answers in Genesis...plus questions (and more questions)

I'm sure you've heard of it by now, but this past week, a debate was televised live on YouTube.

Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham.

Evolution vs. Creationism.

(Watching the debate on YouTube with a friend + slightly burnt popcorn courtesy of my lack of microwave finesse)

You can fully watch it here, but just a caveat: you may end up with more questions unanswered than questions answered.

I waited a few days to write something up about the debate because I wanted to hear what other people think about it.

Ever since middle school and high school science classes, my faith has wrestled with this issue.

How did we get here?

What are the origins of the universe?




Nye and Ham sort of argued in a roundabout way, neither one fully addressing the actual topic at hand. Nye adamantly advocated for the role of science in our generation and for the future.  For example, he claimed that for America to progress in the world, children need to be taught science and evolution. Meanwhile, Ham emphasized that science and the Christian faith can go hand in hand. For example, he provided interviews of many Christians who are pursuing scientific disciplines.

I actually agree with all these things. Science is important. In fact, I was always a science-y kid. In my childhood play room, barbies sat alongside dinosaur kits in which I could dig up bones in a mini sandbox. 13 years ago, I still distinctly remember turning in my 1st grade summer homework assignment and my teacher gave me a "grow your own dinosaur in water" toy, and ever since then I was just sort of hooked on science. (Hopefully all my struggles in Organic Chemistry will bear fruit one day since I want to become a doctor...)

Science and my Christian faith are not exclusive of one another. All truth is God's truth, so all scientific truth is God's truth.

The fundamental difference, however, between me and Bill Nye is that I believe in God. In the Book of Genesis, it's recorded that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The story goes on to declare that God created the stars and the sun and the moon and the earth and all that lived on it, from the creatures of the ocean to the creatures of the land. And not only did God make us, but He made us specifically in His image (how cool!).

There was one thing I sort of disagreed about with Ham, that the world is only 6,000 years old. Fossils and rock formations and even ice cylinders from the Arctic show that the world may actually be more than 6,000 years old. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong! But I still agree with Ham on the most important part, on where our identity is planted: in Christ. I'm glad Ham at least got to explain why Christ had to come and die for us. Adam and Eve had disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, so that's why sin entered the world...that's why suffering entered the world... but Christ came to give us new life!

Genesis says that God created everything in six days, but God exists outside the boundaries of time. God surpasses whatever confinements time may render. Our human notion of time is definitely not the same as God's. Our human mind can't comprehend how God does things, so this is where faith comes in. 24 hours in one day is not the same as a day from God's perspective, so who knows how God created us, but I trust God and believe and at least bear an understanding of why God made us: to follow him and let his light shine in all that we do.

God never intended for us to suffer, but we disobeyed God. Adam and Even misused their free will, so then sin entered the world, corrupting and hurting it. Unfortunately, we still do that today...we pollute the world, not only with physical waste but with our sins. We were criminals sentenced to death... who could pay our ransom? Who could bail us out and rescue us?

That's why Jesus came. 

And when that day comes again, when Jesus returns to renew and set right the world forever, all those who follow God will experience the promise of eternal life.

When you look at the sunset, or gaze at the twinkling stars above, or see birds of the air soar, or hear the rain and thunder rolling across the city... what do you see? whom do you see?

Do you see God?

It's a beautiful world, both thousands of miles away

and right here in my own backyard.