.
As a pastor, I meet many people who are bothered by this second approach. A common narrative in apologetics is to say that if the earth is not 6000 years old as the Scriptures state, then we may as well throw our Bibles in the trash. This is a very dangerous approach. Where does this leave the person of faith who finds the evidence for an old earth compelling? They have just been told—not by an atheist but by a believer—that they must make an impossible choice. I am convinced that many have rejected their faith because of such a line of reasoning.
Genesis 1:1 begins with the powerful statement: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The first four words in most English translations are the key to what I believe is the proper perspective. “In the beginning—God!” Interpretation of this verse separates the believer from the nonbeliever. The believer understands that everything begins with God, the final cause. John’s gospel starts out by saying “in the beginning was the Word.” We learn later in the text that the Word is Jesus. Thus, John begins his gospel the same as Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning—God.” I would like to share three ways where God is in the beginning.
First, God is in the beginning of creation. This includes not just the Father but Jesus as well. John in the first chapter of his gospel and Paul in his letter to the Colossians both tell us that everything was made by Jesus. All things were made by him, through him, and for him. It’s hard to imagine that there was a time when there was nothing but God. Modern physics tells us that there was a time when there was no time. God even made time. Everything we see, touch, feel, taste or smell was made by God. If he wanted, he could unmake us at any moment. If he says, “this is how I expect human beings to live and act,” He has that right. When God prohibits something, there is always a good reason. Sometimes, with time, we can understand His reasoning, just as our children eventually learn why they’re not allowed to play in the streets. Sometimes we cannot. In those cases, we must live by faith.
God is first in creation; he is also first in revelation. The pattern that we see in Scripture is God choosing to reveal himself to humanity.
There is no evidence that Abraham was looking for God. Neither was Moses. He simply turned aside to see the burning bush. We are not able to find God on our own. Paul tells us in the first three chapters of the book of Romans that there is enough revelation in nature and in our conscience to condemn us. This is summarized in the often-quoted verse Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We need the special revelation from God to save us. Without the message of the Gospel personified in Christ and revealed in the Scriptures, humanity is hopelessly doomed.
People try to find God through other means. They try meditation. Some religions even use drugs. But I believe the best way to find God is through his revelation recorded in the Christian Bible. God took the initiative and revealed himself to us. He proved it when he took the worst death man could devise, and on the third day he walked out of his grave. He has revealed himself in the most spectacular way. He continues to reveal himself through the lives of those who respond to his call.
God is first in creation, he is first in revelation, and finally he is first in salvation. The Bible says that Jesus is the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. This doesn’t mean that Jesus was crucified billions of years ago. It simply means that the decision was made before time began. Having planned to give man a free will, God also knew that man would fall. Before he created us, he had a plan to redeem us. Jesus said to His disciples, (ISV. John 15:16) “you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” We are told to choose, but it is God who takes the initiative. God is first in salvation.
Paul gives us the “formula” in Romans 10. He tells us to confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead. Salvation occurs when we confess him as Lord and put him back at the beginning. We acknowledge that he is before all things. He is first in creation. He is first in revelation. He is first in salvation.
The most important question for believers to ask is not the age of the earth or how long God took to make it. These are questions of effectual cause and are best explored by science. The most important question is whether or not God is at the beginning. In whatever manner the act of creation was accomplished, the believer acknowledges that God is first in creation. God revealed himself to us in the Scriptures through the prophets, and in the person of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the final revelation of God. He paid the price and made a way so that we might confess, believe, and put him back at the beginning of all things in our lives.
Mark Wright is the pastor of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, a Foursquare Gospel Church, in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also the Dean of Manufacturing at Jefferson Community and Technical College. He has a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Louisville and a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Regent University. He has been a bi-vocational pastor and teacher of engineering technology for over twenty years.
One might dispute this evidence, coming up with alternate explanations as to why I appear to be older than I am. Perhaps I have lived a hard life. Perhaps I spent a lot of time in the sun. An article that I read suggested that we should not say that God created an “old” earth, but rather, that he created a “mature” earth. This is merely semantics and doesn’t change the fact that the evidence does not match our interpretation. Denial is a losing proposition.
