Is
the Bible's account of creation true? Did God create the physical
universe out of nothing in six 24-hour days thousands of years ago? Or
is the theory of evolution true? Did the elements organize themselves
over billions of years into the variety of complex forms we see today?
How we answer questions about the origin and design of the physical
universe is important. Our answers impact our lives now and have serious
consequences for our lives in the future.
1. Purpose
Part 2 of this booklet is intended for people who claim to believe in the Bible. One purpose of this entire booklet is to encourage and increase their trust in all that the Bible says. But we hope, in part 2, to strengthen their trust in the Bible by demonstrating that the Bible is accurate and trustworthy in all of the accounts of the people, places and events which it describes, especially what it says about the creation of the physical universe. By demonstrating the Bible's trustworthiness in its description of history, we hope to support their trust in the Bible's most important message, namely, the gospel of sin, judgment and salvation.
Another purpose of part 2 of this booklet is to encourage Christians to stand fast in their confidence in the Bible when they meet people who question the Bible's statements. We hope to help them maintain a strong, faithful witness to the Bible's message when they face challenges to what the Bible says about the beginning of the universe. There is an immense pressure placed upon people by the scientific, educational, political and publishing institutions to believe in evolution. Scientists publish long articles in magazines in support of evolution, and the majority of the public unthinkingly assent to what they say. But Christians must never be intimidated by the volume of words that evolutionists use to support their views. Nor should Christians be impressed by the prestige of the people who use those words. Christians must understand that evolutionists' objective is to reduce the Bible's credibility in order to dismiss its claim on their lives (Rom. 1:21-23). Unfortunately, many people who claim to believe in the Bible follow the crowd and assume that what scientific and educational authorities say must be true. Consequently, they try to understand the Bible's description of creation in a way that conforms to evolutionary assumptions. That compromise is foolish. It is foolish scientifically because it leads to scientific confusion and error. Far more importantly, it is foolish spiritually because it leads to spiritual apostasy and judgment. Therefore, we hope this booklet can be a resource for Christians who want to stand courageously upon the Bible and its message of creation. We hope to help them to boldly declare that the bible is true (John 17:17) and that all men are liars (Rom. 3:4).
How part 2 of this booklet helps someone depends upon his interest, the personal questions he may have or the challenges he may face at the moment. If someone wants to understand the basic spiritual issues involved, then sections 2 through 5 and 7 will be helpful. If someone wants to understand how scientific laws and observations fit into the discussion, then he may want to look at section 6. Even though section 6 demonstrates the scientific validity of the Bible's account of creation, it is not included in attempt to convince anyone who doubts the truth of the Bible that it is best to trust in the Bible. Scientific discussions will never do that. Only the Bible itself has the power to create faith in God's Word (Rom. 10:17). Instead, section 6 is presented in anticipation of any Christian who would wonder if the Bible has any good answers to the claims of the evolutionist, and if there is an explanation of the origin of the physical universe that harmonizes with what we read in the Bible. Therefore, section 6 is not presented to answer evolutionists' arguments "in kind," or impress anyone with the scientific support for the Bible's message. Rather it is meant to strengthen the trust believers already have in the Bible.
2. Two dangers
One danger is that we think too little about questions concerning creation and evolution. Someone may ask, "Why should I even bother with these questions? The issue seems so remote and irrelevant to my personal life." It is true that normally we do not consciously think about these things. However, we all have an opinion or idea about how the universe came to be. One purpose of this booklet is to help us realize that what we think about these questions is important.
First of all, Jesus referred to the events and people mentioned in Genesis as factual history (Matt 19:4,5). If we claim that Jesus is our Savior, and therefore claim to trust and love Him, then His understanding of the Bible ought to be ours too.
In the second place, it is more than just whether our understanding of the origin of the universe is accurate. It is more than just whether our understanding of the form and function of all its parts is somehow useful for our lives. What we think about the Bible's description of the physical universe is based upon and shapes our opinion about God's Word, the bible. If we doubt the truth of one part of the Bible, such as its message of creation, how are we to know if we can trust it in other matters, especially in its message of salvation?
In the third place, what we think about the physical universe has an impact upon our morality and ethics, that is, what we think is bad and good, or right and wrong. How we answer the questions we posed as we began part 2 of this booklet has an impact upon what we do and what we encourage other people to do. We will look at the moral impact of this issue in section 4.
Finally, we are commanded to give an answer to anyone who asks of the hope we have in the Bible's message (I Peter 3:15), especially since the sinful world's evolutionary challenge prompts many people to question the truthfulness of the Bible. That means we must seek to understand and be ready to present with conviction the whole counsel of God, from Genesis to Revelation.
Perhaps someone may react to the questions we presented as we began Part 2 of this booklet by saying, "But the whole issue is technical for me. I don't understand any of it at all." Yes, the issue can be very technical. Concrete and specific facts as well as mathematical formulas can be presented to demonstrate the reasonableness of the Bible's account of creation by the hand of Almighty God. But the discussion does not have to be technical; and in this booklet it is not. In fact, the support for the Bible's account of creation is so strong that it can be presented in a very simple and straightforward way.
Another danger is that we think too much about questions concerning creation and evolution. After having pointed out the "importance" of these questions and mentioning that our answers to them have "serious consequence," it might seem strange to say we can think too much about them. What we mean is that it is dangerous to think about them out of proportion to other issues that must be more prominent in our thinking.
First of all, being overly occupied with questions about creation and evolution is dangerous because it may erode our personal walk with God. We must be aware that it is possible, in fact very easy, for questions about creation and evolution is dangerous because it may erode or personal walk with God. We must be aware that it is possible, in fact very easy, for questions about creation and evolution to occupy too much of our time and attention. Even if our objective is to look at the physical universe from God's perspective, the more we seek to understand the origin and design of the physical universe, the more we must increase our concentration upon physical things. Unfortunately, this focus encourages the interest and attraction for physical things we naturally have as physical creatures. In addition, as we increase the amount of time and resources we spend to investigate the physical evidence in the universe, we could easily reduce the amount of time we take to study the bible itself. And the time and attention that we give to physical matters could lead us to place a greater importance upon them than we would upon spiritual matters. That would be a focus on the creation rather than the Creator. We must always keep in mind that our Christian life does not begin with nor is it nurtured and supported by physical things, but by God's word alone (Matt. 4:4, II Tim. 3:16,17). A victorious Christian life that is a blessing to God and men begins with and is maintained by a focus upon the spiritual things found in the Bible (Col. 3:1,2,16).
Secondly, being overly occupied with questions concerning creation and evolution is dangerous because it may cause physical issues to be the center of our gospel witness. A complete gospel presentation requires an immoveable stand upon the Bible's declaration that God created the physical universe and continues to sustain it today. That is why this booklet was written. However, this is not really an intellectual issue but a heart issue. How a person answers the questions we presented as we began Part 2 of this booklet is a matter of what he thinks about God and his own soul and not a matter of what he thinks about the physical evidence. Notice that Romans 10:17 does not say, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of science." Instead, the power of the gospel is applied through God's Word alone. In fact, according to Romans 1:20, the purpose of the witness of the physical universe is "so that men are without excuse." Rather than bring men to their spiritual senses and cause them to seek the mercy of their Creator, the testimony of the physical universe reveals their insane rebellion and prepares them for Judgment Day. Therefore, a proper discussion with someone about these physical questions, especially with someone about these physical questions, especially with someone who does not trust the Bible's account of creation, must be evangelistic.
It is true that Psalm 19:1 states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork." The physical universe is a display of the glory of God's creative wisdom and power. Anyone who looks around himself ought to humbly submit to and worship the great Creator of all that he sees. But that is not what happens. For one thing, unsaved men cannot understand a physical witness, which points to spiritual truths. The reason is that all unsaved men are dead in their sins, so they do not have the ability to properly respond to any spiritual witness (Eph. 2:1, Rom. 8:9). For anther thing, unsaved men do not want to trust the Bible. They believe in the theory of evolution because they want to believe it. Their rejection of their Creator is not a matter of science but of their will. They can protest that they believe in evolution as a consequence of thoughtful evaluation of the available information and careful application of principles. However, as we shall see in section 6, evolution is not an intelligent explanation of the origin and function of the physical universe because it violates accepted laws of science and conflicts with observation. Unsaved people have a bias that causes them to cling to the theory of evolution regardless of the evidence. The bias may be based upon unquestioned admiration of and trust in teachers of evolution. The bias may be based upon fear of ridicule or persecution from the majority of people who believe in evolution. The bias may be based upon a latent fear of God as well as an unwillingness to be held accountable to Him.
If a person, to whom we proclaim the Gospel, has rejected the Bible's authoritative explanation of how all things came to be and how things continue to exist, that person will never be convinced by lucid logic or compelling evidence. Only when a person is born again by God's grace will he turn from his sinful focus upon himself and this world, and have the eyes to see and the mind to understand God's creative hand in this physical universe. Only when a person has been given new life through the Holy Spirit will he turn from his rebellion and have the heart to submit to and trust in what God says in His word about the origin and appearance of the physical universe. Spiritual life does not come through the testimony of science but only though God's Word (I Peter 1:23). Therefore, our gospel witness must be centered upon the testimony of the Bible, not upon the physical evidence found in the universe.
It is true that some people have heard a presentation of origin of the universe from a creationist's point of view, recognized the wisdom of that view, and turned from evolution to a trust in the Bible's account of the origin of the universe. However, the truth is that they were persuaded to change by the grace of God through the Bible's appeal to the need of their soul. Sometimes a person changes his view from evolution to creation at the same time that he is saved. Sometimes a person will continue to hold to the evolutionary point of view after he is saved. But if he is truly born again, as God causes him to grow spiritually and deal honestly with his sins, he will become more and more uncomfortable with the evolutionary view and eventually repudiate it. Whatever a person's spiritual journey, his change of mind is always based upon what God has done to change his heard through the gospel.
