The President’s Position on Teaching Divine Creation at Florida College
C.G. ” Colly Caldwell
The following statements reflect firm convictions of the President of Florida College and uncompromising expectations concerning instruction regarding these matters at this institution of higher learning. It also articulates what we have all committed ourselves to at Florida College from its beginning and what we will continue to teach. I am confident that every member of our administration and faculty share this deep faith in the Divine creation of all things and both willingly and heartily support these statements.
1. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). While “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1-3), “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:7). Although God’s “invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead” (Romans 1:20), “the gospel of Christ … is the power of God to salvation … for in it the righteousness of God is revealed” (Romans 1:16-17). In any question of truth, the Bible (not nature) must be received as the primary source of Truth. It is the verbally inspired, authoritative, infallible Word of God (see 1 Corinthians 2:1-16). Jesus said, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). All Florida College teachers have always been expected to convey their faith in these facts as they instruct and influence students.
2. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth&ldots;. He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:6,9). “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3). These statements of Scripture must be presented to students as absolute truth. Endorsing any non-miraculous, naturalistic explanation of the origin of either the animate or inanimate components of the universe, including this physical world at its beginning, is not tolerated at Florida College.
3. “God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind’…and it was so” (Gen. 1:11). This statement of Scripture must be presented to students as absolute truth. Endorsing an evolutionary explanation for the origin of any “kind” of botanical life (plants, vegetation) is not tolerated at Florida College.
4. “God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind” (Genesis 1:21). This statement of Scripture must be presented to students as absolute truth. Endorsing an evolutionary explanation for the origin of any “kind” of aquatic life (simple or complex) or for the origin of any “kind” of winged living creature is not tolerated at Florida College.
5. “God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind” (Genesis 1:25). This statement of Scripture must be presented to students as absolute truth. Endorsing an evolutionary explanation for the origin of any “kind” of zoological life (mammals, reptiles, etc.) is not tolerated at Florida College.
6. “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). This statement of Scripture must be presented to students as absolute truth. Endorsing an evolutionary explanation for the origin of human beings, male and/or female, or for the development of human beings from lower forms of living organisms is not tolerated at Florida College.
7. “In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:10; see Genesis 1:1-2:25). This statement of Scripture must be presented to students as absolute truth. Any teaching relating to the “days” of creation designed to influence students to interpret them as accommodating any of the naturalistic conclusions disavowed above is not tolerated at Florida College.
