Creation or Evolution?

Rick Moffett​​ 

As I continue in the​​ Defending Your Faith Series, we come to a topic of much controversy - Creation vs. Evolution.​​ The teaching of evolution is yet another weapon used by our adversary, the devil.​​ (1 Pet. 5:8)​​ The teaching of evolution is a battle between humanism and Christianity or more specifically, between man’s word and God’s Word. This​​ is yet​​ another aspect of the long war that​​ started in the Garden of Eden. Sadly​​ the lies of evolution have their tentacles in almost every area of our culture - our​​ public​​ schools, colleges (both secular and Christian), science, courts, politics, and especially in the church!

I hope to give you enough basic information in this and the next few articles so that in the future you can adequately defend your position on this all-important issue.​​ 

Note​​ -​​ Some of the terms mentioned in this​​ and future​​ articles​​ may be unfamiliar to you. I have provided some helpful explanations toward the end of this article.​​ Scroll down or click​​ here.​​ ​​ 

So how​​ and when​​ did​​ this planet​​ and the people who live on it​​ begin​​ to exist?​​ ​​ Most people have at least thought about the answers to these questions. While​​ there is certainly no shortage of ideas​​ surrounding​​ this​​ emotionally debated​​ subject,​​ the truth is, there was no human present​​ when​​ this place we call​​ Earth​​ came into existence.​​ Nonetheless, many scientists claim to have the answers, but do they?​​ There are​​ numerous​​ “theories”​​ that have been​​ proposed to answer these questions with​​ the​​ two​​ most​​ popular​​ being​​ –​​ 

1.​​ The​​ earth​​ and mankind​​ were​​ created by​​ the​​ God​​ of the Bible.​​ 

2.​​ The earth​​ and mankind​​ evolved from nothing.

And of course, there are several variations of these two​​ positions​​ that​​ I will​​ also​​ briefly mention​​ later.​​ 

In this article, I will​​ discuss​​ the basics of both the creation and evolution positions.​​ In future articles, I will​​ examine​​ in more detail the arguments for and against these positions.​​ Also, I will define several common words and ideas that are frequently used when discussing this subject.​​ And perhaps most importantly,​​ I will tell you​​ some of the dangers of evolutionary teaching and how it can affect our lives.​​ 

The basic position of creation​​ is that​​ approximately​​ 6000 years ago​​ an intelligent designer (the God of the Bible)​​ supernaturally​​ spoke the universe into existence in six​​ 24-hour​​ days. On day six, He created the first man and woman from which all other humans came into being.​​ 

6​​ By​​ the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.​​ 7​​ He​​ gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses.​​ 8​​ Let​​ all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.​​ 9​​ For​​ He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.​​ Psalm 33:6-9​​ 

27​​ God​​ created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.​​ 28​​ God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."​​ Genesis 1:27-28​​ 

The basic position of evolution​​ is that the universe came into existence​​ 13.8 billion years ago. The most popular explanation for how this occurred is referred to as the​​ “Big Bang”​​ theory.​​ This theory advocates that microscopic particles combined with energy​​ began to expand (and is still expanding) into​​ the universe​​ as we understand it today.​​ It also​​ states that before this expansion occurred nothing existed.​​ 

The theory of evolution​​ also​​ states that planet​​ Earth​​ began to exist​​ 4.5 billion years ago​​ and​​ that​​ life began 3.7 billion years ago​​ as a result of​​ random​​ genetic mutations​​ and​​ natural processes. Furthermore, it is believed that​​ all living things​​ (fish, birds, insects, animals, man, etc.)​​ evolved from​​ a common​​ ancestor which​​ evolutionists​​ believe to be a single-cell organism.​​ But the big question that evolutionists have been unable to answer is how life arose from non-life (a process known as​​ abiogenesis). And thus far, science has never been able to produce life from non-life.​​ ​​ 

“It is absurd and absolutely preposterous to believe that a living cell could come into existence by itself; but, notwithstanding, I do believe it, because I cannot imagine anything else.”​​ Ernest Kahane; French molecular biologist

Unfortunately, there is no “official” organization that represents the theory of evolution, and thus, no official definition​​ for​​ this theory; not surprisingly, many different beliefs exist among evolutionists about how it all happened, therefore it’s​​ important to get clarification from anyone who uses the​​ word​​ evolution.​​ 

Similarly,​​ among creationists,​​ there are several different beliefs​​ about how God created the universe.​​ But unlike​​ the theory of evolution,​​ creation does have an​​ “official” source​​ for how it occurred.​​ It is​​ called the Bible.​​ However,​​ many​​ Bible teachers, in an attempt to remain in harmony with the latest “scientific” findings,​​ have​​ reinterpreted​​ the Bible to​​ make it​​ agree​​ with​​ what scientists​​ claim to be true.​​ Thus, what they are​​ really​​ saying is that​​ science, not the Bible,​​ is the final authority​​ on​​ this matter.​​ But keep this in mind,​​ the “latest scientific findings” are constantly changing, while God and His word never change.​​ The Bible means the same thing today as it did when it was written!

