A Devilish Ploy!

At a secular radio station in Florida earlier this year, the talk show host informed me that his “favorite atheist” was on the phone waiting to confront me about my belief in creation.

As I spoke to the professed atheist on the air, he told me that evolution was an accepted scientific fact. I then replied with a question: “Could you tell us the best evidence you know of that makes it obvious that evolution is true?”

The man replied, “The fossil record.” “OK,” I said, “but what in the fossil record?”

He then stated, “The fossils.” “OK,” I replied, “What in the fossils convinces you evolution is true?” And so on. We really didn’t get much beyond this point. The incident reminded me of many similar conversations I’ve had.

Most of them believe evolution and billions of years because they read it somewhere, saw it on TV or remembered something from their schooling.

For instance, after I gave a lecture at a university in Spain, a student stood up and said (through the translator): “But you’re wrong—everyone knows the Earth is billions of years old.” “How do you know that?” I asked, “The dating methods,” he replied, “Which specific dating methods are you referring to?” He said, “I don’t know, but they’re in our textbooks!” Time and time again I’ve found that the majority of non-Christians who argue with me about evolution and/or the age of the Earth can’t defend their position. Most of them believe evolution and billions of years because they read it somewhere, saw it on TV or remembered something from their schooling. It “must be true.”

I’ve also found a similar situation in the Christian world. On a talk show on Christian radio, a caller told me that while he agreed that evolution wasn’t true, he did not believe the days of Genesis 1 were ordinary days. I asked him, “Why don’t you believe the days of Creation are ordinary days?” He replied, “Because the word for “day” in Genesis 1 doesn’t mean an ordinary day.”

“Why doesn’t it?” I asked. He answered, “Because the word day can mean something other than an ordinary day.” I said, “That’s true, but the word day can also mean an ordinary day—in fact, the majority of times it is used it means an ordinary day.”

I then asked him this important question: “It is true that the word day can mean something other than an ordinary day-however, can you tell me in what context the word day in Hebrew does mean an ordinary day? In other words, when does the word day mean an ordinary day?” There was silence—he couldn’t answer the question. He allegedly “knew” the word day in Genesis 1 didn’t mean an ordinary day, but he couldn’t tell me when the word day did mean an ordinary day.

Evidently, he had heard or read somewhere that the days in Genesis 1 weren't ordinary days—but he had no idea or understanding of the context and how one determines what Old Testament Hebrew words mean. He had just accepted something on the basis of authority—from a fallible human. I find the majority of people who disagree with AiG’s position on Genesis argue in a similar way to the above examples. Actually, this situation is very typical, having its origins back in the Garden of Eden! Let me explain.

In Genesis 3 we read that the Devil said to Eve regarding God’s instruction not to eat the fruit, “Ye shall not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4). There is no indication that Eve or Adam examined this statement. They didn’t ask for substantiation—they didn’t check it out. They just accepted it on the basis of the Devil’s authority. Satan told them—authoritatively—that they wouldn’t die, and they just accepted it.

Sadly, the Devil’s ploy is rife through the world today. So many in the secular world—as well as in the church—have accepted billions of years or evolutionary ideas on the basis of a fallible authority—man’s authority.

There is, however, One whose Word we can accept on the basis of authority. Because the God of the Bible created us, He owns us, and has thus established that He is the only absolute authority. And when you do apply true science in this situation, you’ll find over and over again it confirms that the Bible is what it claims to be—the authoritative Word of God.

Don’t succumb to the Devil’s ploy of accepting a fallible authority and thus not being able to defend what you believe. I’ve personally experienced that accepting God’s authoritative Word and being properly equipped to defend the Christian faith will result in many being challenged to consider God’s Word and listen to the Gospel.