Evolution or Creation

by Gary T. Panell

A Christian professor of physics at Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee talks about, “How can Christians relate the authority of the Bible and scientific data?” He states several views of creation before giving his own conclusions. “One view is that there was an original creation which became corrupted under Satan and was destroyed by God. In this view, the creation referred to in Genesis 1:1 is the original creation and the remaining verses refer to the re-creation or restitution of the earth about 6,000 years ago, after it was destroyed. Thus the long time needed to satisfy geology occurs in Genesis 1:2. (A message on Creation in wma. or mp3.)

A second popular theory is that the word day in Genesis means age, so that we should read each verse as referring to a period of time, not a twenty-four hour day. Therefore, any age would be suitable for the earth. This theory is sometimes called progressive creationism to refer to a successive creative act of God. There are problems here, however, if one tries to press the Genesis account into a strict chronological order with geology and astronomy. For example, the earth is noted in Genesis 1:10 and the sun, moon, and the stars in verses 14-18. This order contradicts our scientific understanding. Thus, those who hold this view and accept science do not hold to a literal reading, including the order of events in creation.

Another theory is called the Pictorial Day and Moderate Concordism. In this view, the six days of Genesis refer to six days in which God revealed to the writer God’s creative acts. The geological record does not follow strictly the Genesis account, but there is some accord in that both geology and Genesis do agree in general ways. (In other words Genesis chapter one is really a “figurative” story God used to explain what really happened.) Therefore, if we see the Genesis record as man’s response to a divine truth, we are not bound to the scientific picture of Genesis but only by the great insights which in their simplicity and beauty rise above all other writings of the period.”

The foregoing paragraphs show how many Christians think we can compromise with evolution and still maintain that the Bible account of creation and evolution are compatible. This way of thinking denies the simple truth of God’s Word, and robs God of His “GLORY” in CREATION! “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.” Romans 1:20-23

To many Christians “evolution” is very much a “fact” in their minds. No doubt the reason for this is because from the time we can remember magazines, books, newspapers, television, etc. all speak of evolution as a fact. Is it then any wonder that Christians as well as the unsaved have become convinced that evolution is fact?

First we must define “evolution” so we know what we are discussing. The dictionary defines evolution as, “A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.” Evolution today has come to mean not only changes within species, but also a process where a primitive form changes to a more advanced form.

The professor from Vanderbilt also says, “Countless Christians, including outstanding conservative evangelicals, have concluded that an evolutionary process of some kind is as consistent with a Christian understanding of man and all creation as is instant creation. God created man by bringing forth his physical body thru long stages of biological development to the point that it was ready to receive his spirit, evolution is consistent with this also. This interpretation is also a faith statement about life.”

The Bible states very clearly, “In the beginning GOD “created” the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. It does not say-In the beginning God oversaw the process of evolution!

God makes it abundantly clear what kind of day the first chapter of Genesis is talking about. When He gave the Ten Commandments he says, “Remember the Sabbath day.For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day,” Exodus 20:8-11. Would this statement make any sense if God were telling the people, through Moses, to rest the seventh day just like God rested after several billion years of doing His work of evolution?

If God created the earth in six literal days, you say, then what do we do with the things in nature that appear to be millions if not even billions of years old?

First we need to look at how God created. Were Adam and Eve created as babies or full-grown adults? It is obvious from Scripture that Adam and Eve were created as mature adults, Genesis 2:18-25. God created all of nature in this way-He created the stars with “built-in age.”

The light that would have normally taken millions or billions of light years to reach our planet from the stars was made at the same time He made the stars. Now they are governed under the laws of nature.

If you believe in the Jesus of the Bible, you should find no problem with believing in creation just as Genesis states it! To make “wine” at the wedding in Cana Jesus set aside the laws of nature. This is how He did all of his miracles, just like He created the Universe and everything in it. Col. 1:15-17

But you say, “What about dinosaurs, didn’t they live and die before Adam and Eve?” To answer this question, I have to point out to you that we have been taught all of our lives that dinosaurs lived millions of years before man. The reason they say this is because we are taught that it takes millions of years for dinosaur bones to fossilize. This simply is not true. In fact, under the right circumstances, fossilization takes place in a few years. To give just one example: In Australia, a miner left his hat in a mine that was closed for fifty years. When the miner was able to go back down in the mine, he found his hat, and it had fossilized.

What a lot of people don’t know is that there is evidence from the Bible, and science that dinosaurs lived at the same time as man. Look at Job 40:15-41:1-34. This passage shows very clearly that some dinosaurs were still living at the same time as man after the flood. The events of Job took place right after the flood of the Genesis. Science also gives evidence that shows man and dinosaurs co-existed before the flood. Both human footprints and dinosaur tracks were found fossilized in the Paluxy River bed at Glen Rose, Texas. Pictures on cave walls of drawings of dinosaurs have also been found in several parts of the world.

Those who say they believe the Bible, but believe that dinosaurs died before Adam and Eve sinned, have a contradiction on their hands. Romans 5:12, states that there was no death in the world before Adam.”through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, thus death spread to all men.”

This is where the problem is: Man does not want to admit he is a sinner in need of a Savior. God did create us and we are accountable to Him as our Creator! The Bible says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 6:23. Turn from your sin and receive the LORD Jesus as your Savior today, and we will spend eternity together with our Wonderful Creator!

For more information on this topic visit Answers in Genesis at www.answersingenesis.org or the Institute for Creation Research at: www.icr.org

Look at other articles on creation: Creation2; Dinosaur; Where did Cain get his wife?; Primate Jamboree