But for the most part and for far too long the​​ body of Christ​​ has ignored teaching on this subject altogether. It has been left up to the public school system to teach about how the earth and its inhabitants came into existence. Furthermore, as you might expect, public schools tend heavily toward teaching evolution as a scientific fact and​​ almost​​ completely ignore​​ creation as even a possibility.​​ Consider​​ the results of a recent survey conducted by​​ Penn State University​​ and the​​ National Center for Science Education​​ -

“about two in three—67 percent—of public high school biology teachers are presenting evolution forthrightly, emphasizing the broad scientific consensus on evolution while not giving any credence to creationism”

As you can see from the chart below, the trend toward the teaching of evolution as​​ a​​ “settled science” in the public school system is increasing.​​ 

Credit: National Center for Science Education. Read the entire article​​ here.​​ 

And here is perhaps the most sobering fact of all - the body of Christ is ill-equipped to adequately defend the teaching of creation​​ against many of the topics surrounding​​ evolution, e.g.,​​ “billions of years”, “random chance mutations”, and “the difference between​​ species​​ and​​ kind​​ classifications of​​ living organisms”. It is my goal in writing this​​ Defending​​ Your​​ Faith Series, to prepare the body of Christ both to understand and​​ explain the truth about subjects​​ such as these.​​ Learning the truth about these issues not only refutes the teaching of evolution,​​ but​​ also increases one’s faith in God’s written word.​​ 

The Dangers​​ of Evolutionary Teaching

1.​​ First and foremost it undermines the authority of God’s written Word, the Bible.​​ 

Evolution attacks the foundation of the Christian worldview which is the Word of God. More specifically, it attacks the most foundational truth in the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”​​ (Gen. 1:1)​​ If God is not the creator, then what else in the Bible might also be untrue?​​ How about the death, burial, and resurrection of​​ ​​ Jesus, did that really happen?​​ Does God​​ truly​​ love me?​​ Furthermore, who decides what​​ part of the Bible is​​ true?​​ 

The teaching of evolution has helped to propagate the lie that man can​​ choose​​ for himself what is right and wrong. This equates to​​ relativism​​ which essentially says there are NO absolutes​​ (which is a self-refuting statement).​​ Each person​​ has their​​ “own truth”!​​ However, truth is not relative, it is the same for everyone​​ whether you believe it or not.​​ ​​ 

If man is a result of random​​ genetic​​ mutations​​ as evolutionists suppose,​​ then​​ there is no logical reason for any moral standard of right or wrong. In the evolutionist worldview, morality is​​ merely​​ one’s personal preference.​​ Think about it for a minute and you can see how that would eventually​​ lead to cultural chaos.​​ (consider​​ Adolf Hitler; also, America​​ in​​ 2020)

The Bible is the foundation for all truth. It is the anchor for our souls​​ (Heb. 6:19). The Bible is the only reliable source that explains the history of the world. It reveals​​ among other things -​​ 1)​​ the Creator God and his great love for all mankind,​​ 2)​​ the destructive nature of sin which​​ always leads to death,​​ and​​ 3)​​ it tells us how, through Jesus, we can have peace in this​​ fallen​​ world​​ as well as eternal life.​​ 

2.​​ Evolution​​ removes all hope for​​ the​​ future.​​ (Heb. 6:9-18)

Evolution suggests that man is here on earth by chance, with no purpose and no hope for the future. Thus, the​​ thinking​​ often​​ becomes, “live for today for tomorrow we may die”, i.e.,​​ do​​ what brings me the most pleasure right now.​​ This thinking was similarly expressed in a​​ mantra​​ that was popular​​ back in the ’60s that said, “if it feels good do it”. The long-term consequences were rarely considered by those who followed this​​ lifestyle. ​​ 

Furthermore, if​​ there’s no hope for the future and​​ life gets too difficult and one’s situation too painful, why not just​​ terminate​​ the hurt and misery now, for the ultimate end is death anyway. That is obviously a lie from Satan, but it becomes easier to believe if one already believes the lies of evolution.​​ 

God is the giver of life and only He has the right to take it. He has a good plan for our lives, and He gives us​​  hope ​​ for eternal life in union with Jesus!​​ (Romans 15:13; 1 Tim. 1:1, 4:10, 6:17)

3. Evolution devalues human life.​​ 

Again, if we​​ believe we​​ are​​ the result of random​​ genetic​​ mutations as evolution teaches, then what​​ inherent​​ value could we possibly have? We are no different from any animal or bird or fish.​​ We become deceived into believing that if we are to have any self-worth, it must come through our accomplishments and/or possessions.