Thirdly, being overly occupied with questions about creation and evolution could lead us to waste a lot of time, money and energy defending the Bible from the ridicule of people who believe in evolution. It is so easy to react emotionally to an attack and allow it to create thoughts of anger or self-pity. It is easy to seek legislative, political or social solutions in order to get relief from the unfair treatment of people who despise the Bible. Sadly those kinds of defensive attitudes and actions crowd out the message of salvation, which should fill our minds. Not only that, we must remember that the unsaved people of this world are dead in sin and will not respond positively to the clear message of the Bible. Only the gospel, together with the power of God's grace, is an answer to the wickedness of men. Besides, according to God's economy as laid out in the Bible, believers may never win any political or social battle with evolutionists, because wickedness must increase until Jesus returns (Matt. 24:12). Our job as believers is to bring the message of salvation, supported by the message of the whole Bible, from creation to Judgment Day, and leave the results in God's hands.
We must always keep in mind the purpose of this physical universe. It is a temporary arena in which a much more crucial spiritual drama is taking place. God made this physical universe to accomplish His spiritual purposes, one of which is to glorify Himself through the salvation of His people. The rescue of their souls from the threat of God's wrath on Judgment Day and the release of their souls from enslavement to sin and Satan today are more important than any physical objects or events in this universe. What matters most to God and what must matter most to His people is that they know that they are saved and that they nurture and cultivate a close walk with Him. Because God uses His physical creation as a tool to fulfill His salvation plan, any discussion about creation and evolution must increase the preoccupation God's people have with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Any discussion about creation and evolution must strengthen the confidence, relief and joy they have in the salvation of their own souls and the souls of others. Any discussion about creation and evolution must renew their hope in the promise that God will destroy this sin-cursed physical universe and replace it with a far greater spiritual realm (II Peter 3:12,13), in which they will live with their spiritual bodies (I Cor. 15:53), whose design and appearance they cannot now imagine.
Finally, we must also understand that the explicit information found in the Bible is trustworthy but the implicit information gleaned from our empirical study of the physical universe is not trustworthy. What we learn from the Bible is without error, needing no revision or correction. On the other hand, our conclusions based upon the study of the physical universe are subject not only to personal error and prejudice, they are also subject not only to personal error and prejudice, they are also subject to change as more investigation brings more data to light. Therefore, what we learn in the Bible is the foundation for understanding the physical universe and is the final authority on any subject of which it speaks, including the origin of the universe.
3. We must make a choice
Either the Bible's account of creation or the theory of evolution is the accurate description of the origin, function and appearance of the physical universe. They cannot both be true.
a. Physical death
Evolutionists claim that physical death is normal event. It is their view that death is part of how the universe works. Evolutionists insist that death is a necessary function, which contributes to the change of living things, as over time, only the fittest survive. In contrast to that, the Bible states that physical death is not part of the original design and plan of the universe. That is partly what the Bible means when it states that the universe was perfect and good (Gen. 1:31). The Bible teaches that death came into the universe some time after God created it, as part of His curse in response to sin (Rom. 5:12).
Although the theory of evolution does not speak to the question of life after death, focusing only upon this physical universe, most evolutionists teach that all living things (plants and animals as well as people) cease to exist after death. In contrast to that, the Bible teaches that physical death is not just the termination of people's physiological process but it is an enemy of sinful men (I Cor. 15:26). Far more than just separating them from any blessings they might have in this life, physical death is the last event most people experience before they face judgment and the second death of eternal wrath in Hell (Heb. 9:27). Clearly, we cannot reconcile the claims of evolutionists with the teaching of the Bible. Both cannot be true.
b. Chance
Evolutionists insist that random changes of the genetic code, together with the selection of these changes over a long period of time, resulted in all the plants and animals we see today. On the other hand, the Bible states that every detail of the universe was created according to God's wise purpose and careful plan (Psalm 104:24, Jer. 10:12), and that He continues to sustain it today (Matt. 6:26,30, Col. 1:17, Heb. 1:3). Either one view or the other is true.
c. Finished work
Evolutionists insist that plants and animals have evolved in the past and continue to evolve at present. However, the Bible teaches that creation is finished and complete work of God (Ex. 20:11). With careful breeding, it is possible to produce varieties in plants and animals today. But the different breeds reveal the built-in pool of characteristics with which God originally designed living things in order to help them adapt and survive. However, there are limits to the variety of appearances and abilities a breeder can draw out from one kind of plant or animal. Furthermore, breeding never changes one kind of plant or animal. Furthermore, breeding never changes on kind of plant or animal into another kind. The reason is that God fixed the characteristics of living things when He finished His works at creation. We may choose to believe either one view or the other. But both views cannot be true.
d. No third choice
As we can see, it is not possible to take parts of both views and come up with a unified concept that reconciles them. Some people want to believe that God created the world, but are at the same time impressed with the arguments of the evolutionists. These people hold to a notion that God created by means of evolution. For example, some people believed the word "day" in Genesis 1 to be a long age. But the same word is used in Exodus 20:11 to mean a 24 hour day. Also, according to Genesis 1:12 and 16, plants were created a day before the sun was created. But a long age such as a million -year "day", would result in the death of all plants, which depend upon the Sun to live. The attempt to mix up the two views, an idea called "theistic evolution," it is not fair to either side. We must be honest and choose one view or the other. We cannot hold to both.
4. We must live with our choice.
Our choice to trust in the Bible or in the theory of evolution shapes what we think and do. In other words, the Bible's account of creation and the theory of evolution are known by their "fruit," that is, by the attitude and actions the two views produce in the lives of those people who believe in them.
a. The spiritual and moral consequences of choosing the theory of evolution. People who choose to trust in the theory of evolution believe that there was no Garden of Eden, no Adam, no sin, no Fall, no curse, and therefore no need for a Savior. Also, they believe that since the universe began billions of years ago, it will continue for billions of years more. They conclude that they do not need to be concerned about Judgment Day at the end of the world, and so do not need the protection of a Savior.
People who choose to trust in the theory of evolution believe that there is not God, as described in the bible, to whom they are accountable. They believe that there is no one to declare what is right and wrong. They believe that there is no one to whom they must give an answer for their thoughts, words and deeds, which differ from the ethical and moral absolutes described in the Bible. They believe, instead, that they can set standards for their own lives based upon what they think and feel is right in their own eyes. They also believe that standards which govern behavior between people are negotiable and are dependent upon the situation at hand. Furthermore, they believe that no standards are permanent, that standards, which shape human relationships, must change as times change. Their objective is to live selfish, indulgent and immoral lives, and they delight in a naturalistic, godless theory, such as evolution, that gives people the intellectual basis to ignore their consciences and suppress the truth of God's Word. Unfortunately, they are left with a life that has no meaning or purpose, which leads to aimlessness, despair and insanity. And even more frightening they are left to face God on Judgment Day, when they will have to answer for they have thought, said and done.
The theory of evolution recognizes the amazing complexity of human anatomy and physiology. But the theory of evolution teaches that a human is really just a bag of chemicals with structure and function that is the end result of a series of random biological changes. The theory of evolution teaches that people are at best no more than complex animals. Therefore, we should not be surprised if people act like animals and treat others as if they were, too. In other words, evolution promotes the bleak perspective that there is no reason to care about the needs and interests of others because life is a battle for survival. Evolution cares nothing for the individual, but instead is concerned with the survival of the species. It teaches that the universe discards weak individuals as it relentlessly marches forward to an unknown destiny. Evolution, then, is the foundation for the ruthless and merciless treatment of others, resulting in racism, genocide, abortion and euthanasia. Some people have used the logical consequences of the theory of evolution to justify such horror as eliminating an "inferior" group of people for the purpose of promoting the survival of the "superior" species.
b. The spiritual and moral consequences of choosing the Bible's account of creation
People who by God's grace choose to trust in the Bible's account of creation understand that God is sovereign over the universe and that they are accountable to Him for what they think, say and do. Those people rejoice in the message that the Creator Himself, who could cast everyone into Hell for rebelling against Him, who could be embarrassed and repulsed by their weaknesses and needs, has instead sacrifices His only Son to Save all those who trust what He says and walk obediently with Him (Rom. 5:8). Those people know God subjected the universe and its inhabitants to His curse in response to sin (Genesis 3:17, Romans 8:20-21). They also know that God cares a great deal about the universe. He has designed and continues to fulfill a wonderful plan for what He has made (II Peter 3:13). The Bible tells of God's tenderness toward His creation (Psalm 104) and His concern for each detail (Matthew 6:26, 10:30). The Biblical account of creation is a story of real hope because it tells us of a God who loves and cares for what He made.
People who by God's grace trust in the whole Bible, including the Bible's account of creation, understand that God is their Creator and has authority over their lives. They understand that God has created them for a purpose and that there is real meaning to their lives (Rom. 12:1,2, I Peter 2:9). They see other people as unique and valuable creations of God (Acts 17:26, Heb. 2:6,7). Therefore, they are willing to serve God gratefully and care for others with kindness and sacrificial love (Eph. 4:32, I John 4:19-21).
5. It is always a choice of faith.
Science is the collection of knowledge based upon the study of observable objects and phenomena in the physical universe. Scientific analysis results in a conclusion, based upon those observations, which conforms to known laws governing the appearance and behavior of the universe. Scientific analysis also includes a test of that conclusion of order to discover whether or not it is false. Therefore, when we seek to understand events that occurred long before anyone observed and documented them, we are not making a scientific investigation. What we say about the undocumented past, whether based upon the imaginations of men or upon the words of the Bible, is a matter of faith and not science.
Some people claim that we can study history as science. They say that we can measure present effects of past events. But the study of the undocumented past is not really science because we can never know for sure if we have all the facts or if we have analyzed the data properly. We can never demonstrate whether our collection of historical knowledge is true.
