Creation v Evolution?

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 ESV

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 ESV

Dictionary definition of evolution is given as: the process by which different kinds of living organism are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth.

If you want to see a group of perfectly balanced and quiet Christians turn into a noisy clamouring group, then open up a discussion on evolution and creation. There are as many opinions as there are people, both inside and outside the church. It’s a subject that will be sure to turn the mild mannered ‘Clark Kent’ into a ‘Superman’! But why should this be?

The way you interpret and read the Genesis story of Adam and Eve will automatically put you into a corner which will be at odds at least with some of your friends. In the red corner, we have a real Adam, Eve, a talking snake, literal 24 hour days for God to make the world and the universe. In the blue corner, you have the believers who understand that same story in Genesis as picture language or metaphor to aid understanding of a message which was beyond the thinking and understanding of early mankind. In truth it is still ‘way above some of our advanced scientific thinking today.

To make it worse, one of these groups of Christians will forcefully point the finger at the other group and say something like, “It’s in the Bible, and I believe the Bible to be the literal Word of God. It’s obvious that you don’t and would rather take sides with science.” This can get nasty. Trust me, it really can! So, what’s the answer?

First of all, note that we talk about “The THEORY of evolution” and that’s because it cannot be proven. The process would take millions of years to work through from a single cell to the human beings we are today. This cannot be recreated as science requires, so cannot be more than a theory. However, the other side should not be too hasty to cheer their success. Many well respected theologians from all corners of the church will differ on the Biblical interpretation of the creation story. Yes, they will believe wholeheartedly in creation, but they cannot agree on the full process of how God did what He did. It is above the human mind!

How important are we prepared to make this subject? If neither side can fully prove their point, except through faith in the God of the Bible, why not view creation as a part of the overall purpose of God and the Bible which leads directly to Jesus and our salvation? Is that something we should fight, or disagree about? No, thought not, because it’s not a salvation issue!

In the Beginning, God

Christians of all sorts of denominations and theologies have differing views on the path of human life after initial creation, but we all agree on the origin of man. It is clearly taught in the first verse of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, in the familiar words we all know, “In the beginning God created”. It is after that point the various differences and even disagreements come in. How old is the earth? What part, if any, did evolution in any form play in the way we adapted and changed to our environment? To be more accurate, we usually refer to Charles Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species” and the furore it caused when his Theory of Evolution was first introduced and published in 1859. That was over 150 years ago and we still debate its truth and relevance.

I sometimes wonder why we have so much trouble reading and understanding from Genesis 1:2 onward, when we seem to be happy to accept the first four words of verse 1? We can rule out the atheist community because they don’t believe in God anyway, and at the time Darwin’s theory had a willing audience because this theory doesn’t require a God to make it work for them. In fact Darwin wasn’t happy with his research and didn’t publish for many years because he did believe in God.

Professors of Theology of various church groups and denominations are happy to debate creation and evolution for as long as you like, and never seem to agree. If evolution was a certainty, the theory would be fact, and the case for evolution would be proven. But it can’t be shown by science. It’s like proving the Loch Ness Monster does or doesn’t exist. It is subjective, and there is no scientific evidence for either. This is a matter of faith alone and not hard science.

So, for my own part I will accept the Biblical account of creation in faith as fact, until it can be proven without any shadow of a doubt that there is no God, and I don’t see that happening. Science can address many laws and prove them by repetition of results and the application of time, but science cannot address feelings and emotions like; love, joy,  peace, patience, hate, life, death, right, wrong, good, bad, altruism and the list could go on. I find the God of the Bible the perfect Person and place to go in times when I don’t need a scientific proof, but I do need comfort and understanding. Try putting these under a microscope to prove their existence!

Distortion

Senior teachers at a South Lanarkshire school have been removed following a parent outcry over the involvement of a US-based religious group. Some parents have labelled the Church of Christ extremist, and outraged that their children were given books at an assembly questioning evolution and highlighting the church's own religious viewpoints. BBC News 13 Sep 2013

Churches in general, and not just this one have to be very careful in today’s very secular society. We must also acknowledge that our tabloid media play to the gallery when they find something that might pull down any church, and for any reason. A scottish rag ‘news’paper published a photo of one of the leaders of the ‘extremist’ church face painted to provide the image to accompany their smear article. The leader’s face was painted for a bit of fun at a school outing to show what pirate Jack Sparrow might have looked like. The rag failed to mention this. It also failed to say that this same church leadership have been a very active part of the school, without incident, for the past 8 years.

What on earth brought this hullabaloo about? Apparently a book was handed out to some of the schoolkids which depicted the ‘young earth’ position that many other christian scientific academics also believe, ie the earth may be less than 10,000 years old and not billions as some other scientists think. At this point it is essential to say that science does not, and has never, spoken with one voice. Science is not the enemy of faith, but can accompany it. At the same time, primary schools are teaching detailed same sex education to very young minds. I can’t help but wonder which causes more harm?

