By Roger Oakland
Understand the Times, International
Some time ago I received a phone call from a lady. She had heard that I was going to be speaking at her church on the topic of creation and evolution. As she was planning to take her “unbelieving” boyfriend to the meeting, it was important for her to be able to tell him what “credentials” I had in order to be speaking on the topic of origins.
The lady was a believer. She said she believed in God and creation, but her boyfriend was an evolutionist and a humanist. She wanted to invite him to hear me speak, but he said he would not go unless I had a Ph. D.
Responding to her question, somewhat indirectly, I told her I would be speaking on the topic of creation and evolution with the purpose of analyzing the two worldviews by examining the facts. “No,” she interrupted, “I need to know your credentials.” When I asked why, she said that her boyfriend had an earned PhD in biology. “If you don’t have a Ph.D, he won’t waste his time coming to the meeting,” she insisted.
What the lady was telling me is quite true. Credentials, for many, mean credibility. If you don’t have credentials, it doesn’t matter what facts you present. Facts are secondary.
As I was listening to this lady, I was reminded of a friend of mine who has now passed on to be with the Lord. He was a brilliant scientist who had attained three earned doctorate degrees. He was known world wide as one of the leading thinkers of his day. He supported the biblical view of origins and presented his case eloquently and scientifically. His name was Dr. A.E. Wildersmith. Click here to continue reading.
