Creation

The first doctrine taught in the Bible Answers to these questions:

– “Who is God?”– “What is the universe?”– “Who am I?”

Every word of the Bible is inspired by God

So every sentence tells us something we need to know

The truth of Creation is the basis for

Metaphysics– “What is real?” – “What is that?”

Epistemology– “What is true?”– “How do you know?”

Ethics– “What is moral?”– “How should I live?”

The truth of Creation is the basis for

Aesthetics– “What is beauty?”– “Why do I like this?”

Political philosophy– “What is just?”– “Why should anyone let anyone else have

authority over them?” Philosophy of religion

– “What is the ultimate?”– “Why is there a universe?” – “Where are we going?”

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created

the heavens and the earth.” The universe is the product of

God Almighty. He alone created it. He alone sustains it. He alone will one day replace it

with a new heavens and a new earth.– Revelation 21:1– 2 Peter 3:13

Genesis 1:1

Refutes 6 false worldviews1. atheism2. polytheism3. fatalism4. evolution5. pantheism6. materialism

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God” Refutes atheism

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God” Refutes polytheism

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God” Refutes fatalism

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created” Refutes evolution

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created” Refutes pantheism

Genesis 1:1“In the beginning God created”

Refutes materialism

Correct Beliefs God gives us truth to embrace That truth leads us to reject

falsehood What separates people from

other people?1. Language2. Genetics3. History4. Worldview

Which of these do we have the best chance of changing?

Worldview: What it means A set of presuppositions we hold

about the basic make-up of our world

The sum total of a person’s answers to the most important questions in life

A set of eyeglasses through which we view the events of life

A lexicon for experience

Worldview Metaphors

Camera filter and lens– Filter out certain wavelengths– Zoom in for a close-up– Zoom out for a panoramic view

Controlled vocabulary– Classification and cataloging

Framework of a building– Structure for habitation and storage

Presuppositions: Knowledge Starting Points “You have to BELIEVE something

before you can KNOW anything.” - Augustine

Godel’s Theorem– You cannot prove the internal

consistency of any system Let’s do the “Why exercise”

“You have to BELIEVE something before you can KNOW anything.” - Augustine

Godel’s Theorem– You cannot prove the internal

consistency of any system Let’s do the “Why exercise”

Worldview: Why bother, if we have facts? A fact does not exist in a

theory-free vacuum, devoid of perspective, or passion– No such thing as raw

fact or brute fact A person in the possession

of a “fact” already has a worldview that makes that fact relevant to him– If you don’t have that

worldview, the fact won’t be relevant to you

Worldview: Why bother, if we have facts?

Examples– Dr. Bernard Nathanson

and ultrasound– A bloodhound’s sense

of smell Without a worldview,

“facts” cannot be brought into focus or into harmony– Isolated bits of data

need an organizing program in order to become usable

Worldview: Paradigm Influence Without a paradigm,

“facts” cannot be brought into focus or into harmony– Isolated bits of data

need an organizing program to be usable

The new paradigm forever shapes one’s perception of the facts

You can’t “unsee” the old lady

Worldview: Why bother, if we have experience?

“A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.” – Sounds convincing, but– It leaves crucial questions unanswered1. What do you mean by experience?2. What did you experience that event as?

Examples Experience lacks meaning if there is

no attempt to explain it Experience has transmission

problems

Some Worldview Questions

What is really real? Why is there something rather than

nothing? What is human nature? What happens to a person after

death? How do you determine right and

wrong? Why is it possible to know anything at

all? What is the meaning of history?

Why Someone’s Worldview Changes

Human Causes (indirect)– Crisis occurs – Denied doubt festers– A moment of reflection followed by

illumination takes place Divine Causes (direct)

– Father reveals (Matthew 16:18)– Son reveals (John 17:9)– Spirit reveals (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

How a Worldview Makes a Difference: An Example

9/11/2001: A handful of men fly jets into American buildings. Why? Some people held these beliefs:– “All supporters of Israel are legitimate

targets.”– “We are at war with America.”– “Only an Islamic fundamentalist

government is acceptable.”– “We will be in Paradise after these noble

acts.” No worldview = No actions No worldview = No words No worldview = No thoughts

A Worldview Provides

Panorama view: A Frame of Reference– The Big Picture (Macroscopic)– The whole tapestry– View from the mountaintop– Lacks definition

Zoom view: A Point of Focus– Microscopic – A view of the threads– A view from the valley of a

single item on the ground– Detailed vision of one or of a

few things– Lacks perspective

Worldview: Creationism Three essential elements1. Creation account2. Fall of humanity3. Flood All of these must be studied

and understood Sources:1. God’s Word2. God’s World3. Our own hearts

Review

1. Name the 6 worldviews that are refuted by the first verse of the Bible.

2. What difference does a worldview make?

3. Why are facts and experience not sufficient information for life?

Preview

Read Genesis 1 & 2 as if– You had no preconceived ideas

about the origin of the universe– You were an alien from some other

dimension who had just arrived in this universe by accident

What is preventing you from accepting the testimony of God about the origin of all things as actually true?