We can make educated guesses about the past based upon the study of circumstantial evidence by linking possible past causes to what we see today. We can put those guesses together and call them a theory. That is certainly appropriate, and our theory can serve as a model to help us understand the past. But we can never verify the link between the past because of present effects. We can make analogies by comparing events with which we are presently familiar to our estimation of how things could have been in the past. But as accurate as our understanding is of something that we can see today, we can never be sure that the comparison we make is valid. Studying a present phenomenon is science. However, applying what we learn about the phenomenon to an unreachable past event by meant of an analogy is not science. It is a guess. Guesses by themselves are never science, no matter what we want to call them.
a. Evolution is not scientific because it makes statements about times, places and events that have never been nor ever will be observed or measured by men. That is why it is only a theory and not fact. The question of what happened "billions" of years ago is not based on scientific observation but on assumptions and speculation. Therefore, the evolutionary view of natural history is a theory and can only be a theory. It can never be a fact. In addition, the theory of evolution is not scientific because the analyses evolutionists make of present day observations based upon that theory lead to conclusions that violate known scientific laws, as we shall see in section 6 of this booklet. Furthermore, evolutionists never honestly face a test but simply modify their theory to accommodate new information whenever their conclusions about the universe are shown to be wrong. That is, the theory of evolution is never held accountable for the many wrong conclusions it causes its followers to make. Because the theory of evolution is not scientific, evolutionary scientists must simply believe that things have evolved, and exchange a trust in God as revealed in the Bible with a trust in the inherent properties of material things.
b. Evolution is a religion:
The theory of evolution is a religion because it makes statements about God. Evolutionists begin with the scientifically unverifiable assumption that there is no Creator, that He is not necessary to the existence of the physical universe. Also the theory of evolution is a religion because it makes moral statements. Evolutionists teach that the material universe is all that there is. Since the physical elements from which the universe is constructed have no morality, they decide that there is no standard in the universe for judging conduct. According to the theory of evolution, the only guided of behavior is the need to survive, regardless of the consequences the struggle has on someone else. In addition to that, the theory of evolution has the form and structure of a religion. Colleges and universities are its temples of learning which preserve its sacred books. Evolutionary scientists are its clergy, who protect and preach its dogma in journal, popular periodicals and television programs.
Evolutionary scientists guard their theory with religious zeal. The passion and emotion with which evolutionists defend their theory against the presentation of creation reveals that they really do recognize the weakness of the man-made structure of the theory of evolution. Scientific evidence demonstrates that evolution contradicts the facts and that the Bible's account of creation is the more reasonable explanation of what we observe. Therefore, evolutionists must suppress the evidence, which demonstrates the weakness of the theory of evolution. Evolutionists must resort to convoluted and contradictory arguments in defense of their theory, to biased and false presentations in support of their idea, and to direct attacks upon anyone who opposes them. Their derision and wrath is swiftly visited upon other scientists who "heretically" present the view of creation, lest those who teach creationism undermine the message of evolution and "pollute" the thinking of the masses, whose support evolutionists desire and need.
c. Two faiths
Evolutionary thought is not an objective, neutral, unemotional scientific statement about the universe in which we live, but rather it is a dogmatic statement of faith motivated by a deliberately antagonistic attempt to suppress and supplant the Bible's message of creation by the hand of God. Evolution is a product of the deeply rooted rebellion in men's hearts. Evolutionists desperately cling to their theory because they seek some justification for their claim that the Bible is untrustworthy. They hate the fact that it declares God to be their Creator who has supreme authority over their lives. Nor do they want to hear or acknowledge that they must answer to their Creator for all their wicked thoughts, words and deeds. Therefore, the theory of evolution is a man made religion that competes with and seeks to supplant the gospel of the Bible. Evolutionists insist upon the exclusive loyalty of the hearts and minds of men, and so does the God of the Bible.
In Hebrews 11:3 we read "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." That is, our understanding of God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and all that it contains is a matter of faith. We must trust that what the Bible says about the origin of the universe is true, the only truth. What a person chooses to think about the origin of the universe is not fundamentally a result of human measurement and research. It is not a result of human logic. It is not a product of human debate and consensus. A person's choice is a matter of the heart. It is a matter of trusting either the wisdom of man or trusting in what God has revealed in His Word. Therefore, each man's choice of the object of his allegiance reveals his faith (Josh 24:15).
6. One choice is better scientifically
The Bible's view of creation is the best explanation of the physical universe because it conforms to the basic scientific laws that describe and govern the physical universe. The theory of evolution contradicts those laws. Also, the Bible's account of creation agrees with observable evidence while the theory of evolution disagrees with much of it. These claims are substantiated at length in many books written by scientists who have degrees from respected universities and who have experience in many different fields of research. In this short discussion we shall point out only a few of the scientific reasons that make the Bible's account of creation more reasonable and believable than the theory of evolution.
a. Laws
Scientists make many conclusions based upon their observations. As time goes by and new observations are made, their conclusions are compared to the new data to see if they are still valid. Sometimes they find that a conclusion does not agree with the new information. If the conclusion fails the test, it must be abandoned or modified. Sometimes scientists find, after many comparisons, that a conclusion appears to continue to accurately describe the appearance and behavior of what they see in the universe. When a lot of time goes by and their conclusion remains valid for all situations they can think of, they grow more confident in it and eventually call it a law. That law, which is potentially subject to revision, does not have an authority equal to the eternal statements of God found in the Bible. Nevertheless, some laws of science have correctly described the basic form and function of the universe so well and for so long that we can make a good judgment as to whether creation or evolution is more reasonable when we compare both views to those laws. Let us look at a few of those laws.
The universe is full of matter and energy which are constantly changing from one form into another. For example, when we eat a sandwich some chemical energy is changed into heat energy. When we ride a roller coaster, our energy of position changes into energy of motion and back again. There is a law of science that states, even though lots of changes can take place, the total amount of energy and matter before something happened is equal to the total amount of energy and matter after it happened. No new energy or matter is created or annihilated. In simplest words, this law states that you cannot get something from nothing. There is nothing in the universe to cause new energy or matter to appear. The first law has never been observed to be violated.
This first law might help us investigate transfers of matter and energy, but it tells us nothing about how matter and energy originated in the first place. In fact, this law does not even tell us if the universe had a beginning. However, this law means that if the universe had a beginning, it could not have created itself. It could have come into existence only because of a power outside of itself.
In this busy universe full of energy changes, sometimes things get close to each other or bump into each other and exchange energy or matter. During the exchange, some of the energy is changed into heat. For example, the chemical bonds in a sandwich break during digestion and the released heat energy warms our bodies. The wheels of a roller coaster rub against the metal track and produce heat through friction. There is another law of science that states if we observe something happening and record all the exchanges in energy that take place, we will find that the total amount of matter and energy is the same before and after, as it should be, but that some of the energy has dissipated into the surroundings as heat energy. The important thing to notice is that the heat energy can never be gathered together again or changed into a form to do something useful. A sandwich is used up and cannot be replaced with the same chemical energy, some of which has been distributed to the surroundings as heat. A roller coaster will never keep going forever. Instead, it will slow down as the energies of position and motion are lost to heat through friction. The conclusion is that, as time goes by, more and more energy in the universe is being changed into a useless form, that is, into scattered heat energy. This second law has never been observed to be violated.
One implication of this second law is that, if we wait long enough, eventually all useful energy will leak away into heat and nothing more will happen. The universe will be dead. Another implication is that, in time past, the universe had a lot more useful energy.
Evolutionists claim that the second law could be set aside if we consider a system in which energy comes in from the outside. They point to the Sun's radiation falling upon the Earth as an example. They claim that such an input of energy accounts for all the complexity we find on the Earth. But that is not so. Energy into a system, by itself, actually makes the destruction described by the second law occur more rapidly. Raw energy input, such as the Sun's radiation upon the Earth, breaks things down and does not build things up.
Evolutionists claim that the second law could be set aside if we consider a system in which energy comes in from the outside. They point to the Sun's radiation falling upon the Earth as an example. They claim that such an input of energy accounts for all the complexity we find on the Earth. But that is not so. Energy into a system, by itself, actually makes the destruction described by the second law occur more rapidly. Raw energy input, such as the Sun's radiation upon the Earth, breaks things down and does not build things up.
Evolutionists claim that a living plant or animal is an example of a system in which the second law does not apply. But that is not so. The second law is valid even for a living thing, which uses raw energy and builds itself up. The living thing must work to counter the deterioration, which the law describes. But doesn't that work show that the second law is not valid for living things? No. A living thing can do useful work only if it has been given instructions, which is found in its DNA, and if it has been given the mechanism in some of its cells, such as chlorophyll in plants, for changing the raw energy it gets into a form that it can use to grow and maintain itself.
The second law is an important companion of the first law. Together they are a big witness against evolution and a big support for the Bible's statements of creation. According to the two laws, not only is it impossible to get something from nothing, but also what we get as time goes by is less useful to us that before. In short, the universe is wearing out. In the image of a clock, the two laws together state that the universe is running down and it can't rewind itself, if it was wound up. That is, the second law says that the universe had a beginning and the first law says that the universe did not create itself. These laws point to the hand of someone outside of the universe, to a Creator.
We shall mention one more law. It is similar to the first law, but applies only to living things. The Earth is full of many kinds of living things. The Earth is full of many kinds of living things, but we observe that living things can only come from living things. For example, kittens come from mother cats and corn plants come from the corn seeds of previous corn plants. Similar to the first law, which states that we can't get something from nothing, another law states that life cannot come from non-living things. According to this law, which has never been observed to be violated, life can only come from pre-existing life.
Evolution states the universe is becoming more complex and more useful. But the laws of science, together with the Bible, state that the universe is running down and is becoming less useful (Psalm 102:25,26). Evolution states that the universe had no beginning. But the laws of science, together with the Bible, state that the universe had a beginning, when it was a lot better off, more able to keep things going, like living things (Gen. 1:31). Evolution states that at one time lifeless chemicals changed into life. But the laws of science, together with the Bible, state that life can come only from a life-giver (Psalm 104:29,30). Clearly the Bible's account of creation is a better choice.
b. Observations
We learn the size, weight, composition, behavior and many other concrete and specific facts about objects in the universe through observation. It is true that what we notice and remember about objects in this universe can be affected by our prejudices, ignorance and lack of experience. Therefore, our observations about the universe are not as trustworthy as the statements of God in the Bible. Nevertheless, there are many observations to which we may compare both the account of creation in the Bible and the theory of evolution in order to see which view best fits the facts as we know them. Let us look at a few simple, common observations.