We should also note that the issue was brought to the media attention by the humanist society of Scotland. Is the penny dropping now? If you thought that this church had an agenda, more so the humanists who want nothing to do with God at every level. It has nothing to do with science or faith after all, it is the humanist society making a headline while they can, and getting their 15 minutes of fame in the process of making maximum damage.

I know many Christians, and some support the young earth view, and some that the earth is billions of years old. They don’t fall out, or shout that the folks who don’t think their way are heretics. There is no fight, just a healthy difference of opinion, and anyway, when we get to heaven we will not be asked how old we thought the earth was, we will be judged on what we did with Jesus and His teaching.

So, the 8 year work and witness in a local community school has been brought to an unfair and abrupt end by a devious humanist, and with the glad help of a rag tabloid, but take heart my friend, if you are a Christian, you will know the end of the story, and guess what? WE WIN!

Conservative Schools Minister Michael Gove against Creationism

Michael Gove Conservative MP, shadow minister for schools said on the Andrew Marr Show, 14 Feb 2010, that 'we cannot allow creationist schools' in our society. He said it was 'at odds with all the known science'! I take it he is now a scientist, and that he has polled all scientists, and he knows more than them? In fact he puts this view in the same conversation, and almost the same breath as being against Muslim fundamentalism.


I always thought politicians were politicians. Not scientists, and not religious leaders either. Should they not speak having taken in the expert's views in their fields? I take it he has read Dawkins and shares his beliefs on evolution. But has he read other creationist contemporaries views like Anthony Flew? How about CS Lewis? And what about Colson and Keller? I think Gove is picking and choosing his sources, and forming conclusions with little care.


Scientists DO believe in creation. It is wrong to say that 'ALL the known science' is against it. It is NOT, and to say so shows a blatant disregard for the Christian base of our country. Scientists are divided on the subject. They do not speak with one voice. I smell danger ahead. Science is a fine way of examining 'physical things' but cannot be used in matters of faith, beliefs, emotions, feelings, love. You know the kind of real stuff that we are all made of. We spend most of our day in relationships of one kind or another, and these relationships and emotions cannot be dissected or explained by science!


I am alarmed at the offhand dismissal of the creationist view, when evolution is still a THEORY! This view is expressed by a potential next Schools Minister after the next General Election. Christians, be afraid, be very afraid!  

Deep Inside

Another lovely evening winter sky over the town of Port Glasgow, the town where I was born, and grew up. Nothing special you think, but take another moment to follow my reasoning. This is not one of my photos. It was given me by a very good family member, who thought it worth while to run outside with her camera, to take this scene.

Why would anyone feel anything about a sky scene? Why do we mostly love sunsets? Why does music stir the senses to the point that we have our own special 'memory' tunes, and we call them 'our songs'? Why is it when you look across at the Argyle Hills, covered in snow, we gasp at the beauty? Why is art (because these are all pieces of art) so important to humans?

Animals have no concept of beauty. They live on base instincts. An animal of any kind will not lift its head to take in the beauty of a sunset, or the rolling waves. Have you ever wondered why?

How about the thought that we really are so fundamentally different, that we just cannot be part of the same evolving species? How about the thought that we are not animals after all? How about the possibility, maybe in your own mind just a faint possibility, that the difference is that there actually is a God, and the thing that makes us different is that part of us that responds to beauty, love, feelings, emotions, and not just instincts? Science cannot test for beauty or feelings, just tangible things. There is a place for science and the study of knowledge, but let's not close our minds to the feelings which stir inside us when we are affected and touched by our emotions, feelings, beauty, and especially love. Science cannot deal with these things, and rightly so. They are intangible. 

For my part, I don't think these feelings are borne of the chemical make up of our bodies, or minds. I think it goes further. We have become good at being a 'God-Free' society, and very secular in our outlook. Isn't it time to at least be open to the possibility that there might just be that superior creator God after all? What is there to lose? The lady who took this photo just recognised the beauty. It was deep inside, and didn't have to be proven scientifically. She just knew it was 'good'!

Rock Pool at Wemyss Bay

Anyone who knows the area around Wemyss Bay, or indeed the West Coast of Scotland will also know of its rugged beauty. This is a relatively calm image, but the scene can so easily change within hours, if not minutes. This image was taken a short walk from my own flat. I am spoiled for scenery to enjoy and photograph at any time of the year, and try to make the most of what I believe to be a magnificent part of God's creation. I am happy to be considered as a creationist, and cannot subscribe to the theory (yes it still is a theory) of evolution. Darwin did a 'job' on us all, and drove a wedge between human 'thinkers', but more so the church. Oh, I do believe that our Almighty God may have used some of the other parts of his creation to finish his work, but I cannot believe that we evolved from some single cell, and kept evolving until we get to mankind. Where did the single cell come from? If it came about as a result of some gasseous accident, then where did this gas come from? Evolution does not, and cannot explain how the first cell came out.... from nothing!! Wow, what a great, creative God we have!