The second alternative is to question our interpretation of the scripture that seems to claim that I am young. For example, Ecclesiastes 1:5 states (NKJV), “The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it arose.” This was once interpreted as saying that the sun revolved around the earth—thus, the idea of a heliocentric solar system appeared to be heresy. Today we understand that this language is merely figurative. What was once heretical is now commonly understood as imposing a standard on the text that was not intended.
As a pastor, I meet many people who are bothered by this second approach. A common narrative in apologetics is to say that if the earth is not 6000 years old as the Scriptures state, then we may as well throw our Bibles in the trash. This is a very dangerous approach. Where does this leave the person of faith who finds the evidence for an old earth compelling? They have just been told—not by an atheist but by a believer—that they must make an impossible choice. I am convinced that many have rejected their faith because of such a line of reasoning.
Genesis 1:1 begins with the powerful statement: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The first four words in most English translations are the key to what I believe is the proper perspective. “In the beginning—God!” Interpretation of this verse separates the believer from the nonbeliever. The believer understands that everything begins with God, the final cause. John’s gospel starts out by saying “in the beginning was the Word.” We learn later in the text that the Word is Jesus. Thus, John begins his gospel the same as Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning—God.” I would like to share three ways where God is in the beginning.
First, God is in the beginning of creation. This includes not just the Father but Jesus as well. John in the first chapter of his gospel and Paul in his letter to the Colossians both tell us that everything was made by Jesus. All things were made by him, through him, and for him. It’s hard to imagine that there was a time when there was nothing but God. Modern physics tells us that there was a time when there was no time. God even made time. Everything we see, touch, feel, taste or smell was made by God. If he wanted, he could unmake us at any moment. If he says, “this is how I expect human beings to live and act,” He has that right. When God prohibits something, there is always a good reason. Sometimes, with time, we can understand His reasoning, just as our children eventually learn why they’re not allowed to play in the streets. Sometimes we cannot. In those cases, we must live by faith.
God is first in creation; he is also first in revelation. The pattern that we see in Scripture is God choosing to reveal himself to humanity.
There is no evidence that Abraham was looking for God. Neither was Moses. He simply turned aside to see the burning bush. We are not able to find God on our own. Paul tells us in the first three chapters of the book of Romans that there is enough revelation in nature and in our conscience to condemn us. This is summarized in the often-quoted verse Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We need the special revelation from God to save us. Without the message of the Gospel personified in Christ and revealed in the Scriptures, humanity is hopelessly doomed.
People try to find God through other means. They try meditation. Some religions even use drugs. But I believe the best way to find God is through his revelation recorded in the Christian Bible. God took the initiative and revealed himself to us. He proved it when he took the worst death man could devise, and on the third day he walked out of his grave. He has revealed himself in the most spectacular way. He continues to reveal himself through the lives of those who respond to his call.
God is first in creation, he is first in revelation, and finally he is first in salvation. The Bible says that Jesus is the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. This doesn’t mean that Jesus was crucified billions of years ago. It simply means that the decision was made before time began. Having planned to give man a free will, God also knew that man would fall. Before he created us, he had a plan to redeem us. Jesus said to His disciples, (ISV. John 15:16) “you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” We are told to choose, but it is God who takes the initiative. God is first in salvation.
Paul gives us the “formula” in Romans 10. He tells us to confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead. Salvation occurs when we confess him as Lord and put him back at the beginning. We acknowledge that he is before all things. He is first in creation. He is first in revelation. He is first in salvation.
The most important question for believers to ask is not the age of the earth or how long God took to make it. These are questions of effectual cause and are best explored by science. The most important question is whether or not God is at the beginning. In whatever manner the act of creation was accomplished, the believer acknowledges that God is first in creation. God revealed himself to us in the Scriptures through the prophets, and in the person of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the final revelation of God. He paid the price and made a way so that we might confess, believe, and put him back at the beginning of all things in our lives.
Mark Wright is the pastor of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, a Foursquare Gospel Church, in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also the Dean of Manufacturing at Jefferson Community and Technical College. He has a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Louisville and a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Regent University. He has been a bi-vocational pastor and teacher of engineering technology for over twenty years.