(First Draft)
I have spent many years arguing in the debate over creation and a young
earth versus evolution and an old earth from a scientist's point of
view. This is not because of "blind faith" - this is because of facts.
Most of the "old-earth" information the public is fed is based on bad
data. Scientists base everything on old dates, and thus everything
appears to be old. I could argue for days on all the ways true science
clearly shows that the earth is actually young, and that many professing
scientists are feeding the public a lie. I don't want to - I've done it
too much and found it usually accomplishes little. Those who want to
believe the media will do so. But, I would like to attempt to use
another tactic - to show why SCRIPTURALLY evolution does not work.
1) Evolution claims all creatures are "evolved", not "created".
Probably the most direct argument, and perhaps the most easily refuted,
is the simple fact that God clearly states that he created all things.
The important thing here is he didn't claim to create one thing back at
the beginning, while the rest was the result of "the circle of life" or
something, but he says he created "the earth and all that is therein" many,
many times (Ge. 6:7, Is. 40:26, Eph. 3:9, Col. 1:16, Rev. 10:6).
Evolution claims that, at most, all God created was some inanimate lump
of coal, and perhaps some energy - maybe not even that. The Bible holds
that God created each creature, that He took satisfaction in each
individual thing He made.
"...by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the
things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are,
and the sea, and the things that are therein..."
2) Evolution claims that creatures can become other creatures over time.
The basic idea of evolution hinges upon creatures changing their
characteristics. This does occur to an extent, but evolution takes it a
step further and claims that at some point they become another kind of
animal. Another simple, yet profound, twist of God's plan. Once again,
God has clearly stated that creatures were to reproduce after their kind
(Ge. 1:11, 21, 24, 25; Mt. 7:16-20, Lk. 6:43-45). God seems to like
divisions (Le. 19:19), and it was his choice to make permanent divisions
between the animals. Evolution claims that God allows one kind of animal
to change into another over time. The Bible holds that goats will not
become sheep, not even after a billion years!
"...Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind..."
3) Evolution claims that creatures' characteristics are the result of
natural selection.
This one gets at the basic thought of the above two problems. Why would
God create all these creatures? Why not just let them evolve? And the
answer, of course, is that God has purpose in the way he has created the
heavens (Ge. 1:14; Ps. 19:1; Ps. 97:6), the earth (Job 38:4-38) and the
creatures that dwell here (Job 39:5-20). From God's plan of
what is clean and unclean (Ge. 7:2) before the law to His metaphors in
the teachings of Christ (Lk. 8:5-15) God demonstrates his purpose. Our
God does not make purposeless actions. Evolution claims that the only
purpose in the characteristics of the natural world is survival. The
Bible holds that God has purposely crafted a world that plainly declares
his sovereignty and demands His praise.
"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..."
4) Evolution requires death for natural selection.
Another well known tenant of Darwinian evolution that the weaker species
must die out, and the stronger prevail. This is what "Survival of the
Fittest" is all about: death. The problem with this is that we are told
that the work of MAN brought death into the world (Rom. 5:12-17, I Cor.
15:21-22). Before the fall there was no death. Not only would this put
a serious damper on the whole evolutionary process, but it means that we
also have a serious population control issue after that much time.
Evolution would mean, therefore, that death was the creative work of God,
and thus that Jesus’ coming was an act of correction to God’s work which
would inhibit evolution. The Bible holds that man was responsible for
death, and thus was condemned by his own actions until Christ came, out
of LOVE, to save him.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death
by sin; and so death passed upon all men..."
5) Evolution claims that carnivorous animals' features (sharp teeth,
claws, etc.) are the result of millions of years of evolution.
If we try to put several billion years in there before the fall, we will
have trouble explaining the carnivorous characteristics of certain
animals due to the fact that flesh was not eaten before the flood (Ge.
1:29-30, 9:3). (And even if you do not hold that this verse
applies to animals, the above problem eliminates death at least up to the
fall, so the same holds.) Where did those teeth come from? The only
good explanation is that God knew what was coming, and CREATED them with
the features they would need once they were allowed to consume flesh.
Evolution claims that death and devouring are basic requirements for life
in this world. But we are told that the need to consume flesh will be
removed again in the future. The Bible holds that God has created a
world that can survive without death and the consumption of life.
"...[T]o every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life,
I have given every green herb for meat..."
E-Mail Charlie Mauck