Our common experience tells us that objects and phenomena in the universe have origins and causes. We observe the leaves of a tree move and think about the lightning or the careless match that started it. We observe that there is always a cause to everything that happens or exists. The theory of evolution does not agree with that observation because it insists that if we could go back in time, we would never find a first cause but that all things just are, without a cause or reason. In contrast to evolution, the view of creation is that all things have an origin. And if we go back in time, we would see that all things in the physical universe exist because God is the first cause.
Our observations also show that all phenomena and objects in the universe have design. Things in the universe display their design in their amazing complexity. Things in the universe display their design by their design by their intricate structure and the provision given to them in order to fulfill a useful purpose. Things in the universe display their design by their interdependence upon each other and how they cooperate with each other.
One good example of design is the human eye. The human eye is made of many parts. Each part, the cornea, the iris, the retina, all the fluids and nerves, among others, are precisely constructed to perform a specific function. Not only must each part by made right, but also all of the parts must work together and in coordination with the optic nerve and the brain to enable someone to see. A slight change in any part or a slight change in how one part connects with other parts results in poor vision or blindness. One thing to keep in mind is that not one of these parts is able to see. An eye is really a collection of non-seeing parts. Unless all of the parts of the system are in place and working properly together, the whole system does not work at all and is useless. In fact, a sightless non-functioning eye is detrimental to an organism because it can be a source of injury and infection. This means that the whole system could not have waited around as a useless organ for millions of genetic accidents to accumulate in order to produce a complete eye. The only honest scientific conclusion is that the intricate detail and precision of the seeing eye shows great wisdom in design and shows purpose of structure and function. This and many more examples, such as a bird's wing, which is a complex structure that provides flight only in coordination with all the other parts of the bird, are clear witnesses to the creative hand of God.
Another good example of design is the amazing relationship between two kinds of fish. One kind is the small black and yellow French angel fish. They hide in coral because they are often eaten by larger fish. The other kind is the larger yellow-tailed Goat fish. They eat smaller fish. Goat fish sometimes swim near coral and change their color to pink. That tells the angel fish it is safe to swim out and eat the parasites, which are attached to the Goat fish. The Goat fish wait patiently to be cleaned but do not eat the smaller fish. When the Goat fish change color again, the smaller fish return to the safety of the coral. This relationship could never have happened by chance because on kind of fish is a predator and the other kind is a predator's lunch. Furthermore, if such a behavior was accidentally learned by one particular pair of French angel and Goat fish, the new relationship could never have been passed on to following generations. This, and many more symbiotic cooperative relationships, show the design of God's wise, caring and purposeful work of creation.
One more example of design is found in the genetic information found in a DNA molecule located in the cells of living things. Segments of the long DNA molecule, called genes, contain instructions in code for making all the proteins a cell needs. The structure of a DNA molecule and the process that is required to make proteins according to the code they contain is so complex that it could not have come together by random chance trial-and-error chemical reactions. It is also important to know that the information in the DNA is stable. The genetic codes do have instructions for some variety, such as differences in skin color, body size and other physical features. But the variety is always limited. For example, moth populations can change in color and dogs can be bred to change in size. But the organisms are always the same. Moths are always moths and never some other creature. Dogs are always dogs and not half dog and half some other creature. The limitations in the changes that organisms display from one generation to another are a testimony to the built-in genetic variation, which is a marvelous design that allows living things to adapt to changes in the environment. That is, different breeds do not mean new information is created, but that some genetic information is emphasized over other information. The idea is that living things cannot evolve into something else because the DNA message limits the amount of change that can take place. Living things are fixed into kinds as the Bible states you can't get something from nothing.
Sometimes, but not very often, when the DNA message is copied so that it can be passed on to the next generation, mistakes are made. These mistakes are called mutations, which evolutionists claim result in new kinds of living things. However, years of observations have shown that mutations are either of neutral value or almost always harmful. For example, a protein that is too different from previous proteins, because of a mistake in copying the DNA instructions needed to build that protein, would interfere with the function of a living thing and possibly lead to its death. A mistake in copying the codes is another example of the second law of science we talked about before. A copying mistake is an example of a less useful situation in the form of a loss of information, just like a typographical error doesn't add a new message to the letter but makes the original message harder to read. Mistakes do not add useful information but are a loss of information. Mistakes do not result in a new message but distort the original message. For example, mutations in fruit flies always result in more fruit flies, many times disables fruit flies or dead fruit flies, but fruit flies nevertheless. This is a testimony to the accuracy of the Bible which states that one kind of life comes only from the same kind of life (Gen. 1:21,24,25) and that life is deteriorating (Eccl. 3:19,20), to which the genetic mutational load that living things must bear is a witness.
Even though they do not help us directly answer the question of origins, we must briefly discuss fossils because the theory of evolution depends so much upon them. Fossil evidence strongly supports the Bible's account of creation and clearly contradicts the theory of evolution. In fact, the fossil evidence is an embarrassment to evolutionists for at least two reasons. First of all, in rocks that evolutionists call the oldest fossil-bearing rocks, are found fossils of complex life forms, such as sponges, corals and mollusks, much like they look today. Amazingly, in rocks considered even older, not a single indisputable multi-cellular fossil has been found. Therefore, according to the fossil record, these complex life forms had no ancestors, since the fossil remains of their ancestors are absent. The evidence agrees with the Bible, which states that life in all of its variety came into existence suddenly. Secondly, according to the theory of evolution, the rocks of the earth should contain fossils of thousands of transitional life forms. In fact, if over millions of years plants and animals have been evolving, we should see more fossils of in-between types. Evolutionists are so desperate to find them that the few they have promoted have been disqualified or proved to be a fraud. In fact, the history of anthropology is, sadly, littered with dishonest claims. For example, the remains of one famous ape-man, used in the famous Scopes trial to support the claims of evolutionists who wanted to discredit the Bible's account of creation, was later shown to be a tooth from a pig.
There are many more observations we could highlight that reveal the truth of the Bible's account of creation and contradict the theory of evolution. Some observations do not point directly to the fact of a Creator, but demonstrate that the universe is quite young, thousands of years rather than billions of years old as the theory of evolution requires and demands. Observations concerning comets, the amount of Helium in the Earth's atmosphere and the amount of nitrates and minerals in the oceans are a few examples of these kinds of observations. However, these kinds of observations point only indirectly to the existence of a Creator, so we will no discuss them in this booklet. Besides, as we have mentioned, there are excellent articles in other books, thoroughly and clearly written, which present detailed discussions of these and other observation, such as the use of radioactive decay in assigning ages to objects, the validity of the Big Bang theory, the nature of the source of the Sun's energy, and much more.
c. Science education and scientists
Sadly, the theory of evolution, which is often taught in schools as fact, is illogical and contradicts observations. It is bad science. In fact, it is anti-science because it contradicts laws, observations and obvious cause-and-effect relationships. Also, the theory of evolution forces students to work under the burden of unscientific assumptions and speculations that steer them away from more productive lines of investigation, as well as closes their minds to more insightful patterns of thought. For example, no too long ago evolutionists considered many human organs, such as the appendix, to be evolutionary leftovers, useless and dispensable. For a while students of anatomy were taught and willingly received these ideas. However, more careful study subsequently has shown that the organ performs important functions. The appendix is now recognized to be part of the immune system.
In contrast to that, the Bible's account of creation promotes good science. Recognizing the clear witness of an intelligent cause of the complex and fascinating universe, Bible-believing students of science expect to discover order, purpose and design in all that they study in the universe. Also, they are interested to learn more about the Person who made it. True believers are curious to learn how God made His universe so that they praise Him for all He has done. It is important to them how the universe now works so that they can give Him the glory for all that He continues to do.
Incidentally, evolutionists claim that no real scientist would be a creationist. However, many of the greatest scientists have testified to their trust in the Bible and the God who wrote it. These scientists refused to follow the non-scientific thinking of people who have insisted on promoting the theory of evolution. Men of the past, upon whose work the science of today is founded, who believed in the Bible's account of creation, include Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle, Michael Faraday, Louis Pasteur, Henri Fabre and Clerk Maxwell among others. Clerk Maxwell was quite familiar with the claims of evolution and rejected it as a clear-thinking Bible-believing scientist. Many men and women of today have been trained in the sciences at well-known universities and confidently trust in the Bible's account of creation, despite enduring prejudice and slander of evolutionists. Evolutionists also claim that creation-scientists do not publish valuable work. But the fact is that creationists are denied publication of their work because evolutionists control the editing staff of all scientific publications. So creationists must publish their studies through private means.
7. In Conclusion
Even though the answers to the questions about the beginning of the universe are a matter of faith, God asks us to believe only in what is believable. There is no value in faith in itself. Faith only has value when we believe in what is true. Any notions men many have about the origin of the universe which differ from what the Bible states are inventions of their minds and do not correspond to the real world. What men propose about the origin of the universe is a leap of faith in stories that are unreasonable and unsustainable by scientific investigation. On the other hand, all statements found in the Bible, no matter what the subject, are faithful accounts of what is true. We should never feel that we must apologize for what the Bible states happened "in the beginning." We should never be afraid to stand boldly for the historical accuracy of the Bible in the face of the prominent and fashionable attempt to invalidate it by means of the theory of evolution. People who challenge the accuracy of the historical details of the Bible and its relevancy to men's lives are false prophets whom we must not heed.
As we have said before, our primary focus as believers must not be upon science but upon the Bible. However, we must remember that this is our Father's world. He who created the universe also wrote about it in His Word, the Bible. And what we learn from God's universe through an honest and accurate study of the physical world is in perfect harmony with whatever we learn from the Bible, and strengthens the validity of the Bible's description of the origin of the universe. It may be that we do not have sufficient training to answer every evolutionary attack with an analytical scientific argument. That does not really matter. A little child who trusts in all that the Bible says is far wiser than any scientist who believes his learning is superior to the Bible (Psalm 19:7). The point is that we can be certain that science is not a threat to a trust in what God says in His Word, the Bible. We can be confident that what the Bible says about the origin and destiny of this universe, as well as what it says about our souls, is absolutely trustworthy.
