Volume 18, Issue 17 (April 24, 2016)
Is There Evidence God Exists and Evolution is False?
By Kyle Pope
Let’s answer this question in two parts. First there are a number of things that support the existence of God. Let’s consider three:
1. Evidence of design indicates a Designer. The entire universe reflects evidence of design. This is true of the vast expanse of the cosmos as well as the smallest particles of matter. There can be no design without a designer. The Psalmist wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psa. 19:1, NKJV).
2. Intelligence is reflected in the building blocks of life. The more science learns about the sequencing of DNA the more we find that it reflects an intelligent programming much more complex and intricate than any computer program ever written. David declared, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well” (Psa. 139:13-14).
3. Motion requires an “Unmoved Mover.” This is a very ancient observation of nature. All around us the universe is in motion. This is true of physical motion and also or processes of nature. Everything has a source, an origin, a cause, and a beginning. If we were to trace all of these effects back to the beginning we would have to acknowledge that there had to be something that served as the first cause. Unless we want to say everything has just always been in motion, we would have to say that something started all things but did not itself require a beginning. The Bible identifies an intelligent Creator as the first cause who started all things, but was Himself without a beginning. The Hebrew writer declared, “By 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 are visible” (Heb. 11:3).
So what about evolution? Is it true, as so much of the scientific world now claims that life simply evolved? We must understand that there are two types of evolution: micro-evolution (changes within a species) and macro-evolution (the theory that a species can change into another species). Here are the issues:
1. Macro-evolution violates the Scientific Method. For something to be scientific it must be observable and repeatable. Micro-evolution is observable and repeatable. We can see how the color of an animal’s fur can adapt to its environment. We can see how a bird’s beak can change depending how it needs to find and eat different foods. In such cases, however, these animals still remain the same species of animal in spite of various adaptations. Macro-evolution, on the other hand, is not observable and repeatable! There is no evidence of one species changing into another. The fossil record does not show such evidence. The fact that we can observe micro-evolution does not prove the validity of the theory of macro-evolution. The Bible teaches that God made all forms of life “each according to its kind” (Gen. 1:21-24). A bird is not a dog, a cow is not a fish. All mutations or inter-breeding between species render the animal produced unable to reproduce itself. Macro-evolution is a matter of faith, not science. This is true because...
2. Macro-evolution violates Scientific Laws. Scientific laws are principles with no known exceptions. Consider two laws that macro-evolution would violate:
• Macro-evolution violates the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This law declares that order moves to disorder unless energy is exerted. Various theories of macro-evolution all rely on the assumption that the orderly structure necessary for life came by accident from chaos and disorder. The Bible teaches that God established the laws by which this universe functions. God asked Job, “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?” (Job 38:33).
• Macro-evolution violates the Law of Biogenesis. This law states that all life comes from pre-existing life. Before an understanding of microbiology many used to believe in “Spontaneous Generation.” Even scientists thought that mold produced on bread was evidence of life coming from non-living material. Now it is understood that on a microscopic level small spores that are all around us grow into visible life large enough to be seen. Macro-evolution depends upon the assumption that non-living material, under the right circumstances can explode into life. Sadly many evolutionary scientists still essentially believe in a type of “Spontaneous Generation” in their acceptance of macro-evolution.
The Bible teaches that God breathed life into the dust from which He formed man (Gen. 2:7). That is not something we can observe or repeat—it demands faith. The Hebrew writer declared, “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). This is not, however, a faith without any evidence. It is not a faith that requires that we dismiss reason and critical thought. It’s a faith that calls upon us to believe in a God that has always existed and is the source of all other life.
That is a challenging proposition that is difficult to conceive or explain, but the alternative demands even greater faith! The alternative demands that we believe that life (without any intelligent cause) came into existence by chance. That is a faith of man’s own creation and imagination. It is a faith that (in some cases) has arisen because men and women simply don’t like the demands the God of the Bible has placed upon us. As hard as it may be to understand how an eternal God has always existed, one who accepts this can do so on the basis of what this eternal God has revealed about Himself in a record spanning thousands of years. Which will you accept—faith in a chance theory we cannot observe or repeat, or faith in a God who has revealed Himself in Scripture? I urge you to accept the latter!
