Does the Bible and Evolution Harmonize? II - March 12, 2006

By: Sellers S. Crain, Jr.

    Those who say that there is no contradiction between the Bible and Evolution are "Theistic Evolutionists."  Theos is the Greek name of God.  Those who subscribe to Theistic Evolution say that God created the world, but that He used evolution to accomplish it.  They say that Genesis actually teaches this kind of creation.  They would rewrite Genesis to read: "In the beginning of all things, God brought life into existence, and it evolved over eons of time until man created in the image of God appeared on the earth."

    Many believe this view of creation is plausible and in complete harmony with Scripture.  However, I would say without reservation that if a person believes the Bible they must reject evolution.  Theistic or otherwise.  Conversely, if one believes in Theistic Evolution, they must reject the Bible.

    Genesis informs us that God created the universe and all things that are in it.  The emphasis of Genesis is on what God did.  Notice these affirmations from Genesis 1: "God created," "God said," "God called," "God divided," "God set," and "God blessed." This harmonizes with what the Hebrew writer said: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do not appear" (11:3).  Not only does the Bible say that God spoke this world into existence, it also teaches that it is His word which holds it together. (2 Peter 3:5).  If we say that the world was millions of years in forming by means of evolution, then we are denying that "God spoke, and it was so."  If we say that He had to use the process of evolution to bring all things into being, then we are limiting God's power to human imagination.

    To accept the claims of evolution is to deny that God brought all life into being already mature.  God created every living thing full grown, including man and woman, and then blessed them and told them to reproduce after their own kind.  All life today comes into existence from pre-existing life.  The old adage "Which comes first the chicken or the egg" is easily answered when you just look at the facts.  If there were no chicken today, there would be no egg.  Humans produce humans.  Monkeys produce monkeys.  Funny to me that people don't like being called "A monkey's uncle", but then some don't mind being called the son of one.

Brotherly,

Sellers