We can say with the Bible,
"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:6-9)
"O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches." (Psalm 104:24)
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for though hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Rev. 4:11)
1. Purpose
Part 2 of this booklet is intended for people who claim to believe in the Bible. One purpose of this entire booklet is to encourage and increase their trust in all that the Bible says. But we hope, in part 2, to strengthen their trust in the Bible by demonstrating that the Bible is accurate and trustworthy in all of the accounts of the people, places and events which it describes, especially what it says about the creation of the physical universe. By demonstrating the Bible's trustworthiness in its description of history, we hope to support their trust in the Bible's most important message, namely, the gospel of sin, judgment and salvation.
Another purpose of part 2 of this booklet is to encourage Christians to stand fast in their confidence in the Bible when they meet people who question the Bible's statements. We hope to help them maintain a strong, faithful witness to the Bible's message when they face challenges to what the Bible says about the beginning of the universe. There is an immense pressure placed upon people by the scientific, educational, political and publishing institutions to believe in evolution. Scientists publish long articles in magazines in support of evolution, and the majority of the public unthinkingly assent to what they say. But Christians must never be intimidated by the volume of words that evolutionists use to support their views. Nor should Christians be impressed by the prestige of the people who use those words. Christians must understand that evolutionists' objective is to reduce the Bible's credibility in order to dismiss its claim on their lives (Rom. 1:21-23). Unfortunately, many people who claim to believe in the Bible follow the crowd and assume that what scientific and educational authorities say must be true. Consequently, they try to understand the Bible's description of creation in a way that conforms to evolutionary assumptions. That compromise is foolish. It is foolish scientifically because it leads to scientific confusion and error. Far more importantly, it is foolish spiritually because it leads to spiritual apostasy and judgment. Therefore, we hope this booklet can be a resource for Christians who want to stand courageously upon the Bible and its message of creation. We hope to help them to boldly declare that the bible is true (John 17:17) and that all men are liars (Rom. 3:4).
How part 2 of this booklet helps someone depends upon his interest, the personal questions he may have or the challenges he may face at the moment. If someone wants to understand the basic spiritual issues involved, then sections 2 through 5 and 7 will be helpful. If someone wants to understand how scientific laws and observations fit into the discussion, then he may want to look at section 6. Even though section 6 demonstrates the scientific validity of the Bible's account of creation, it is not included in attempt to convince anyone who doubts the truth of the Bible that it is best to trust in the Bible. Scientific discussions will never do that. Only the Bible itself has the power to create faith in God's Word (Rom. 10:17). Instead, section 6 is presented in anticipation of any Christian who would wonder if the Bible has any good answers to the claims of the evolutionist, and if there is an explanation of the origin of the physical universe that harmonizes with what we read in the Bible. Therefore, section 6 is not presented to answer evolutionists' arguments "in kind," or impress anyone with the scientific support for the Bible's message. Rather it is meant to strengthen the trust believers already have in the Bible.
2. Two dangers
One danger is that we think too little about questions concerning creation and evolution. Someone may ask, "Why should I even bother with these questions? The issue seems so remote and irrelevant to my personal life." It is true that normally we do not consciously think about these things. However, we all have an opinion or idea about how the universe came to be. One purpose of this booklet is to help us realize that what we think about these questions is important.
First of all, Jesus referred to the events and people mentioned in Genesis as factual history (Matt 19:4,5). If we claim that Jesus is our Savior, and therefore claim to trust and love Him, then His understanding of the Bible ought to be ours too.
In the second place, it is more than just whether our understanding of the origin of the universe is accurate. It is more than just whether our understanding of the form and function of all its parts is somehow useful for our lives. What we think about the Bible's description of the physical universe is based upon and shapes our opinion about God's Word, the bible. If we doubt the truth of one part of the Bible, such as its message of creation, how are we to know if we can trust it in other matters, especially in its message of salvation?
In the third place, what we think about the physical universe has an impact upon our morality and ethics, that is, what we think is bad and good, or right and wrong. How we answer the questions we posed as we began part 2 of this booklet has an impact upon what we do and what we encourage other people to do. We will look at the moral impact of this issue in section 4.
Finally, we are commanded to give an answer to anyone who asks of the hope we have in the Bible's message (I Peter 3:15), especially since the sinful world's evolutionary challenge prompts many people to question the truthfulness of the Bible. That means we must seek to understand and be ready to present with conviction the whole counsel of God, from Genesis to Revelation.
Perhaps someone may react to the questions we presented as we began Part 2 of this booklet by saying, "But the whole issue is technical for me. I don't understand any of it at all." Yes, the issue can be very technical. Concrete and specific facts as well as mathematical formulas can be presented to demonstrate the reasonableness of the Bible's account of creation by the hand of Almighty God. But the discussion does not have to be technical; and in this booklet it is not. In fact, the support for the Bible's account of creation is so strong that it can be presented in a very simple and straightforward way.
Another danger is that we think too much about questions concerning creation and evolution. After having pointed out the "importance" of these questions and mentioning that our answers to them have "serious consequence," it might seem strange to say we can think too much about them. What we mean is that it is dangerous to think about them out of proportion to other issues that must be more prominent in our thinking.
First of all, being overly occupied with questions about creation and evolution is dangerous because it may erode our personal walk with God. We must be aware that it is possible, in fact very easy, for questions about creation and evolution is dangerous because it may erode or personal walk with God. We must be aware that it is possible, in fact very easy, for questions about creation and evolution to occupy too much of our time and attention. Even if our objective is to look at the physical universe from God's perspective, the more we seek to understand the origin and design of the physical universe, the more we must increase our concentration upon physical things. Unfortunately, this focus encourages the interest and attraction for physical things we naturally have as physical creatures. In addition, as we increase the amount of time and resources we spend to investigate the physical evidence in the universe, we could easily reduce the amount of time we take to study the bible itself. And the time and attention that we give to physical matters could lead us to place a greater importance upon them than we would upon spiritual matters. That would be a focus on the creation rather than the Creator. We must always keep in mind that our Christian life does not begin with nor is it nurtured and supported by physical things, but by God's word alone (Matt. 4:4, II Tim. 3:16,17). A victorious Christian life that is a blessing to God and men begins with and is maintained by a focus upon the spiritual things found in the Bible (Col. 3:1,2,16).
Secondly, being overly occupied with questions concerning creation and evolution is dangerous because it may cause physical issues to be the center of our gospel witness. A complete gospel presentation requires an immoveable stand upon the Bible's declaration that God created the physical universe and continues to sustain it today. That is why this booklet was written. However, this is not really an intellectual issue but a heart issue. How a person answers the questions we presented as we began Part 2 of this booklet is a matter of what he thinks about God and his own soul and not a matter of what he thinks about the physical evidence. Notice that Romans 10:17 does not say, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of science." Instead, the power of the gospel is applied through God's Word alone. In fact, according to Romans 1:20, the purpose of the witness of the physical universe is "so that men are without excuse." Rather than bring men to their spiritual senses and cause them to seek the mercy of their Creator, the testimony of the physical universe reveals their insane rebellion and prepares them for Judgment Day. Therefore, a proper discussion with someone about these physical questions, especially with someone about these physical questions, especially with someone who does not trust the Bible's account of creation, must be evangelistic.
It is true that Psalm 19:1 states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork." The physical universe is a display of the glory of God's creative wisdom and power. Anyone who looks around himself ought to humbly submit to and worship the great Creator of all that he sees. But that is not what happens. For one thing, unsaved men cannot understand a physical witness, which points to spiritual truths. The reason is that all unsaved men are dead in their sins, so they do not have the ability to properly respond to any spiritual witness (Eph. 2:1, Rom. 8:9). For anther thing, unsaved men do not want to trust the Bible. They believe in the theory of evolution because they want to believe it. Their rejection of their Creator is not a matter of science but of their will. They can protest that they believe in evolution as a consequence of thoughtful evaluation of the available information and careful application of principles. However, as we shall see in section 6, evolution is not an intelligent explanation of the origin and function of the physical universe because it violates accepted laws of science and conflicts with observation. Unsaved people have a bias that causes them to cling to the theory of evolution regardless of the evidence. The bias may be based upon unquestioned admiration of and trust in teachers of evolution. The bias may be based upon fear of ridicule or persecution from the majority of people who believe in evolution. The bias may be based upon a latent fear of God as well as an unwillingness to be held accountable to Him.
If a person, to whom we proclaim the Gospel, has rejected the Bible's authoritative explanation of how all things came to be and how things continue to exist, that person will never be convinced by lucid logic or compelling evidence. Only when a person is born again by God's grace will he turn from his sinful focus upon himself and this world, and have the eyes to see and the mind to understand God's creative hand in this physical universe. Only when a person has been given new life through the Holy Spirit will he turn from his rebellion and have the heart to submit to and trust in what God says in His word about the origin and appearance of the physical universe. Spiritual life does not come through the testimony of science but only though God's Word (I Peter 1:23). Therefore, our gospel witness must be centered upon the testimony of the Bible, not upon the physical evidence found in the universe.
It is true that some people have heard a presentation of origin of the universe from a creationist's point of view, recognized the wisdom of that view, and turned from evolution to a trust in the Bible's account of the origin of the universe. However, the truth is that they were persuaded to change by the grace of God through the Bible's appeal to the need of their soul. Sometimes a person changes his view from evolution to creation at the same time that he is saved. Sometimes a person will continue to hold to the evolutionary point of view after he is saved. But if he is truly born again, as God causes him to grow spiritually and deal honestly with his sins, he will become more and more uncomfortable with the evolutionary view and eventually repudiate it. Whatever a person's spiritual journey, his change of mind is always based upon what God has done to change his heard through the gospel.
