Creation (part 1): Dirt-People and Talking Snakes?

The opening chapters of the Bible, Genesis chapters 1 through 3, are among its most debated and significant passages. Imagine opening the Bible for the first time. Like many before you, the instinct is to start at the beginning, making Genesis the natural starting point. Immediately, you encounter a narrative where God creates the universe in (most of) a week, a man is formed from the dust of the earth to name the animals, a woman is crafted from the man’s rib, and a serpent speaks, deceiving the first humans into eating a fruit that introduces the knowledge of good and evil, thereby fracturing paradise.

To those familiar with these accounts, they may seem almost commonplace. However, to the uninitiated this story is profoundly unusual. This strangeness often shifts the focus of discussions to questions about whether the narrative should be understood literally or metaphorically, the role of science and evolution in Christian belief, and how the Bible aligns with modern understanding of the world—like the fact that serpents don’t talk or that dinosaurs roamed the earth millions of years ago. (I’ll never forget attending a Southern Baptist church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where I was told that humans and dinosaurs coexisted. My excitement at the idea of riding a dinosaur was short-lived when my dad explained that interpretations of the creation story vary—and, no, dinosaurs aren’t coming back.)

While these debates might animate lively discussions, they often distract from the deeper purpose of opening the Bible: seeking answers to the core questions of life. Humanity longs for salvation—not just from hardship in the life to come, but from the brokenness and emptiness of the world we live in now. Debating whether a serpent literally tricked humanity’s first parents into disobedience doesn’t provide the answers people are searching for today. But this doesn’t make the creation story irrelevant. On the contrary, its message is more relevant than ever.

Genesis: A Story of Identity and Purpose

The creation account and the fall of Adam and Eve offer profound truths about who we are, why the world is the way it is, and how we can find the fulfillment we so desperately seek. These chapters reveal answers to questions about identity, purpose, worth, and meaning—concepts that believers and non-believers alike wrestle with daily.

Whether God created the world in seven literal days, “God days,” or through divinely guided evolution, the foundational truths remain the same: humanity is made in the image and likeness of God. We are designed to enjoy creation in communion with Him. Our current suffering stems from the separation caused by humanity’s persistent choice to do things our way rather than God’s. The solution lies in being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, and in being filled with the Holy Spirit, God dwelling within us.

The message of Genesis is not primarily about timelines or the mechanics of creation but about humanity’s relationship with God. It reminds us that the Creator designed us for purpose, joy, and connection. In a world struggling with questions of identity and worth, this truth is transformative.

Anthropology: What It Means to Be Human

Theology has a term for exploring what the Bible says about humanity: anthropology. Understanding what it means to be human has profound implications for how we live and view others. Consider history: Slavery thrived because people questioned the humanity of Africans. War and violence become easier when we dehumanize our enemies. If humans are seen as nothing more than evolved animals, survival at all costs becomes the norm.

But Genesis challenges this view. If we are made in the image of God—the Creator of all existence—then our lives have inherent value, and our actions ought to reflect that. Knowing what it means to be human helps us understand the depth of our separation from God, the beauty of His mission to restore us, and the possibilities for life both now and in eternity.

The Byzantine theologian Gregory Palamas captured this hope beautifully:

"Through the fall, our nature was stripped of divine illumination and resplendence. But the Logos [Christ] of God had pity upon our disfigurement, and in His compassion, He took our nature upon Himself. On Tabor, He manifested it to His elect disciples clothed once again most brilliantly. He showed what we once were and what we shall become through Him in the age to come if we choose to live our present life, as far as possible, in accordance with His ways."

Who am I?

As you navigate the peculiarities of Genesis, resist the urge to fixate on questions like, “How did this happen?” Instead, consider the more pressing question: “What does this say about who I am?”

Genesis isn’t just about the origins of the universe—it’s about the origins of humanity’s identity and purpose. It tells us that we are cherished creations of God, designed for communion with Him and each other. Through Christ, we are offered restoration, a way to recover what was lost in Eden, and a hope for what is to come.

Debates about talking serpents and the length of creation may entertain, but they pale in comparison to the life-changing truths revealed in the first pages of scripture. These truths help us see ourselves, others, and the world through the lens of God’s love and purpose—and that is far more compelling than any argument about dinosaurs.