17 September 2010
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
"What Charles Darwin postulated in his theory can now be seen in the laboratories," says biologist Richard Lenski. I'm not sure that Darwin would agree, and neither do scores of scientists who disbelieve that the transition--evolution, he calls it--of some 20,000 generations of bacteria which Lenski has observed proves evolution. (See "Researchers take aim at heart of evolution," The Orange County Register, September 12, 1999, p. 21).
Lenski began with bacteria and ended up with the same. Far too many individuals are arguing against what they think the Bible says–which is what some, of course, have said that it says, instead of what it really says.
Does the Bible allow for transitions within species? Absolutely! We have little dogs and big dogs, big draft horses and tiny show ponies, yet both respectively are dogs and horses. Bacteria, which change forms, are still bacteria.
There are three critical junctions worthy of fighting and dying for. 1. The creation of something from no previous existing materials. 2. The creation of lower forms of life, and 3. The creation of human life. And why are these watershed issues? Because at each of these major junctions or divisions, you find the statement in the book of Genesis acknowledging that God was the one who created at that particular point. Genesis 1:1 says that God created the heavens and the Earth. Genesis 1:21 says that God created lower forms of life, and Genesis 1:27 says that He created human life. The Hebrew word bara means to create from no previously existing material. It is here that you find God's handiwork.
Genetic development--sometimes called evolution--is in fact different from evolution which would require progressive, traceable genetic mutation from one species to another, something has neither been proved nor will be.
In 1859 when Charles Darwin postulated his theory of evolution, assumptions were made which required blind leaps of faith. The reality is that modern discoveries show that our world is so complex, so vast in its scope and development, that apart from certain basic laws and building blocks, the present status of our world and life could not have happened by happenstance evolution (period!).
Molecular biologist Michael Behe contends that even in the last half of the twentieth century scientists have begun to open Darwin's black box--a sacred cow of the scientific community--and demonstrated that molecular mechanisms are irreducibly complex. He uses the simple analogy of a mousetrap which has a platform, a lever, a spring, and a trigger. Lacking just one of these components, it doesn't work. Behe argues convincingly that apart form interacting proteins and enzymes, fundamental ingredients necessary to sustain life, there could be no origination of life.
The sad thing is that vast numbers of people, especially students who are told repeatedly that evolution is the way it was, have yet to hear sustainable arguments that move evolution from the category of fact to that of theory.
The place to begin is to know precisely what the Bible says, not simply what some people--well intentioned as they may be--tell you the Bible says. Interpretations are human and subject to error, but what God actually says in His Word stands the challenge of the centuries.
Should the Christian be afraid of science? Not for a moment. There is but one God--not a god of science and one of the Bible. Knowing what He has done and said it is important. But it is necessary to see through the often-accepted rhetoric which is based on vast leaps in logic and unsupportable conjecture and hold on to the truth of Scripture which will never be subverted.
Resource reading: Psalm 19.