All mankind has the​​ innate​​ desire​​ to know their identity. Our identity has to do with our being, i.e., “Am I a person of value?”. We all want to believe​​ that we are valuable​​ and​​ that our life matters. ​​But most people​​ live on a performance-based value system; thus, they labor and​​ struggle their entire lives​​ trying to prove they are valuable.​​ Our value is not based on our performance. We are valuable because​​ a loving​​ God created​​ us.​​ Suggested reading​​ - ​​ Identity in Christ ​​ ​​​​ ​​ 

Helpful​​ Definitions/Explanations

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It is practically impossible to understand the creation-evolution argument without first understanding the language used to discuss each of them. Below is a list of terms that you will find helpful to better decide for yourself the truth of this long-standing debate.​​ I will add to this list in future articles.​​ 

1.​​ science​​ -​​ the state of knowing: knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding​​ -​​ Merriam-Webster Dictionary​​ The root meaning of the word​​ science​​ is knowledge.​​ 

Today the meaning of the word​​ science​​ is focused on the method of knowing, often referred to as the​​ “scientific method”.​​ 

“Scientific inquiring is a powerful way to know nature, but there are limitations to the kinds of questions it can answer. These limits are set by​​ sciences​​ [sic]​​ requirements that hypotheses be testable and falsifiable and that observations and experimental results be repeatable.”​​ -​​ Textbook of Biology 7th​​ Edition,​​ Campbell/Reece

There are two basic ways the word​​ science​​ is used,​​ operational science​​ and​​ origin​​ or​​ historical science.​​  Ken Ham ​​ and​​ Dr. Terry Mortenson​​ has​​ excellent definitions of these​​ –​​ 

• Operation science uses the so-called “scientific method” to attempt to discover truth, performing observable, repeatable experiments in a controlled environment to find patterns of recurring behavior in the present physical universe. For example, we can test gravity, study the spread of disease, or observe speciation in the lab or in the wild. Both creationists and evolutionists use this kind of science, which has given rise to computers, space shuttles, and cures for diseases.

• Origin​​ or​​ Historical science attempts to discover truth by examining reliable eyewitness testimony (if available); and circumstantial evidence, such as pottery,​​ fossils, and canyons. Because the past cannot be observed directly, assumptions greatly affect how these scientists interpret what they see.

So, for example, how was the Grand Canyon formed? Was it formed gradually over long periods of time by a little bit of water, or was it formed rapidly by a lot of water? The first interpretation is based on secular assumptions of slow change over millions of years, while the second interpretation is based on biblical assumptions about rapid change during Noah’s Flood.

This short​​ video​​ explains it well.

One of the​​ most common things said about evolution today is​​ that​​ “Science has proven evolution”.​​ As I will demonstrate in this and future articles, this statement is completely untrue!​​ Know this - science will never disprove anything in the Bible!​​ 

This​​ short​​ video​​ refutes that claim!

2.​​ biological evolution​​ -​​ a​​ theory that​​ all life on earth​​ came about through descent with modification from a single common ancestor.​​ 

3.​​ cosmological evolution​​ -​​ a theory of how the universe came into existence.​​ 

4.​​ abiogenesis -​​ the theory that life can arise from non-life.

5. genetics​​ -​​ Without a basic​​ understanding​​ of​​ genetics, it is difficult, if not impossible to​​ grasp many of the arguments used by evolutionists. And because of the complexity of this subject,​​ it may cause some to shy away altogether.​​ I will give you an overall understanding of genetics here and the application of this information in future articles.​​ For now, I will focus on humans, however, much of this also refers to​​ other​​ living organisms​​ as well.​​ 

​​ 

Here are the basics​​ –​​ 

The human body is composed of trillions of​​ cells.​​ They are the basic unit of life for all living organisms. The design and functioning of a cell is nothing short of amazing. Each​​ cell​​ has many complex components that work together to keep our bodies alive. I believe that an understanding of the human cell alone is enough to provide overwhelming proof for an intelligent creator!

Most cells in our body contain a​​ nucleus​​ (a structure contained within a membrane that controls and regulates many of a cell’s activities).​​ It is inside the​​ nucleus​​ that​​ we find​​ chromosomes,​​ genes, and​​ DNA.​​ These are the components that provide the blueprint to make you who you are​​ (physically).

