Creation Evangelism – The Teleological Argument

Opening the Door to the Mind and Heart with Evidence for the Existence of God. 

Psalm 19:1 – The heavens are telling of the glory of God.

And their expanse (heaven) is declaring the work of His hands. (NASB) 

Romans 1:18-20 – ¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all        ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in       unrighteousness, ¹⁹because that which is known about God is evident within           them; for God made it evident to them.  ²⁰For since the creation of the world His      invisible attributes, His eternal power and diving nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Beginning with the second passage first, we see the clear implication of the “Teleological Argument.”   Teleology is, technically, the “study of final causes.”  What is meant in the technical definition  by “final” is better understood at “complete” or “entire,”  It comes from  the suffix “-ology” – the study of – and the root “telos” (just as in telescope) – entire, perfect, complete.  Telescope (scope to see or view) the “big picture” of whatever one is examining from a distance – to get the perfect, complete, or entire picture of what one is trying to see.  In “teleology,” then, what is trying to get a complete, or perfect, picture or an understanding of what has caused that to be which one is examining.

Now, after all of that technical lingo, let’s put this in the simplest of terms to obtain a very clear understanding of this field of study.  When we view a beautiful painting, say a Rembrandt, we know, via a lifetime of observations and experiences, that this masterpiece was planned, designed by, and executed in its “complete, perfect and entire” state by a master painter, an artist who designed that painting.  Teleology then, in practical, everyday usage is the search for the cause of design in nature.  A building denotes an architect, a builder; an automobile denotes a team of designers, engineers,  and a manufacturer.  Nothing could be simpler!

Carry this logic back to our texts from the Word of God – the heavens “declare,” they “speak forth” their testimony, their witness to the Creator who fashioned this vast universe.  All of nature around us makes it clear, evident to all men that the creation denotes the existence of the Creator.  Re-read the passage from Romans 1:18-23.  It is repeatedly made clear that God has revealed Himself to mankind in and through His creation.  Men (generic gender here) have “suppressed” the truth – willfully denying the obvious.  This is a consistent self-evident trait that exposes itself over and over again when dealing with those who question or oppose Christianity.  Although there are indeed intellectual and emotional reasons at the root of why some struggle with the truth of the gospel, the overwhelming objection is volitional – a matter of the will, a matter of choice, a case of rationalization.  (This is where people tell themselves, and others, “rational lies” in order to justify their behavior which they know to be unwise if not outright evil and rebellious toward the One who is their Creator.)

This is the true “first step” in evangelism.  As demonstrated by Paul the Apostle in Acts 17, when he was in Athens on Mars Hill witnessing to the Greek philosophers of his day.