The Doctrine of Creation

The doctrine of creation refers to the Christian belief that God created the universe out of nothing. All aspects of creation from the smallest particles to the mightiest of mountains are believed to have their origin in the will of God. All inanimate objects, as well as all animate beings, were created by God. The exact mechanics of how God created the world have been hotly contested over the last one hundred years. Christians of serious faith and capable mind fall on both sides of the evolutionary debate, some embracing theistic evolution, others embracing a literal six-day view of creation.

The doctrine of creation’s major claim is that God is the creator of all things. Churches around the world affirm belief in this doctrine every week when they recite the following words from the Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God,

    The Father, the Almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth,
    of all that is seen and unseen. 

The doctrine of creation affirms the goodness of creation, “God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). The goodness of creation carries serious implications for understanding our selves, and especially our bodies. The Christian Church has had a checkered past when it comes to dealing with the human body, especially as it relates to sexuality. Our bodies are good. Sexuality was a gift given to us by God. Sex as God intended it was meant to be a beautiful, vigorous expression of life, union, and procreation.

The Church has often given people the impression that sex is dirty and thus our bodies are dirty, particularly the female body. This is wrong. This is in direct opposition to the doctrine of creation. We are told that “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, the physical aspects of being male and female are also good and intended by God.

In addition, the doctrine of creation reminds us of the importance of all life, and the necessity of being good stewards of the earth. Adam, who is representative of all humanity, was given a job, a job which we inherit as children of the human race, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). The doctrine of creation reminds us of our divinely ordained role as stewards of creation.

The doctrine of creation also unites philosophy, science, and theology into friendly disciplines seeking truth from the same ultimate source: God. The doctrine of creation also reminds us that nature itself points people to the existence of God and often leads them to an experience of God, “Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made” (Romans 1:20). More could be said about this doctrine but it is one that deserves greater and more comprehensive attention than it normally receives in our churches today.