Vantage point
Creation evangelism
I hadn’t heard the term creation evangelism until I heard a
discussion of it recently on local Christian radio. But I’ve been doing it for
years.
My dad raised me to love the outdoors and nature. As a kid,
I had a hard time sharing my father’s wonder at majestic scenery. That came
later for me. But I always appreciated birds and wildlife and enjoyed observing
them and learning about them from my dad.
Since early in our marriage, my wife, Peggy, and I have
enjoyed bird-watching together. But shortly after we started doing this, I
began calling myself a “creation watcher” because I love observing and learning
about all of God’s creation.
Creation evangelism builds on this concept. Christians share
their wonder at God’s beautiful creation. An appreciation for the wonders of
nature can indeed lead people to a belief in God (see Romans 1), and it can be
a nonthreatening way to begin talking to people about the Lord.
It’s been said, “If you can’t believe Genesis 1:1, how can
you believe John 3:16?”
Evolution is a serious stumbling block to many nonbelievers.
It is not science, never has been and never will be. It’s a theory about what
some fancy might have happened and might happen in the future. Science is based
on what can be observed and proven today.
The Bible has terminology for the theory of evolution:
“science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:20, KJV).
When one enjoys God’s creation, and shares it, it can open
doors. As Romans 1:20 indicates, observing creation can lead to belief in God.
After a nonbeliever takes that step, it should be easier for
him or her to believe the plan of salvation.
Ken Horn
E-mail your comments to tpe@ag.org.
TPExtra: Visit Ken’s blog, khorn.agblogger.org, to view some
of his photography of God’s creation.
