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Presenting the Gospel - Ch. 2

The second chapter of the book I'm co-writing speaks of God as Creator. Like the first chapter, I'm hopeful the writing is accessible and the arguments winsome.

I thank those who made comments on the first chapter. I found them helpful. Of course, no book can appeal to absolutely everyone.

Only particular audiences will find our book attractive.  We are not appealing to the "cultured despisers of religion," to use Schleiermacher's phrase.  Instead, we're appealing to those without much higher education. We think this crowd needs a book that presents the gospel in a straightforward and understandable way.

I look forward to hearing your comments on this chapter...

Chapter Two - God is a Good Creator

God Creates a Good Universe

“In the beginning, God created the earth, stars, and galaxies” (Genesis 1:1).  This is the first sentence of the Bible. Without going into details, it tells us God is our Creator.

After hovering over the waters and formless materials, God created all things. God repeatedly calls “good” whatever he creates. The heavens, light, earth, skies, animals, seas, plants, and people are all very good (Genesis 1:31).

In the creating process, God asks creatures to “bring forth” others. Those whom God creates are to “be fruitful” and “multiply.” Our good God calls upon creatures created good to join in creating more good creation. It is an amazing project!

The book of Genesis places special emphasis upon God’s creating humans. The first two chapters report that God makes male and female humans for nurturing companionship with one another. They are created in the image of God. And God asks them to take a special role in caring for the rest of creation.

After this original creative activity, God rested for a day. This day of rest is considered holy. Resting occasionally is something God asks us to do too. We need to take a break periodically. Too much work is not good for us.

The Beauty of Creation

If we look around our world, we can see God’s creative activity still active today. One of the songs in the Bible puts it like this: “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies show God’s handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).

The beauty and complexity of creation evokes awe. Many people feel compelled to erupt in worship and praise God.  Another songwriter puts it this way:

       When I consider your galaxies,
       the work of your fingers,
       the moon and the stars,
       which you have set in place,

       I am amazed you focus your attention on tiny humans!
       I am amazed that you care for our children!

       You made humans a little lower than the heavenly beings
       and crowned them with glory and honor.

       You put humans in charge of caring for all you made.
       You put creation under their loving supervision:

       all flocks and herds,
       and the beasts of the field,

       the birds of the air,
       and the fish of the sea,
       all that swim the paths of the seas.

       O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth!  (Psalms 8:3-9)

God – who made all creation – is our source of help in time of trouble. Another song in the Bible celebrates God as creator and our helper with these words:

       I lift up my eyes to the hills

       where does my help come from?

       My help comes from the Lord,

       the Maker of heaven and earth.  (Psalm 121:1-2)

The one who created and continues to create all things cares about us. God wants to help us in our time of trouble. It is amazing!

Creation Points to God as Loving Creator

One of the most important early Jesus followers, a man named Paul, says creation points to God. Creation gives us clues about the kind of God who created all things.

“Since the creation of the world,” Paul says, “God's invisible qualities—God’s eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen. Creation reveals these invisible qualities. So humans already know something about God” (Romans 1:19-20).

Creation tells everyone who will look and ponder that God exists.

Perhaps the most important thing creation tells us is God loves us. An early follower of Jesus named James says God is not only creator but also the source of all good:

“Every good and beneficial gift is from above,” says James, “These gifts come to us from the Father of the heavenly lights. God’s love does not change like shifting shadows. God gave us a second birth through the word of truth.  We are like the first fruit of all God created” (James 1:17-18).

Those who are born again are creatures who especially witness to God’s love. They are living evidence – first fruit – of God’s love at work in creation.

God loves those who do good. But Jesus tells us God also loves those who do evil. God loves those who want to be friends and those who consider themselves enemies of God. To love in this way is to do good to others.

When Jesus instructs his listeners to love all others, he uses nature to talk about God’s love. “God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). God does good to everyone!

God is still in the business of creating and doing good. Another songwriter whose words are in the Bible prays to God. He says, “When you send your Spirit, they are created. You renew the face of the earth” (Psalms 104:30). Every creature -- from humans to ants and beyond -- depends upon God’s creative and sustaining presence.

This creating continues in a special way for those who say “yes” to God. We saw in the last chapter Jesus said those who say “yes” to God are born a second time. They experience new birth.

The Bible says God can make us “new creations.” Paul says that for such people, “the old has gone and the new has come.” God has made a right relationship possible for us as new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). God continues to create and call creation “good.”

Creation and Science

Some statements in the Bible may seem strange today. They do not sound like scientific statements. Scientists are not likely to talk about God creating when writing their scientific articles and books. Science and the Bible do not always go about things the same way.

Some people think they have to choose between what the Bible says about God and creation or what science says about the universe. They think they should either believe God created the world and continues to create. Or they should believe what scientists call the big bang and evolution of life.

We think we can choose both. We can believe the Bible’s words about creation. And we can affirm the best work of science.

The Bible gives a true and faithful witness to God as the creator. The Bible talks about who created – God (with creatures joining in). And the Bible tells us what was created – all things. It gives us clues as to why we exist and why there is so much beauty and love.

But we also think science can give a true and faithful witness about the world. Science gives us a natural account of how things come to be and how they exist. It gives us part of the answer to the “why” question. It doesn’t address the God issues. But science can help us live more safely and effectively.

We might sum up the differences between the Bible and science like this: The Bible tells us how to find abundant life. It does not tell us scientific details about how life became abundant. The Bible also tells us how to go to heaven. It does not provide the science to tell us how the heavens go.

Science and the Bible are not enemies. We consider them partners for helping us discover truth about who God is and what God’s good creation is like.

Together, science and the Bible can help us sing these words with the Psalmist:

       The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies show God’s handiwork!

       O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

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Posted in 2010 under ...and the Kitchen Sink

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You’ve reached the online home of Thomas Jay Oord, a professor, author, and theologian from the Pacific Northwest. Read more