Creation & Evolution

If Christians display aversion to evolution, it is because it contradicts the revelation of Scripture, which is the basis of Christian beliefs. Genesis does tell us how God formed Adam and Eve, and it clearly does not explain it in evolutionary terms.

In recent times some have tried to harmonize the biblical account of creation with evolution, theorizing that God used evolution as the means to bring about life, including human life. This perspective, called theistic evolution, is attractive
to some because it supposedly allows one to believe in both God and evolution. In reality, however, evolution cannot be harmonized with the biblical account of creation.

Jesus reinforced the Genesis account when He stated in Matthew 19:4, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female' . . . ?" Jesus clearly taught His followers that the Old Testament writings were true, and He is obviously referring to the account as
it is written in Genesis 1.

The apostle Paul also affirms a nonevolutionary description when he writes in 1 Timothy 2:13, "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." Evolution does not claim that a man first evolved, then a woman. In the Bible, God reveals that He made Adam and then made Eve (Genesis 1-2). He did not just put an evolutionary process in motion.

The reality is that the "fossil, geological and biological records" are anything but clear in supporting evolution, regardless of what many would say. In Vertical Thought we regularly present some of the scientific evidence that not only contradicts evolution, but shows its impossibility.

Of course, in addition to all the scientific evidence that the evolution of the various species found on earth, including mankind, could not have taken place, we reject this theory because it is in direct contradiction to the revelation of God.

Much more could be said about this entire subject, and we recommend you look at our archives on the Vertical Thought Web site. A couple of articles you might find interesting can be found at www.verticalthought.org/issues/vt03/evolutionfaith.htm, and www.verticalthought.org/vt/vt01/evolution.htm . The United Church of God has also published a free booklet that addresses this subject, Creation or Evolution: Does It Really Matter What You Believe? It shows how the scientific evidence doesn't really fit with Darwinian evolution and contains many startling admissions from evolutionists demonstrating the flaws in their viewpoint. You can download or request a copy at www.gnmagazine.org/booklets.

Answer: It appears that your tutor has not read the biblical account very carefully. Genesis 4:25 states very clearly that after Abel's death, Adam and Eve had another son, named Seth. The Bible goes on to say in Genesis 5:4 that Adam fathered "sons and daughters" after Seth was born.

We can infer from the account that Cain's wife, mentioned in Genesis 4:17, was a daughter of Adam and Eve. In those early days of the human race, Adam and Eve's sons married their sisters, as there were no other human beings.

Your question actually touches on a broader topic—the debate in some schools over whether to allow the teaching of "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolution. What is sad is the degree to which some educators go to imply that evolution is the only "intelligent alternative" in the debate! It most certainly is not!

Actually, the "intelligent design" explanation is the only one that can satisfactorily explain how any life ever appeared or how this planet even appeared. So stand your ground and don't let yourself be intimidated or be made to feel that what you believe is somehow "uneducated." Many intelligent and thoughtful people do not agree with the basic premise of evolution.

See the article, "Darwinism in the Classroom," which appeared in the Fall 2003 Vertical Thought, for a more complete treatment of this subject. Find it on the Web at: www.verticalthought.org/fall2003/darwinism.htm.

Answer: If we believe the Bible is God's revelation to us, then we believe that the first man was Adam. Scriptures tell us that Eve "was the mother of all living" (Genesis 3:20). In the New Testament, Christ and the other writers reference accounts in Genesis, including Adam, Eve and the worldwide Flood, as the beginning of human history. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 45, 47, for example, God tells us that the first man was Adam. All humans are created in the image of God, come under judgment of God and are appointed to die once.

But what about human-like fossils that scientists say predate Adam? First, we need to understand that science often presents theories in ways that suggest they are facts when they are really still theories. There are also serious problems with radiometric dating—one of the so-called proofs of the age of these fossils. Some fossil bones that evolutionists claim to be those of prehistoric humans are probably from monkeys or other animals. Misshapen bones can also be from humans who suffered from diseases such as rickets, which distort the bones.

Whatever creatures may have lived prior to Adam and Eve, and however closely they may resemble the human form (such as gorillas or monkeys do), it is a misnomer to call them "men." The Bible says man was created by God, in the image of God, at the time of Adam and Eve. Man was made to be offered eternal life in the very family of God, made to come under judgment, and only man was promised a resurrection from the dead. Anything that came before Adam should not be called "man." Other life forms, including dinosaurs, likely existed prior to Adam and Eve—but Adam and Eve were the first humans as we know them today.

Answer: The Bible says very little about your first two questions. The Bible is primarily a book about relationships between God and mankind. In it we learn how God loves us and how He wants us to love Him in return. Through its pages we see how others strove to do this and we are encouraged to do the same. The Bible, as the Word of God, gives us instructions on how to live (Matthew 4:4) and does not include every scientific or historical detail.

Perhaps the best passage we can turn to in connection with these questions is Genesis 1:27. Here we read, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This passage indicates that mankind was created male and female, but says nothing about whether Adam had a navel.

In Genesis 2:7 we note that when God created Adam, Adam became a nephesh—living being. The same Hebrew word is also used to describe animals in Genesis 1:20. While both humans and animals are living creatures, made of flesh and therefore subject to death from the start, the Bible says that man was created to rule over "all things" including the animals (Psalm 8:4-8; Hebrews 2:6-8). Furthermore, mankind has been offered the opportunity to become sons of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1-3)—something not offered to animals.

In addition to the fact that mankind was designed in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) with the potential to become sons of God, the Bible also reveals that at the time of death, the spirit of man goes up to God while the spirit of animals goes down to the earth (Ecclesiastes 3:21). Animals are a wonderful part of God's creation and should be treated with respect, but they do not have the same potential as human beings.

Answer: While the Bible is basically a book that God gave to man to instruct him on why he was created and to explain man's incredible potential, we can deduce that there was much activity within the spirit realm before man.

The concept of eternity in the past is not one our physical minds can truly grasp. We do know that whatever God had been doing, it would have reflected His nature of love (1 John 4:8) and perfect teamwork between the Father and Son (also called the Word in John 1:1).

The Bible reveals God as a Planner and Creator. Of course there is our vast physical universe that He planned, created and sustained, apparently over billions of years. The Bible also reveals an unimaginably incredible angelic creation already in existence before the earth was created (Job 38:4-7). This angelic creation is described many places in the Bible, including Revelation 4.

The Bible also gives a small glimpse into a major negative event before the creation of man. Satan, whose former name was Lucifer, was given a throne and had the responsibility of managing part of God's creation. What this entailed or how Satan corrupted the government is not totally clear. Ezekiel 28 shows that a mortal prince of Tyre was compared to the king of Tyre, who was a being given great authority on the earth prior to man.

To learn more about Satan, request our free booklet, Is There Really a Devil?