Thirdly, being overly occupied with questions about creation and evolution could lead us to waste a lot of time, money and energy defending the Bible from the ridicule of people who believe in evolution. It is so easy to react emotionally to an attack and allow it to create thoughts of anger or self-pity. It is easy to seek legislative, political or social solutions in order to get relief from the unfair treatment of people who despise the Bible. Sadly those kinds of defensive attitudes and actions crowd out the message of salvation, which should fill our minds. Not only that, we must remember that the unsaved people of this world are dead in sin and will not respond positively to the clear message of the Bible. Only the gospel, together with the power of God's grace, is an answer to the wickedness of men. Besides, according to God's economy as laid out in the Bible, believers may never win any political or social battle with evolutionists, because wickedness must increase until Jesus returns (Matt. 24:12). Our job as believers is to bring the message of salvation, supported by the message of the whole Bible, from creation to Judgment Day, and leave the results in God's hands.
We must always keep in mind the purpose of this physical universe. It is a temporary arena in which a much more crucial spiritual drama is taking place. God made this physical universe to accomplish His spiritual purposes, one of which is to glorify Himself through the salvation of His people. The rescue of their souls from the threat of God's wrath on Judgment Day and the release of their souls from enslavement to sin and Satan today are more important than any physical objects or events in this universe. What matters most to God and what must matter most to His people is that they know that they are saved and that they nurture and cultivate a close walk with Him. Because God uses His physical creation as a tool to fulfill His salvation plan, any discussion about creation and evolution must increase the preoccupation God's people have with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Any discussion about creation and evolution must strengthen the confidence, relief and joy they have in the salvation of their own souls and the souls of others. Any discussion about creation and evolution must renew their hope in the promise that God will destroy this sin-cursed physical universe and replace it with a far greater spiritual realm (II Peter 3:12,13), in which they will live with their spiritual bodies (I Cor. 15:53), whose design and appearance they cannot now imagine.
Finally, we must also understand that the explicit information found in the Bible is trustworthy but the implicit information gleaned from our empirical study of the physical universe is not trustworthy. What we learn from the Bible is without error, needing no revision or correction. On the other hand, our conclusions based upon the study of the physical universe are subject not only to personal error and prejudice, they are also subject not only to personal error and prejudice, they are also subject to change as more investigation brings more data to light. Therefore, what we learn in the Bible is the foundation for understanding the physical universe and is the final authority on any subject of which it speaks, including the origin of the universe.
3. We must make a choice
Either the Bible's account of creation or the theory of evolution is the accurate description of the origin, function and appearance of the physical universe. They cannot both be true.
a. Physical death
Evolutionists claim that physical death is normal event. It is their view that death is part of how the universe works. Evolutionists insist that death is a necessary function, which contributes to the change of living things, as over time, only the fittest survive. In contrast to that, the Bible states that physical death is not part of the original design and plan of the universe. That is partly what the Bible means when it states that the universe was perfect and good (Gen. 1:31). The Bible teaches that death came into the universe some time after God created it, as part of His curse in response to sin (Rom. 5:12).
Although the theory of evolution does not speak to the question of life after death, focusing only upon this physical universe, most evolutionists teach that all living things (plants and animals as well as people) cease to exist after death. In contrast to that, the Bible teaches that physical death is not just the termination of people's physiological process but it is an enemy of sinful men (I Cor. 15:26). Far more than just separating them from any blessings they might have in this life, physical death is the last event most people experience before they face judgment and the second death of eternal wrath in Hell (Heb. 9:27). Clearly, we cannot reconcile the claims of evolutionists with the teaching of the Bible. Both cannot be true.
b. Chance
Evolutionists insist that random changes of the genetic code, together with the selection of these changes over a long period of time, resulted in all the plants and animals we see today. On the other hand, the Bible states that every detail of the universe was created according to God's wise purpose and careful plan (Psalm 104:24, Jer. 10:12), and that He continues to sustain it today (Matt. 6:26,30, Col. 1:17, Heb. 1:3). Either one view or the other is true.
c. Finished work
Evolutionists insist that plants and animals have evolved in the past and continue to evolve at present. However, the Bible teaches that creation is finished and complete work of God (Ex. 20:11). With careful breeding, it is possible to produce varieties in plants and animals today. But the different breeds reveal the built-in pool of characteristics with which God originally designed living things in order to help them adapt and survive. However, there are limits to the variety of appearances and abilities a breeder can draw out from one kind of plant or animal. Furthermore, breeding never changes one kind of plant or animal. Furthermore, breeding never changes on kind of plant or animal into another kind. The reason is that God fixed the characteristics of living things when He finished His works at creation. We may choose to believe either one view or the other. But both views cannot be true.
d. No third choice
As we can see, it is not possible to take parts of both views and come up with a unified concept that reconciles them. Some people want to believe that God created the world, but are at the same time impressed with the arguments of the evolutionists. These people hold to a notion that God created by means of evolution. For example, some people believed the word "day" in Genesis 1 to be a long age. But the same word is used in Exodus 20:11 to mean a 24 hour day. Also, according to Genesis 1:12 and 16, plants were created a day before the sun was created. But a long age such as a million -year "day", would result in the death of all plants, which depend upon the Sun to live. The attempt to mix up the two views, an idea called "theistic evolution," it is not fair to either side. We must be honest and choose one view or the other. We cannot hold to both.
4. We must live with our choice.
Our choice to trust in the Bible or in the theory of evolution shapes what we think and do. In other words, the Bible's account of creation and the theory of evolution are known by their "fruit," that is, by the attitude and actions the two views produce in the lives of those people who believe in them.
a. The spiritual and moral consequences of choosing the theory of evolution. People who choose to trust in the theory of evolution believe that there was no Garden of Eden, no Adam, no sin, no Fall, no curse, and therefore no need for a Savior. Also, they believe that since the universe began billions of years ago, it will continue for billions of years more. They conclude that they do not need to be concerned about Judgment Day at the end of the world, and so do not need the protection of a Savior.
People who choose to trust in the theory of evolution believe that there is not God, as described in the bible, to whom they are accountable. They believe that there is no one to declare what is right and wrong. They believe that there is no one to whom they must give an answer for their thoughts, words and deeds, which differ from the ethical and moral absolutes described in the Bible. They believe, instead, that they can set standards for their own lives based upon what they think and feel is right in their own eyes. They also believe that standards which govern behavior between people are negotiable and are dependent upon the situation at hand. Furthermore, they believe that no standards are permanent, that standards, which shape human relationships, must change as times change. Their objective is to live selfish, indulgent and immoral lives, and they delight in a naturalistic, godless theory, such as evolution, that gives people the intellectual basis to ignore their consciences and suppress the truth of God's Word. Unfortunately, they are left with a life that has no meaning or purpose, which leads to aimlessness, despair and insanity. And even more frightening they are left to face God on Judgment Day, when they will have to answer for they have thought, said and done.
The theory of evolution recognizes the amazing complexity of human anatomy and physiology. But the theory of evolution teaches that a human is really just a bag of chemicals with structure and function that is the end result of a series of random biological changes. The theory of evolution teaches that people are at best no more than complex animals. Therefore, we should not be surprised if people act like animals and treat others as if they were, too. In other words, evolution promotes the bleak perspective that there is no reason to care about the needs and interests of others because life is a battle for survival. Evolution cares nothing for the individual, but instead is concerned with the survival of the species. It teaches that the universe discards weak individuals as it relentlessly marches forward to an unknown destiny. Evolution, then, is the foundation for the ruthless and merciless treatment of others, resulting in racism, genocide, abortion and euthanasia. Some people have used the logical consequences of the theory of evolution to justify such horror as eliminating an "inferior" group of people for the purpose of promoting the survival of the "superior" species.
b. The spiritual and moral consequences of choosing the Bible's account of creation
People who by God's grace choose to trust in the Bible's account of creation understand that God is sovereign over the universe and that they are accountable to Him for what they think, say and do. Those people rejoice in the message that the Creator Himself, who could cast everyone into Hell for rebelling against Him, who could be embarrassed and repulsed by their weaknesses and needs, has instead sacrifices His only Son to Save all those who trust what He says and walk obediently with Him (Rom. 5:8). Those people know God subjected the universe and its inhabitants to His curse in response to sin (Genesis 3:17, Romans 8:20-21). They also know that God cares a great deal about the universe. He has designed and continues to fulfill a wonderful plan for what He has made (II Peter 3:13). The Bible tells of God's tenderness toward His creation (Psalm 104) and His concern for each detail (Matthew 6:26, 10:30). The Biblical account of creation is a story of real hope because it tells us of a God who loves and cares for what He made.
People who by God's grace trust in the whole Bible, including the Bible's account of creation, understand that God is their Creator and has authority over their lives. They understand that God has created them for a purpose and that there is real meaning to their lives (Rom. 12:1,2, I Peter 2:9). They see other people as unique and valuable creations of God (Acts 17:26, Heb. 2:6,7). Therefore, they are willing to serve God gratefully and care for others with kindness and sacrificial love (Eph. 4:32, I John 4:19-21).
5. It is always a choice of faith.
Science is the collection of knowledge based upon the study of observable objects and phenomena in the physical universe. Scientific analysis results in a conclusion, based upon those observations, which conforms to known laws governing the appearance and behavior of the universe. Scientific analysis also includes a test of that conclusion of order to discover whether or not it is false. Therefore, when we seek to understand events that occurred long before anyone observed and documented them, we are not making a scientific investigation. What we say about the undocumented past, whether based upon the imaginations of men or upon the words of the Bible, is a matter of faith and not science.
Some people claim that we can study history as science. They say that we can measure present effects of past events. But the study of the undocumented past is not really science because we can never know for sure if we have all the facts or if we have analyzed the data properly. We can never demonstrate whether our collection of historical knowledge is true.
