It’s a legitimate question. Every morning you get up, get dressed, grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat, and then walk out the door to punch a clock so you can work until it’s time to go back home. The next day, you get up and do it all over again. Why? Do you like your job? Some people do. Others just like the check at the end of the pay period. Why do you do what you do?

Over the last several weeks I’ve been asking myself the same question, “Why do I do what I do?” Believe it or not, the life of a Creation Evangelist isn’t all rainbows and roses. True, I get to travel the country, meet lots of amazing people, and see God do glorious things! But the flip side is frequently leaving my family, missing important events with them, sleeping in strange beds, spending lots of time in crowded airports, and never living the luxury of a 9 to 5 schedule Monday through Friday. As president of an organization, I get to make exciting decisions regarding the future of our ministry, but that also means that there are people depending on my leadership. And, as you can imagine, my stand on Biblical Creation and Apologetics has not only made me a bulls-eye for our skeptic friends, but a pariah to many in the Christian community, as well. So, why do I do what I do? Is it even worth it?

Are we Products of Chance or His Handiwork?

Last week as I was pondering these things, I began listening to an interview that Sean McDowell did with Os Guinness, author of many books on faith, culture, and politics. During the interview, Oz made a foundational and thought-provoking comment about the culture and our conversations in the public square.

“Each citizen in this diverse country, used to have respect for other citizens. Our motto as a nation is “E Pluribus Unum: Out of many, one.” We are a diverse people group, all making up one unified country. Civility is the duty of each citizen towards their fellow citizen. It used to be a virtue for citizens in a diverse country to have respect for people simply because of their individual worth, their personhood. Not only that, but people had a respect for truth. Without truth, there is only Power. This was Friedrich Nietzsche’s hyperbole, and it is what postmodernism leads to. Domination. So people who respect people and people who respect truth, learn how to speak with civility in the Public Square. They can disagree but always respect the other person and respect the truth so that they will argue persuasively; not coercively.”

Think about that for a second. In order to have any civil conversation, you must respect individuals and possess an appreciation for truth. This applies to every aspect and every arena of life. If we cannot have a basic level of respect for others, we will continue to see the breakdown of families, organizations, churches, and governments.

So, back to my question. Why do I do what I do? Why do I find myself desiring to love the atheist, equip Christians, and persuade men that God is God, and that God’s ways are the best ways? Why do I leave my family to educate strangers on things like Biblical Creation and Apologetics? Because I see that the very foundation for civility, the very foundation for conversations, and the very foundation for life is rooted in the truth that God is the Creator of all things. If we are simply matter in motion, a product of “nature”, or a mere chemical reaction, then why bother with pesky things like civility or truth? As Nancy Pearcey stated in her new book, “Love Thy Body,”

“At the root of all moral issues is the question, “What kind of cosmos do we live in? Are we the products of blind, material forces or are we the handiwork of a personal God whose bodies reflect His loving purpose?”

It is because of these thoughts that I do what I do. I can see no greater purpose in life than to equip people with the truth that they are created by an all wise Creator who loves them; who wants to save them from their sinful state; and who desires a personal relationship with them. I continue to focus on Biblical Creation and Apologetics because I believe that it is foundational to every other issue in our culture. The way we answer the basic questions of life depends greatly on our answer to this question. What kind of cosmos do we live in? Are we products of blind material forces, or are we the handiwork of a personal God with bodies that reflect his loving purpose?

How do you Answer those Questions?

As I move forward into this brand-new year, I desire to use everything I can to accomplish Creation Today’s vision: teaching others to know and defend their Creator God. Only people grounded in God’s truth will be able to change our culture back to a nation with respect and civility.

Currently, we are creating new resources to complement and expand the eternal impact of our ministry. At the end of the day, I am reminded that our teamwork, a family’s teamwork, even a nation’s teamwork is only possible when we truly value the thoughts, ideas, talents, and limitations of others. So, as you go about your day, “doing what you do” and I go about mine, let’s remember that though we come from diverse backgrounds, each of us is created in the image of God and that is cause enough for respect and civility.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15

For His Glory,