"Creationist" or Just a "Christian"?

Recently we hosted a Creation Vs. Evolution seminar here in Lawrenceburg. I believe it was a huge success and I know we as a church look forward to doing more events like this in the future. Dr. Brad Harrub was our speaker. He was well qualified, did an excellent job, and he opened up the hearts and minds of many people with regard to many matters that face us as Christians in the post-modern era.

I was thinking about Brad recently, being so thankful for him and his work. I know others appreciate him and probably came to some of the same understadnings as I did concerning several issues because of his influence. For example, I am confident that we realize we need more men like him who will study science and Christian evidences, get their credentials, and fight for the truth in these arenas all over the country. But there was one thought I had in particular that made me wonder if anyone else was thinking something similar.

Brad is often labeled a "Creationist." Now, I am sure he would not mind this label. Neither would I. After all, Creationism is simply the religious belief that the universe and all the living things contained therein are the product of deity. Specifically, the proper view of creation is found in the only heavenly account, the Bible. So to be labeled a Creationist is not a bad thing, it is a compliment.

However, I think a better label for Brad and hopefully the rest of us is "Christian." One of the reasons this is a better name is because it is a biblical name (Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16). But the main point is that it is hard to see how anybody who would call themselves a Christian would not be a Creationist automatically.

If we are going to be Christians, then there are many fundamental truths and believes that should also be a part of our makeup. Some of these include:

1. Belief in the Godhead: the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7).
2. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God (John 3:16).
3. Belief in the Bible as the perfect and inerrant word of God (2 tim. 3:16-17).
4. Belief in the gospel as the power to save the souls of men (Rom. 1:16).
5. Belief that God created the world and everything in it in six days (Ex. 20:11).

Now this is a very short list. The longer list would include the truth about the salvation process, the one church, true worship, et cetera. But the main expression of this article is hopefully very clear. Christians must define themselves according to the same matter that God would define His people in His holy word.

If we are truly Christians, then we are also Creationists - along with other labels and tags the world may supply.

"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. ~ 1 Peter 4:16