We can make educated guesses about the past based upon the study of circumstantial evidence by linking possible past causes to what we see today. We can put those guesses together and call them a theory. That is certainly appropriate, and our theory can serve as a model to help us understand the past. But we can never verify the link between the past because of present effects. We can make analogies by comparing events with which we are presently familiar to our estimation of how things could have been in the past. But as accurate as our understanding is of something that we can see today, we can never be sure that the comparison we make is valid. Studying a present phenomenon is science. However, applying what we learn about the phenomenon to an unreachable past event by meant of an analogy is not science. It is a guess. Guesses by themselves are never science, no matter what we want to call them.
a. Evolution is not scientific because it makes statements about times, places and events that have never been nor ever will be observed or measured by men. That is why it is only a theory and not fact. The question of what happened "billions" of years ago is not based on scientific observation but on assumptions and speculation. Therefore, the evolutionary view of natural history is a theory and can only be a theory. It can never be a fact. In addition, the theory of evolution is not scientific because the analyses evolutionists make of present day observations based upon that theory lead to conclusions that violate known scientific laws, as we shall see in section 6 of this booklet. Furthermore, evolutionists never honestly face a test but simply modify their theory to accommodate new information whenever their conclusions about the universe are shown to be wrong. That is, the theory of evolution is never held accountable for the many wrong conclusions it causes its followers to make. Because the theory of evolution is not scientific, evolutionary scientists must simply believe that things have evolved, and exchange a trust in God as revealed in the Bible with a trust in the inherent properties of material things.
b. Evolution is a religion:
The theory of evolution is a religion because it makes statements about God. Evolutionists begin with the scientifically unverifiable assumption that there is no Creator, that He is not necessary to the existence of the physical universe. Also the theory of evolution is a religion because it makes moral statements. Evolutionists teach that the material universe is all that there is. Since the physical elements from which the universe is constructed have no morality, they decide that there is no standard in the universe for judging conduct. According to the theory of evolution, the only guided of behavior is the need to survive, regardless of the consequences the struggle has on someone else. In addition to that, the theory of evolution has the form and structure of a religion. Colleges and universities are its temples of learning which preserve its sacred books. Evolutionary scientists are its clergy, who protect and preach its dogma in journal, popular periodicals and television programs.
Evolutionary scientists guard their theory with religious zeal. The passion and emotion with which evolutionists defend their theory against the presentation of creation reveals that they really do recognize the weakness of the man-made structure of the theory of evolution. Scientific evidence demonstrates that evolution contradicts the facts and that the Bible's account of creation is the more reasonable explanation of what we observe. Therefore, evolutionists must suppress the evidence, which demonstrates the weakness of the theory of evolution. Evolutionists must resort to convoluted and contradictory arguments in defense of their theory, to biased and false presentations in support of their idea, and to direct attacks upon anyone who opposes them. Their derision and wrath is swiftly visited upon other scientists who "heretically" present the view of creation, lest those who teach creationism undermine the message of evolution and "pollute" the thinking of the masses, whose support evolutionists desire and need.
c. Two faiths
Evolutionary thought is not an objective, neutral, unemotional scientific statement about the universe in which we live, but rather it is a dogmatic statement of faith motivated by a deliberately antagonistic attempt to suppress and supplant the Bible's message of creation by the hand of God. Evolution is a product of the deeply rooted rebellion in men's hearts. Evolutionists desperately cling to their theory because they seek some justification for their claim that the Bible is untrustworthy. They hate the fact that it declares God to be their Creator who has supreme authority over their lives. Nor do they want to hear or acknowledge that they must answer to their Creator for all their wicked thoughts, words and deeds. Therefore, the theory of evolution is a man made religion that competes with and seeks to supplant the gospel of the Bible. Evolutionists insist upon the exclusive loyalty of the hearts and minds of men, and so does the God of the Bible.
In Hebrews 11:3 we read "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." That is, our understanding of God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and all that it contains is a matter of faith. We must trust that what the Bible says about the origin of the universe is true, the only truth. What a person chooses to think about the origin of the universe is not fundamentally a result of human measurement and research. It is not a result of human logic. It is not a product of human debate and consensus. A person's choice is a matter of the heart. It is a matter of trusting either the wisdom of man or trusting in what God has revealed in His Word. Therefore, each man's choice of the object of his allegiance reveals his faith (Josh 24:15).
6. One choice is better scientifically
The Bible's view of creation is the best explanation of the physical universe because it conforms to the basic scientific laws that describe and govern the physical universe. The theory of evolution contradicts those laws. Also, the Bible's account of creation agrees with observable evidence while the theory of evolution disagrees with much of it. These claims are substantiated at length in many books written by scientists who have degrees from respected universities and who have experience in many different fields of research. In this short discussion we shall point out only a few of the scientific reasons that make the Bible's account of creation more reasonable and believable than the theory of evolution.
a. Laws
Scientists make many conclusions based upon their observations. As time goes by and new observations are made, their conclusions are compared to the new data to see if they are still valid. Sometimes they find that a conclusion does not agree with the new information. If the conclusion fails the test, it must be abandoned or modified. Sometimes scientists find, after many comparisons, that a conclusion appears to continue to accurately describe the appearance and behavior of what they see in the universe. When a lot of time goes by and their conclusion remains valid for all situations they can think of, they grow more confident in it and eventually call it a law. That law, which is potentially subject to revision, does not have an authority equal to the eternal statements of God found in the Bible. Nevertheless, some laws of science have correctly described the basic form and function of the universe so well and for so long that we can make a good judgment as to whether creation or evolution is more reasonable when we compare both views to those laws. Let us look at a few of those laws.
The universe is full of matter and energy which are constantly changing from one form into another. For example, when we eat a sandwich some chemical energy is changed into heat energy. When we ride a roller coaster, our energy of position changes into energy of motion and back again. There is a law of science that states, even though lots of changes can take place, the total amount of energy and matter before something happened is equal to the total amount of energy and matter after it happened. No new energy or matter is created or annihilated. In simplest words, this law states that you cannot get something from nothing. There is nothing in the universe to cause new energy or matter to appear. The first law has never been observed to be violated.
This first law might help us investigate transfers of matter and energy, but it tells us nothing about how matter and energy originated in the first place. In fact, this law does not even tell us if the universe had a beginning. However, this law means that if the universe had a beginning, it could not have created itself. It could have come into existence only because of a power outside of itself.
In this busy universe full of energy changes, sometimes things get close to each other or bump into each other and exchange energy or matter. During the exchange, some of the energy is changed into heat. For example, the chemical bonds in a sandwich break during digestion and the released heat energy warms our bodies. The wheels of a roller coaster rub against the metal track and produce heat through friction. There is another law of science that states if we observe something happening and record all the exchanges in energy that take place, we will find that the total amount of matter and energy is the same before and after, as it should be, but that some of the energy has dissipated into the surroundings as heat energy. The important thing to notice is that the heat energy can never be gathered together again or changed into a form to do something useful. A sandwich is used up and cannot be replaced with the same chemical energy, some of which has been distributed to the surroundings as heat. A roller coaster will never keep going forever. Instead, it will slow down as the energies of position and motion are lost to heat through friction. The conclusion is that, as time goes by, more and more energy in the universe is being changed into a useless form, that is, into scattered heat energy. This second law has never been observed to be violated.
One implication of this second law is that, if we wait long enough, eventually all useful energy will leak away into heat and nothing more will happen. The universe will be dead. Another implication is that, in time past, the universe had a lot more useful energy.
Evolutionists claim that the second law could be set aside if we consider a system in which energy comes in from the outside. They point to the Sun's radiation falling upon the Earth as an example. They claim that such an input of energy accounts for all the complexity we find on the Earth. But that is not so. Energy into a system, by itself, actually makes the destruction described by the second law occur more rapidly. Raw energy input, such as the Sun's radiation upon the Earth, breaks things down and does not build things up.
Evolutionists claim that the second law could be set aside if we consider a system in which energy comes in from the outside. They point to the Sun's radiation falling upon the Earth as an example. They claim that such an input of energy accounts for all the complexity we find on the Earth. But that is not so. Energy into a system, by itself, actually makes the destruction described by the second law occur more rapidly. Raw energy input, such as the Sun's radiation upon the Earth, breaks things down and does not build things up.
Evolutionists claim that a living plant or animal is an example of a system in which the second law does not apply. But that is not so. The second law is valid even for a living thing, which uses raw energy and builds itself up. The living thing must work to counter the deterioration, which the law describes. But doesn't that work show that the second law is not valid for living things? No. A living thing can do useful work only if it has been given instructions, which is found in its DNA, and if it has been given the mechanism in some of its cells, such as chlorophyll in plants, for changing the raw energy it gets into a form that it can use to grow and maintain itself.
The second law is an important companion of the first law. Together they are a big witness against evolution and a big support for the Bible's statements of creation. According to the two laws, not only is it impossible to get something from nothing, but also what we get as time goes by is less useful to us that before. In short, the universe is wearing out. In the image of a clock, the two laws together state that the universe is running down and it can't rewind itself, if it was wound up. That is, the second law says that the universe had a beginning and the first law says that the universe did not create itself. These laws point to the hand of someone outside of the universe, to a Creator.
We shall mention one more law. It is similar to the first law, but applies only to living things. The Earth is full of many kinds of living things. The Earth is full of many kinds of living things, but we observe that living things can only come from living things. For example, kittens come from mother cats and corn plants come from the corn seeds of previous corn plants. Similar to the first law, which states that we can't get something from nothing, another law states that life cannot come from non-living things. According to this law, which has never been observed to be violated, life can only come from pre-existing life.
Evolution states the universe is becoming more complex and more useful. But the laws of science, together with the Bible, state that the universe is running down and is becoming less useful (Psalm 102:25,26). Evolution states that the universe had no beginning. But the laws of science, together with the Bible, state that the universe had a beginning, when it was a lot better off, more able to keep things going, like living things (Gen. 1:31). Evolution states that at one time lifeless chemicals changed into life. But the laws of science, together with the Bible, state that life can come only from a life-giver (Psalm 104:29,30). Clearly the Bible's account of creation is a better choice.
b. Observations
We learn the size, weight, composition, behavior and many other concrete and specific facts about objects in the universe through observation. It is true that what we notice and remember about objects in this universe can be affected by our prejudices, ignorance and lack of experience. Therefore, our observations about the universe are not as trustworthy as the statements of God in the Bible. Nevertheless, there are many observations to which we may compare both the account of creation in the Bible and the theory of evolution in order to see which view best fits the facts as we know them. Let us look at a few simple, common observations.