We inherit​​ one​​ chromosome​​ from each​​ parent​​ per each of the​​ 23 pairs within each normal cell​​ (46​​ total​​ chromosomes). 22 of the pairs,​​ called​​ autosomes,​​ look the same in both males and females. The​​ 23rd​​ pair is the​​ sex​​ chromosome​​ (egg and sperm​​ cells). This pair​​ looks​​ different in males​​ than in​​ females, whereas​​ females have two copies of the​​ X chromosome​​ (XX),​​ ​​ males have a​​ Y​​ and an​​ X chromosome​​ (XY).​​ 

Chromosomes​​ are​​ comprised of long strands of​​ DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)​​ that are​​ shaped like a twisted ladder (referred to as a​​ “Double Helix”).​​ 

The “steps” of the ladder are comprised of four different​​ bases​​ - Adenine, Thymine, Guanine,​​ and​​ Cytosine,​​ called​​ nucleotides​​ (often abbreviated​​ as​​ A, T, G,​​ and​​ C).​​ 

​​ Note​​ - The​​ DNA​​ in a human cell is about 6 feet long if completely unraveled. If an adult’s entire DNA was unwound, it would reach to the sun and back (186​​ million miles) 596 times!

Specific​​ sections​​ along​​ a​​ DNA​​ strand​​ are called​​ genes.​​ Precisely ordered individual​​ genes​​ and/or a combination of​​ genes​​ help​​ determine the​​ traits​​ that​​ make up a person, e.g.,​​ facial​​ dimples, eye​​ and hair color, freckles, hairline,​​ etc.

At right​​ -​​ Picture of a DNA strand with a gene in red.​​ 

A​​ chromosome​​ may contain as many as 20,000 - 30,000​​ genes​​ Your body reads these genes (sections of​​ nucleotides -​​ A, T, G, C) to get the instructions for how to make​​ proteins, which are your body’s basic building​​ blocks.​​ 

Proteins​​ are comprised of long chains of​​ amino acids. There are 20 different​​ amino acids​​ used by our bodies. A typical​​ protein​​ will have 100 - 300​​ amino acids​​ connected in an​​ exact​​ sequence and​​ precise​​ 3-D​​ shape to build a specific​​ protein. Your body makes many different​​ proteins​​ to perform many different functions.​​ It is estimated that there​​ are​​ as many as​​ one million different​​ proteins​​ used by the body.​​ At left -​​ Protein molecule.​​ 

In short, DNA directs the construction of amino acids to build proteins that form living cells that make up various tissues, that comprise organs that become living creatures - like you and me.​​ 

This may all sound overwhelmingly complex to you (because it is).​​ But even though these genetic​​ functions are extremely complex, they are also extremely​​ well​​ organized.​​ As you learn more, it will become obvious that we did​​ not show up on planet earth by accident; there is a grand designer involved in this process. ​​ 

6.​​ genetic​​ mutation​​ -​​ a change in​​ DNA. It occurs when one or more nucleotides are deleted, added, or exchanged for a different one. When this occurs in a gene it can alter the amino acid sequence thus altering the protein needed by the body for a particular function. Mutations never add new information to a person's​​ genome​​ (the complete genetic information of an organism). ​​ 

7. kind​​ (aka created kind)​​ -​​ the original organisms (and their descendants) created supernaturally by God as described in Genesis​​ chapter​​ 1.​​ These organisms reproduce only their own kind within the limits of preprogrammed information but with great variation.​​ 

Note: Since the original creation, organisms of one kind cannot interbreed with a different kind, but individuals within a kind may have lost the ability (information) to interbreed due to the effects of the Curse.​​ AIG website

8. natural processes​​ -​​ in the context of evolution, it​​ refers to the​​ origin of life that occurred​​ naturally (according to nature)​​ as opposed to a supernatural way, e.g., by the hand of God.​​ 

​​ 9.​​ natural selection​​ -​​ the process by which individuals possessing a set of traits​​ (reflective of their​​ already existing​​ genetic makeup)​​ that confer a survival advantage in a given environment tend to leave more offspring on average that survive to reproduce in the next generation.​​ AIG website

10.​​ speciation -​​ refers to adaptive changes and or variations within the created kinds, e.g., Darwin’s finches, aka, the Galapagos finches. These types of changes can be observed and verified.​​ 

11.​​ adaptation​​ -​​ a physical trait or behavior due to inherited characteristics that give an organism the ability to survive in a given environment.​​ AIG website

12.​​ anthropic principle -​​ also known as the law of human existence. It concerns the many necessary factors in the universe that must remain constant within a finite range to sustain life.​​ 

13.​​ anthropology​​ -​​ The study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans.

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