First to clarify, I want to make sure that everyone reading this understands that there is a distinct difference between “macro” evolution and “micro” evolution.

Creation and our Kids – Macroevolution versus Microevolution

Macroevolution states, “All things are evolving in a positive beneficial direction.” For example, macroevolution is generally defined as the process of one type of animal (fish) evolving into a completely different type of animal (amphibian). This requires an increase in genetic information, which has NEVER BEEN SHOWN to happen.

Natural Selection is the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Natural Selection is an example of microevolution, which has been observed in the laboratory. For example, microevolution is what is happening when bacteria become immune to antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is not the result of an increase in information. It is the result of the passing on of already existing antibiotic-resistant genes that are present in the surviving organism.

To sum it up, when I say that my son doesn’t believe in evolution, I am referring to macroevolution – molecules to man, amoeba to man, etc. Now that we’ve got that cleared up, I want to mention a few ways I believe have helped my son decide on his own that creation makes more sense than evolution.

One of the missions of Lifeschooling Conference is to,

Make learning real. Integrate it with real life so that children can see the practical value and meaning.

In my own life, and in my son’s life, I have found this to be an extremely effective way to teach a child.

Creation and our Kids – The Importance of a Firm Foundation

We attend a church that teaches the Bible, verse-by-verse. This means that when the Pastor teaches from the pulpit, he starts in Genesis 1 and goes all the way to the end of the Book of Revelation, and then starts over.  The same principle applies throughout our church, from Preschool on.  Also, the Bible is taken literally and in a straightforward manner. For instance, if the Bible says that God created in seven days, we don’t use “science” to determine what God means by a day. We look at the Hebrew, which clearly shows that God meant one literal 24-hour day when he used the word “Yom.”

Every summer our church has Vacation Bible School (VBS), and they have always been from Answers in Genesis, which emphasizes creation, and the trustworthiness of the Bible. My son absolutely loved VBS, and he went every year from kindergarten until 6th grade. In fact, he was bummed when he found out he was too old to attend.

Thus, my son is growing up with the knowledge of the entire Bible within context. The Bible is the only true source of a firm foundation. The Bible is also the only way to effectively combat the lies of the enemy.

Creation and our Kids – Dealing with the Media

Whenever I watch a movie with my son, if there is anything questionable about it, we discuss it. For example, the Jurassic Park series. Many people don’t realize that the theme of evolution flows through the plot of the entire Jurassic series. When they show ostriches running at the end of the first movie, the implication is that they are the descendants of dinosaurs. Or when they discuss the amber that the dinosaur DNA was found in, it is stated that the amber is millions of years old. That is, it is never questioned.

Dinosaur Dan on PBS

My son used to watch this show. In every single show of the series, Dan states “65 million years ago” at least once.  Teachers know that if you want a child to remember a fact, you repeat it and over and over again. This is why I don’t believe it is a coincidence that Dan states “65 million years ago,” in every single show. The producers want the young children to remember this “fact.”  Every time I would hear Dan say that I asked my son, “How do they know that? Were they there? When you dig up a fossil, does it have a date engraved on it? What about the problem of index fossils?

Books that apply the Creation message.

One of my all-time favorites is the “The Time Twins” series by DB Macks. I discovered this series through the Creation Research Society Quarterly Magazine. I can honestly say I have never read a more eye-opening series than this one. Because there’s no graphics, I waited until Nathan was 10 to read it to him. And he absolutely loved it. =)

I have met some really interesting people over the years. One friend I met while at Loma Linda University has had a profound effect on Nathan.  MaryAnn works with Dr. Gary Parker in Florida. When she visits, she always brings hands-on goodies, such as fossils, to share and discuss with Nathan.

The eruption of Mt. St. Helens 1980.

This disaster is nicknamed, “The Little Grand Canyon”. Mt. St. Helens testifies that it doesn’t take millions of years for layers and fossils to form. There is a little museum on the road to Mt. St. Helens that you can visit. Here you will find evidence and discussions of the alternative viewpoint that you won’t hear at the “main event” up the street. While MaryAnn worked at the museum, Nathan benefitted from her connections. 🙂

He has been exposed to ALL the evidence.

When kids attend public school, they are only exposed to one side of the issue. Evolution is taught as fact with no alternatives allowed. In essence, the public school system has been “scrubbed clean” of any mention of the creation viewpoint. People have been led to believe that evolution is “science” and creationism is “religion.” Thus, most people don’t have a problem with that at all, to the detriment of their kids, who are growing up with a faulty foundation that will color their point-of-view for the rest of their lives. 🙁

I have gobbled up all the good books I could find on the subject since before I even knew I was going to have a child. From preschool on up. This is an extremely important issue to me, and it should be to other Christians as well. This why I have taken every single opportunity I have had and continue to have to make sure my son sees things from both sides so that he can DECIDE FOR HIMSELF what he believes.

Creation and Our Kids – Already Gone by Ken Ham

The main reason we are losing our kids in college is because we have not prepared them for the onslaught of evolutionary thoughts and ideas that they will be exposed to at the college level. And the sad reality is that most so-called Christian universities are also compromising with the message of the Bible and secular science.

The point I am trying to make is this. Do everything you can to go along with your child, side-by-side, so that you can continually show alternative viewpoints to the media onslaught of evolutionary ideas they are receiving through TV, the movies, radio, and the internet.