Evolution, Intelligent Design, and the Word of God

The following is a response to a newspaper editorial that Shawn reposted on his website to allow space for it to be responded to. It is entitled “Bible Hardly a Historical Guide” and comes from a Ms. Desiree Campbell. Her original writings are block quoted.

In response to Mr. Nelson’s letter on evolution I think it would be prudent to point out that the Bible is not the “Word of Godâ€?, it’s just a book. If it were the infallible word of God it would not be so easily discredited.

This is always an interesting, if not futile, challenge made by unbelievers and scoffers, “for the word of the LORD is right” (Psalm 33:4).

In Genesis 1, God creates both Adam and Eve–at the same time. In chapter 2, Adam is created first then Eve is created from his rib. If the Bible contradicts itself within the first two chapters you pretty much have to rule it out as an accurate historical guide.

The two passages in question are:

• “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness … So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply…” (Genesis 1:26-28).
• “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground … And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone … And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman…” (Genesis 2:7,18,22).

Genesis 2 lends itself as explanatory text to what happened in Genesis 1. God filled in some of the details surrounding certain events, such as the creation of man, and He gave special emphasis to the planting and filling of the Garden of Eden rather than the preparation and filling of the earth.

Consider this comparison:

• Bob was hungry, so he made two sandwiches to satisfy his cravings.
• Bob, being hungry, made himself a sandwich and ate it. Finding one sandwich insufficient, Bob made a second one, which filled him.

Are those examples contradictory, or does the second serve as an explanation to the first?

“Intelligent Design” is not a scientific theory, it is not scientific period. “Intelligent Design” is not supported by any science.

That God created is evident in Creation, leaving none with an excuse to dismiss the existence of God (Romans 1:20). Is this science? No, nor does Scripture ever claim it to be.

However, that Darwinian evolution is a scientific theory does not preclude the fact that it is abominably wrong. That it is drawn as a conclusion by so many is not surprising; if you remove the possibility of God’s existence, some other invisible force must take His place. And so enters the unobserved hand of evolution.

Faith in the Deity is substituted for faith in evolution. Mutations happen. Speciation happens. However, mutations can never cause a dog to cease being a dog nor can it allow a fish to become a rodent.

Until such changes are observed (and according to the theory of evolution, we may be waiting for million years), faith in them is merely the result of willful ignorance.

The Darwinian theory of Evolution is a scientific theory. And “theory” doesn’t mean “theory”, it’s just what a scientific understanding is called. It’s called a “theory” because it may be changed if it needs to in light of new evidence being found.

A “theory” is a “set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.”

Because evolution cannot be “tested”, we are left with it being a theory by virtue of it being widely accepted. Whether we can use it to make predictions is debatable; such predictions make for great entertainment on the Discovery Channel, but again the predictions aren’t able to be conventionally observed.

Mr. Nelson may be trying to do good by “informingâ€? people about the “inconsistenciesâ€? of evolution or about the “realityâ€? of a loving God (*cough *cough–10 plagues of Egypt–*cough). But he is just appearing uninformed.

The reality of a loving God does not and cannot change the fact that He is also a just and vengeful God, having mercy upon who He will have mercy.

Casting accusations upon the one who will ultimately judge your actions, thoughts, and motives is not wise.

• And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of enby, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans1:28-32

God is loving; indeed, God is love. However, for the unconverted, that love is available only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Only in Him is God’s justice satisfied, is mercy for sins found. Jesus died and bore the punishment so that His righteousness may be imputed to us and that His blood may wash away the guilt of our sins.

For every soul who refuses the propitiation which Christ made, the wrath of God will one day be poured out upon them. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20).

Also I would like to point out that while many societies have their own “creationistâ€? beliefs, these are not what make them “moralâ€?. And just because Christians still believe in creation (I think they have to, don’t’ they?) doesn’t make it right.

Being moral means nothing. Morality won’t get anybody into Heaven.

Christians believing something doesn’t make that something right. Rather, because God is God, “the word of the LORD is right.”

One final comment to whomever started this discussion and said that creationism should be taught in schools because there is “debateâ€? about evolution: there’s also debate about the earth revolving around the Sun, and “debateâ€? that the Holocaust was made up by the Jews. Oh, and about the Theory of Evolution causing immorality and the holocaust: firstly, Hitler was a devout Christian (and cough cough–the Crusades–cough)

The Crusades were caused by the pagan church of Rome. Hitler was a member of this selfsame church. Again, willful ignorance about Christ has caused you to stumble into not only believing lies but also spreading them. Jesus Christ taught us to live peacably with men and to withhold vengeance, for it belongs to Him to deliver in time. Christ is the Prince of Peace; beware of anyone who comes to you in the name of war claiming to be a Christian.

However, the theory of evolution has caused immorality. With its promotion and acceptance has come a vast falling away from moral behavior and righteous living in America. This is in harmony with the teachings of Romans 1: with the rejection of God as Creator, man fell into such terrible sins that God actually “gave them up unto vile affections” (v. 26). It is a terrible sin which would disgust, anger, and frustrate God (who loved us enough to die for us) enough to give up on us. And what sin is that? It is the same sin which is being proudly paraded around America and the world today: homosexuality, the going after of strange flesh and the pursuit of unnatural affections.

It happened in Noah’s day, it happened in Paul’s day, it’s happening again today. There is still space left for them to repent.