Evolution or Creation?
Vol. XII, No. 6, June/July 1999
People are great pickers and choosers, selecting what we like and ignoring what we don’t. That may be all right with shirts or cars or haircuts, but when we do the same with God’s Word, trouble and confusion, error and sin are sure to follow. Unfortunately, all too many of us, even among those who consider themselves Christians do pick and choose which parts of the Bible we will believe, which parts we ignore.
One obvious area where this is common today is with the frequent emphasis upon God’s love and the rejection of His justice, His wrath. Those who take this foolish approach ignore the obvious facts that He gave us free choice, that He sent a long succession of prophets and prophecies to lay the groundwork clearly, and then culminated the preparation and demonstrations of His desire that we willingly make the godly, humble, obedient choice by sending His son to die that we might live.
The other area where God’s inerrant Word is most frequently contradicted is creation. Atheists flat out call creation a pre-scientific myth and ridicule creationists. Some well-meaning Christians try to accommodate billions of years by devices such as the gap or day-age theories, thereby making themselves look foolish to both evolutionists and creationists.
Below is a brief table (not original with me) comparing evolution and the Bible and showing the impossibility of both being correct. Read it carefully. If it piques your interest, I suggest you contact either the Institute for Creation Research (1-800-628-7640) or Answers in Genesis (1-800-350-3232) and ask for one of their catalogues. Each has printed and video materials at all levels of sophistication, and I know you will be able to find fascinating and informative books, pamphlets, or videos with which you will be comfortable.
God gave us one integrated Book. Every part of it informs our daily walk with Him. And Genesis is the foundation upon which all the rest of the Bible stands. We are not free to reject any part of His Holy Book and still call ourselves Christians. Enjoy the table. TCP.
Assumptions: |
Assumptions: |
1. There is no God (atheism); or, if a god exists, he/she/it left no trace of any creative activity |
1. In the beginning, God created |
2. The present is the key to the past |
2. Revelation (God's Word) is the key to the past |
3. We are here by chance |
3. We were created by God |
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Mechanism: |
Mechanism: |
1. Random mutation with natural selection |
1. Intelligent design |
2. Life appeared and gradually diversified over billions of years |
2. Universe/life created in six ordinary days approximately 6,000 to 10,000 years ago |
3. No global flood covered the earth |
3. Noah's flood covered the entire earth |
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Order of Appearance: (also for “progressive creation”) |
Order of Appearance: |
1. Matter always existed or just appeared |
1. God created matter |
2. Sun/stars existed before Earth |
2. Earth created before sun/stars |
3. Sun is earth's first light |
3. Light created before sun |
4. First life = marine organisms |
4. First life = land plants |
5. Reptiles pre-date birds |
5. Birds pre-date land reptiles |
6. Land mammals predate whales |
6. Whales pre-date land mammals |
7. Disease/death precede man |
7. Disease/death result from man's sin |
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Implications: |
Bible Teaches: |
1. No life after death |
1. Man's spirit will live forever |
2. Our present life is all there is |
2. God wants us to live with Him forever |
3. Man is the highest authority |
3. God is the highest authority |
4. Self-fulfillment is the highest priority of man |
4. Love of God and obedience to His Word are the highest priority of man |
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Logical Consequence: |
Logical Consequence: |
1. God is reduced to a creation of man |
1. God is the all-powerful Creator of everything |
2. God is removed from public life |
2. God is honored in public life |
3. Man determines right and wrong |
3. God determines right and wrong |
4. Civil laws written by the group with most (political) power |
4. Civil laws based on God's law |