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How Evolution Undermines the Need for a Saviourby Tom Stewart "In the beginning God created" (Genesis 1:1) is accepted by both Biblical Creationists and Theistic Evolutionists, i.e., those who believe that God used Evolution to create man and the universe. However, the Theistic Evolutionist must relegate the first eleven chapters of Genesis to a less literal construction than the more literal interpretation of Scripture by the Biblical Creationist, in hope of reconciling their understanding of Modern Science with their comprehension of the Bible. "According to your Faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29). This editorial is not an attempt to address the scientific evidence supporting Evolution or Creation, but it is an effort to focus on the philosophy of how Evolution undermines the need for a Savior. "How can these things be?" (John 3:9).
Does the underlying philosophy of Evolution undermine the need for a Savior? The book, Christian Men of Science: Eleven Men Who Changed the World ---New Window, by George Mulfinger and Julia Mulfinger Orozco, sets the scene for our answer. In demonstrating the compatibility of True Science with the Christian Faith, the book portrays the events that led to Dr. Walter Brown's entry into the creation movement. As a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, as well as graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, Walt Brown was more accustomed to dealing with the scientific or applied physics solution for a problem than a theological explanation, but this matter of Creation forced Dr. Brown to the conclusion that Evolution undermined the need for a Savior.
Of course, the Theistic Evolutionist would maintain that the scientific evidence supports Evolution and that Genesis 1-11 should not be interpreted literally, but less rigorously and more figuratively. However, let us Scripturally examine the logic of Dr. Brown's explanation to his wife Peggy to see how Evolution undermines the need for a Savior. "What saith the Scripture?" (Romans 4:3). The gist of Dr. Brown's reasoning was either: (1) If Evolution is true, then death was already present before man evolved, or (2) If Creation is true, then death did not take place until man had sinned. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our LORD" (Romans 6:23). What did the Genesis account describe?
Notice that Dr. Brown accepted the literal interpretation or concept of the Bible that the wage, result, or consequence of sin is death-- the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). From the vantage of accepting the plain statements of Scripture, e.g., "Thy Word is Truth" (John 17:17), he correctly looked at the context of the Genesis account of Creation to see if the Scriptural evidence indicated the presence of death before Adam and Eve sinned. You will notice everything that God created, i.e., "it was good" (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25) or "it was very good" (Genesis 1:31), and that death and its consequences of pain in childbearing (Genesis 3:16) and sorrow in earning a living (Genesis 3:17) were not enumerated until after Adam and Eve had clearly sinned. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat" (Genesis 3:6). Sin then has become man's chief problem, necessitating man to come under God's judgment and wrath. "For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). Dr. Brown correctly reasoned that the Theistic Evolution rejection of the Creationist scenario of Creation-man-sin-death was tantamount to weakening or undermining the need for a Savior, if the penalty of death was already being executed before man had even violated the Law of Love. Instead, it is clear that God could not have wisely done more or differently than what He has done in His dealings with man, i.e., "1 Now will I sing to my Wellbeloved a song of my Beloved touching His vineyard. My Wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2 And He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt Me and My vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?" (Isaiah 5:1-4). How sincere would be God's offer to save us, if His penalty of death was already sentenced and put into effect upon Innocent Adam and Eve, even before their Original Sin? "That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee: Shall not the Judge of All the Earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25). If God unfairly penalized man with the penalty of death, even before Adam and Eve had committed their Original Sin, how could that breed confidence in the Justice of God? And yet, the very foundation of man's acceptability with God is based upon man being able to trust God. "But without Faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). God's conduct and character must be beyond reproach. And, they are. Christ, Who is the "Wisdom of God" (1Corinthians 1:24), hates the evil way and perverse mouth. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate" (Proverbs 8:13). If God did not rigorously police His Kingdom, then it would not be true that "every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward" (Hebrews 2:2). God has fairly warned us all, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). There are still many scientific issues that puzzle both the Theistic Evolutionists and the Biblical Creationists, which can be better addressed as scientific tools and opportunities become available. Dr. Walter Brown has dedicated himself to advocating and demonstrating the viability of Scientific Creation-- as demonstrated by his Hydroplate Theory, which establishes a catastrophic flood as the defining geological event of the Earth. Of course, without Dr. Brown's foundational appreciation of the Word of God in the issue of Creation and his desire to promote the cause of Christ, his admirable scientific explanation could only be for him (at best) "wood, hay, stubble" (1Corinthians 3:12); but, of course, "we are persuaded better things of" (Hebrews 6:9) him. Today, to be a Creationist does not necessarily imply a strong, Biblical belief basis; nonetheless, Scientific Creation supports and confirms the Faithfulness of God to man as revealed in the Genesis account. "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a Faithful Creator" (1Peter 4:19). If the God of Love so faithfully provided an Earthly Paradise in the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve, then why shouldn't we trust such a Faithful Creator? Even more astounding is the realization that the Almighty God willingly forgave and covered our Sinful First Parents-- the LORD God made "coats of skins, and clothed them" (Genesis 3:22)-- making possible their acceptance with Him again, i.e., "without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). The great wonder of having a Savior such as Jesus Christ is that we need Him so much! "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Jesus is the "Desire of All Nations" (Haggai 2:7) and the "Altogether Lovely" (Song of Solomon 5:16) One. "Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded" (1Peter 2:6). All of this is based upon the understanding that it was our sin that caused our condition of death and not His "premature execution" of the penalty of death that brought upon us all the misery and suffering in the world. "For every man shall bear his own burden" (Galatians 6:5). Instead, our God should be greatly praised for the Wisdom and Power of His Creative Acts. "1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise Him in the heights. 2 Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts. 3 Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light. 4 Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for He commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass. 7 Praise the LORD from the Earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling His Word: 9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 11 Kings of the Earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the Earth: 12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the Earth and Heaven. 14 He also exalteth the horn of His people, the praise of all His Saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him. Praise ye the LORD" (Psalm 148:1-14). Maranatha! [For a greater appreciation of the Scripture, which gives us a more sure understanding of the Beginning, you are invited to read "Seven Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God" ---New Window by Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley. Also, our editorial, "Survival of the Fittest" ---New Window, attempts to Scripturally discuss the Natural Selection or Survival of the Fittest "mechanism" that "drives Darwin's Theory of Evolution" in contrast to "God as the agent of change."] </ul> |
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