Our common experience tells us that objects and phenomena in the universe have origins and causes. We observe the leaves of a tree move and think about the lightning or the careless match that started it. We observe that there is always a cause to everything that happens or exists. The theory of evolution does not agree with that observation because it insists that if we could go back in time, we would never find a first cause but that all things just are, without a cause or reason. In contrast to evolution, the view of creation is that all things have an origin. And if we go back in time, we would see that all things in the physical universe exist because God is the first cause.
Our observations also show that all phenomena and objects in the universe have design. Things in the universe display their design in their amazing complexity. Things in the universe display their design by their design by their intricate structure and the provision given to them in order to fulfill a useful purpose. Things in the universe display their design by their interdependence upon each other and how they cooperate with each other.
One good example of design is the human eye. The human eye is made of many parts. Each part, the cornea, the iris, the retina, all the fluids and nerves, among others, are precisely constructed to perform a specific function. Not only must each part by made right, but also all of the parts must work together and in coordination with the optic nerve and the brain to enable someone to see. A slight change in any part or a slight change in how one part connects with other parts results in poor vision or blindness. One thing to keep in mind is that not one of these parts is able to see. An eye is really a collection of non-seeing parts. Unless all of the parts of the system are in place and working properly together, the whole system does not work at all and is useless. In fact, a sightless non-functioning eye is detrimental to an organism because it can be a source of injury and infection. This means that the whole system could not have waited around as a useless organ for millions of genetic accidents to accumulate in order to produce a complete eye. The only honest scientific conclusion is that the intricate detail and precision of the seeing eye shows great wisdom in design and shows purpose of structure and function. This and many more examples, such as a bird's wing, which is a complex structure that provides flight only in coordination with all the other parts of the bird, are clear witnesses to the creative hand of God.
Another good example of design is the amazing relationship between two kinds of fish. One kind is the small black and yellow French angel fish. They hide in coral because they are often eaten by larger fish. The other kind is the larger yellow-tailed Goat fish. They eat smaller fish. Goat fish sometimes swim near coral and change their color to pink. That tells the angel fish it is safe to swim out and eat the parasites, which are attached to the Goat fish. The Goat fish wait patiently to be cleaned but do not eat the smaller fish. When the Goat fish change color again, the smaller fish return to the safety of the coral. This relationship could never have happened by chance because on kind of fish is a predator and the other kind is a predator's lunch. Furthermore, if such a behavior was accidentally learned by one particular pair of French angel and Goat fish, the new relationship could never have been passed on to following generations. This, and many more symbiotic cooperative relationships, show the design of God's wise, caring and purposeful work of creation.
One more example of design is found in the genetic information found in a DNA molecule located in the cells of living things. Segments of the long DNA molecule, called genes, contain instructions in code for making all the proteins a cell needs. The structure of a DNA molecule and the process that is required to make proteins according to the code they contain is so complex that it could not have come together by random chance trial-and-error chemical reactions. It is also important to know that the information in the DNA is stable. The genetic codes do have instructions for some variety, such as differences in skin color, body size and other physical features. But the variety is always limited. For example, moth populations can change in color and dogs can be bred to change in size. But the organisms are always the same. Moths are always moths and never some other creature. Dogs are always dogs and not half dog and half some other creature. The limitations in the changes that organisms display from one generation to another are a testimony to the built-in genetic variation, which is a marvelous design that allows living things to adapt to changes in the environment. That is, different breeds do not mean new information is created, but that some genetic information is emphasized over other information. The idea is that living things cannot evolve into something else because the DNA message limits the amount of change that can take place. Living things are fixed into kinds as the Bible states you can't get something from nothing.
Sometimes, but not very often, when the DNA message is copied so that it can be passed on to the next generation, mistakes are made. These mistakes are called mutations, which evolutionists claim result in new kinds of living things. However, years of observations have shown that mutations are either of neutral value or almost always harmful. For example, a protein that is too different from previous proteins, because of a mistake in copying the DNA instructions needed to build that protein, would interfere with the function of a living thing and possibly lead to its death. A mistake in copying the codes is another example of the second law of science we talked about before. A copying mistake is an example of a less useful situation in the form of a loss of information, just like a typographical error doesn't add a new message to the letter but makes the original message harder to read. Mistakes do not add useful information but are a loss of information. Mistakes do not result in a new message but distort the original message. For example, mutations in fruit flies always result in more fruit flies, many times disables fruit flies or dead fruit flies, but fruit flies nevertheless. This is a testimony to the accuracy of the Bible which states that one kind of life comes only from the same kind of life (Gen. 1:21,24,25) and that life is deteriorating (Eccl. 3:19,20), to which the genetic mutational load that living things must bear is a witness.
Even though they do not help us directly answer the question of origins, we must briefly discuss fossils because the theory of evolution depends so much upon them. Fossil evidence strongly supports the Bible's account of creation and clearly contradicts the theory of evolution. In fact, the fossil evidence is an embarrassment to evolutionists for at least two reasons. First of all, in rocks that evolutionists call the oldest fossil-bearing rocks, are found fossils of complex life forms, such as sponges, corals and mollusks, much like they look today. Amazingly, in rocks considered even older, not a single indisputable multi-cellular fossil has been found. Therefore, according to the fossil record, these complex life forms had no ancestors, since the fossil remains of their ancestors are absent. The evidence agrees with the Bible, which states that life in all of its variety came into existence suddenly. Secondly, according to the theory of evolution, the rocks of the earth should contain fossils of thousands of transitional life forms. In fact, if over millions of years plants and animals have been evolving, we should see more fossils of in-between types. Evolutionists are so desperate to find them that the few they have promoted have been disqualified or proved to be a fraud. In fact, the history of anthropology is, sadly, littered with dishonest claims. For example, the remains of one famous ape-man, used in the famous Scopes trial to support the claims of evolutionists who wanted to discredit the Bible's account of creation, was later shown to be a tooth from a pig.
There are many more observations we could highlight that reveal the truth of the Bible's account of creation and contradict the theory of evolution. Some observations do not point directly to the fact of a Creator, but demonstrate that the universe is quite young, thousands of years rather than billions of years old as the theory of evolution requires and demands. Observations concerning comets, the amount of Helium in the Earth's atmosphere and the amount of nitrates and minerals in the oceans are a few examples of these kinds of observations. However, these kinds of observations point only indirectly to the existence of a Creator, so we will no discuss them in this booklet. Besides, as we have mentioned, there are excellent articles in other books, thoroughly and clearly written, which present detailed discussions of these and other observation, such as the use of radioactive decay in assigning ages to objects, the validity of the Big Bang theory, the nature of the source of the Sun's energy, and much more.
c. Science education and scientists
Sadly, the theory of evolution, which is often taught in schools as fact, is illogical and contradicts observations. It is bad science. In fact, it is anti-science because it contradicts laws, observations and obvious cause-and-effect relationships. Also, the theory of evolution forces students to work under the burden of unscientific assumptions and speculations that steer them away from more productive lines of investigation, as well as closes their minds to more insightful patterns of thought. For example, no too long ago evolutionists considered many human organs, such as the appendix, to be evolutionary leftovers, useless and dispensable. For a while students of anatomy were taught and willingly received these ideas. However, more careful study subsequently has shown that the organ performs important functions. The appendix is now recognized to be part of the immune system.
In contrast to that, the Bible's account of creation promotes good science. Recognizing the clear witness of an intelligent cause of the complex and fascinating universe, Bible-believing students of science expect to discover order, purpose and design in all that they study in the universe. Also, they are interested to learn more about the Person who made it. True believers are curious to learn how God made His universe so that they praise Him for all He has done. It is important to them how the universe now works so that they can give Him the glory for all that He continues to do.
Incidentally, evolutionists claim that no real scientist would be a creationist. However, many of the greatest scientists have testified to their trust in the Bible and the God who wrote it. These scientists refused to follow the non-scientific thinking of people who have insisted on promoting the theory of evolution. Men of the past, upon whose work the science of today is founded, who believed in the Bible's account of creation, include Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle, Michael Faraday, Louis Pasteur, Henri Fabre and Clerk Maxwell among others. Clerk Maxwell was quite familiar with the claims of evolution and rejected it as a clear-thinking Bible-believing scientist. Many men and women of today have been trained in the sciences at well-known universities and confidently trust in the Bible's account of creation, despite enduring prejudice and slander of evolutionists. Evolutionists also claim that creation-scientists do not publish valuable work. But the fact is that creationists are denied publication of their work because evolutionists control the editing staff of all scientific publications. So creationists must publish their studies through private means.
7. In Conclusion
Even though the answers to the questions about the beginning of the universe are a matter of faith, God asks us to believe only in what is believable. There is no value in faith in itself. Faith only has value when we believe in what is true. Any notions men many have about the origin of the universe which differ from what the Bible states are inventions of their minds and do not correspond to the real world. What men propose about the origin of the universe is a leap of faith in stories that are unreasonable and unsustainable by scientific investigation. On the other hand, all statements found in the Bible, no matter what the subject, are faithful accounts of what is true. We should never feel that we must apologize for what the Bible states happened "in the beginning." We should never be afraid to stand boldly for the historical accuracy of the Bible in the face of the prominent and fashionable attempt to invalidate it by means of the theory of evolution. People who challenge the accuracy of the historical details of the Bible and its relevancy to men's lives are false prophets whom we must not heed.
As we have said before, our primary focus as believers must not be upon science but upon the Bible. However, we must remember that this is our Father's world. He who created the universe also wrote about it in His Word, the Bible. And what we learn from God's universe through an honest and accurate study of the physical world is in perfect harmony with whatever we learn from the Bible, and strengthens the validity of the Bible's description of the origin of the universe. It may be that we do not have sufficient training to answer every evolutionary attack with an analytical scientific argument. That does not really matter. A little child who trusts in all that the Bible says is far wiser than any scientist who believes his learning is superior to the Bible (Psalm 19:7). The point is that we can be certain that science is not a threat to a trust in what God says in His Word, the Bible. We can be confident that what the Bible says about the origin and destiny of this universe, as well as what it says about our souls, is absolutely trustworthy.
We can say with the Bible,
"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:6-9)
"O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches." (Psalm 104:24)
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for though hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Rev. 4:11)
