ACCOUNTABILITY-GOD-TO
The real
issue in the creation/evolution debate is not the existence of God. The real
issue is the nature of God. To think of evolution as basically atheistic is to
misunderstand the uniqueness of evolution. Evolution was not designed as a
general attack against theism. It was designed as a specific attack against the
God of the Bible, and the God of the Bible is clearly revealed through the
doctrine of creation. Obviously, if a person is an atheist, it would be normal
for him to also be an evolutionist. But evolution is as comfortable with theism
as it is with atheism. An evolutionist is perfectly free to choose any god he
wishes, as long as it is not the God of the Bible. The gods allowed by
evolution are private, subjective, and artificial. They bother no one and make
no absolute ethical demands. However, the God of the Bible is the Creator,
Sustainer, Savior, and Judge. All are responsible to Him. He has an agenda that
conflicts with that of the sinful humans. For man to be created in the image of
God is very awesome. For God to be created in the image of man is very
comfortable.
Evolution is
simply the latest means our fallen race has devised in order to suppress our
innate knowledge and the biblical testimony that there is a God and that we are
accountable to Him (cf. Romans 1:28). By embracing evolution, modern society
aims to do away with morality, responsibility, and guilt. Society has embraced
evolution with such enthusiasm because people imagine that it eliminates the
Judge and leaves them free to do whatever they want without guilt and without
consequences.
The Battle for the Beginning, W Publishing Group, 2001, p. 24.
[In
reference to the temptation in the garden…] "God is a liar," (Satan)
says. "He has deceived you, taken your freedom, and restricted your
joy." Satan's lie is still the same today: "You can be free. Do
whatever you want. It is your life.
There are no divine laws; no absolute authority; and above all, no judgment.
You will surely not die."
The Battle for the Beginning, 2001, p. 97.
God hath
given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time
eternity depends.
The
excuse that is banished, the excuse every pagan hopes in vain to use, the
excuse that is exploded by God’s self-revelation in nature is the pretended,
vacuous, dishonest appeal to ignorance. No one will be able to approach the
judgment seat of God justly pleading, “If only I had known You
existed, I would surely have served You.” That excuse is annihilated. No one
can lightly claim “insufficient” evidence for not believing in God.
R.C. Sproul
Classical Apologetics, Zondervan, 1984, p. 46, www.zondervan.com.
God
has left the indelible mark of His fingerprints all across the vast face of the
universe... This revelation is sufficiently clear and inescapable that it
renders all without excuse (see Rom. 1:20). Consequently, there is no such thing
as “an innocent native in Africa” any more than there is “an innocent pagan in
America”... The problem is not a lack of evidence. The problem is the innate,
natural, moral antipathy of mankind to God. The problem is not that the
evidence is not open to mankind. The problem is that mankind is not open to the
evidence.
Sam Storms
General Revelation, November 8, 2006, www.enjoyinggodministries.com.
Used by Permission.