What would life be like without creation ministries?
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by Gary Bates
Published: 19 October 2011 (GMT+10)
(First appeared in a CMI newsletter)
It’s great to take heart from the Scriptures when reading about biblical characters
such as Noah, Moses, Elijah and Jeremiah. Great men of God as they were, I’m
sure that there must have been times when they wondered if they’d heard God
correctly. In their own understanding they probably viewed the challenges they faced
as almost insurmountable. They had to stand up and confront the popular and distasteful
culture of the day, enduring trials along the way. However, they trusted God. They
believed and took Him at his Word.
Today, there is so much contention about what God is supposed to be saying in His
written Word. However, I can’t help being reminded that casting such doubts
originally began with the evil one when he tempted Eve with those words, “Did
God really say … ?” (Gen. 3:1).
Today, there is so much contention about what God is supposed to be saying in His
written Word.
What if Moses, even though he was standing as a lone soldier, had failed to stand up
to Pharaoh? What about Noah? The long arduous trial of building a giant ship and
his preaching of a coming judgment certainly wouldn’t have made him the most
popular guy around. What if these men had doubted what God had said? Fortunately
they trusted God’s Word, and God used them to bring salvation to many. We
are proof of that today. Their individual efforts made a big difference.
It got me thinking about the times we are tempted to take the soft option in our
own lives or ministries. Are we frightened to talk about our faith for fear of ridicule
or rejection? Do we feel inadequate or somehow powerless to bring change against
what seems like an insurmountable tide? Be encouraged because one thing is for certain.
Whether as a ministry or as individuals, making a stand polarizes thought and, thus,
causes people to consider the arguments. This is one way we can start to effect
change.
Where do morals come from?
One example is moral decay in our society. Immoral behaviour is rampant and most
feel powerless to do anything about it. Of course, the root problem is sin but,
as CMI has always pointed out, the idea that nobody owns us, and therefore we can
do what we like, is symptomatic of the lack of accountability to the Creator—the
One the Bible describes in Genesis. This situation is made much worse by a compromising
church that, for example, ordains homosexual priests or endorses same-sex unions.
(If the Bible can’t be trusted in Genesis, where does it start to be reliable?)
If we can all do what we want anyway, what’s the purpose of the church’s
existence, particularly if it does not uphold the Words of the very One it is supposed
to represent? The church’s loss of relevance in the eyes of the world at large
is as a result of its abandonment of God’s Word. After all, how can the church
hold up its hand on moral issues without relating it to the big picture of the Bible?
Because,
▼ Christian morality comes from ►
▼ Christianity, which is based on the Gospel found in ►
▼ God’s Word, whose doctrines are founded by the Creator
as described in ►
▼ Genesis
Imposing Christian morality without properly understanding its foundation is unlikely
to be successful.
Making a difference
Anyone involved in ministry will tell you that there are times when you wonder if
you are making a difference. Sometimes I’ve had those doubts. But then I consider
how much worse it would be if there were no ministries at all like CMI and others
showing the error of humanistic thinking. In reality, creation ministries are making
a huge difference and are worth supporting. Consider, as the title of this letter
says, ‘What would life be like without creation ministries?’
Although we often come in for criticism for highlighting the compromise, a stand
has the effect of polarizing thought, as mentioned. It causes people to think about
the issues by making them realize that there is an issue to think about in the first
place. If we don’t do this the enemy achieves his goal—blinding people
to the issues through ignorance—so that they don’t even consider that
the Bible might really be God’s Word after all.
Make this the year of Creation without Confusion
what’s the purpose of the church’s existence, particularly if it does
not uphold the Words of the very One it is supposed to represent?
Andrew A wrote: ‘There are so many of God’s people that are teetering
on the brink of disaster and we have the power to change this. Thank you for your
unwavering strength and direction. … The call to arms has been sound, and
we must take it up with fervour. We must tell friends, tell family, not get flustered,
read a lot in preparing ourselves to answer’ [but do this with gentleness
and respect. 1 Peter 3:15—GB].
That’s why CMI in partnership with supporters like you, seeks to equip the
church. There is no need to compromise, and with so many of you now personally equipped,
and seeking to equip others, we are seeing lives changed and souls won for the kingdom.
Because of this partnership the question of biblical authority has become the
major issue facing the church. Isn’t it a great joy when we can let people
know that they really can trust the Bible? Then hopefully, like Moses, Noah and
so many of those we read about in the Scriptures, they will really take Him and
trust Him at His Word.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
| Ken E. wrote: “I just wanted to drop a note to express my gratitude for the kind of information you supply at the CMI web-site. I love science and find it thrilling to see how it may be used to glorify God and build faith in Him.” Glorify God in His creation.  | | |
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