                           EVOLUTION                             
                                                                 
             WHY A BIBLE BELIEVER CAN NOT ACCEPT IT              
                                                                 
                      by Mark H. Senter                          
                                                                 
     While many competent scientists point out numerous
scientific barriers to the acceptance of the evolutionary theory,
most of us are not experts in this field.  Now the Bible is for
all mankind -- scientists and non-scientists -- and we can expect
guidance for all.  We are not disappointed, for Bible believers
find in God's Word adequate cause for rejection of this theory. 
Some of these will be pointed out.                               
     The question is asked by young people, "Why can't Christians
accept evolution?"  The answer is that it is contrary to the Word
of God which we believe.  When we get to the root of this theory,
we discover the fact that the existence of such teaching is an
effort to avoid God and therefore man's responsibility to Him. 
Prof. D.M.S. Watson of the University of London once said,
"Evolution itself is accepted by zoologists not because it has
been observed to occur or ... can be proved by logically coherent
evidence to be true, but because the only alternative, special
creation, is clearly incredible."  Here is an honest man, and
here we have the basic issue.  It boils down to this: do we
believe God's Word or man's substitute?  It is the old choice of
God or Satan.  And if the Bible shows clearly that evolution is
contrary to God's record, Bible believers do not have to be
scientists to know the answer.  The answer is settled forever. 
And such is the case.
     Before we examine some facts making evolution impossible,
let us define our terms.  By "evolution" is meant the theory of
organic evolution by which man is said to have come originally
from a lower form of life.  By "Bible believer" is meant one who
like the Thessalonians accepts the Bible "as it is in truth, the
word of God" (1 Thess. 2:13).  He is one who takes the Bible
without reservation as God's revealed will and message for
mankind.  There is no partial or limited acceptance of it.
     We who believe God's record of the origin of things find
many facts therein that are incompatible with evolution.  Notice
but five of them.
     (1) The phrase "after his kind" is found eight times,
"after their kind", twice, in Genesis 1.  This is a Divine
prohibition against any living thing's changing from one "kind"
to another.  Regardless of our definition of "kind", there is a
limit here which cannot be crossed.  Here is a point, if we
believe God, past which change is impossible.  There cannot be
movement from one form of life to another as evolution calls for. 
If we believe the Bible, evolution must be rejected because such
movement is the very heart of evolution.  
     (2) The sun was brought forth on the 4th day, Genesis 1:14-
19.  Vegetation had been started on the 3rd day, Genesis 1:11-13. 
The evolutionary theory requires these days to be long ages,
perhaps millions of years, but it would be impossible for
vegetation to exist long without sunlight.  God has so ordained
nature, and so science recognizes it.  Any other statement is
contrary to known facts, and science claims to be factual.  If we
believe the Genesis record, evolution was impossible.  (This is
not to imply that there was no other light.  Light was provided
the first day, 1:3.  God here made the sun which had not existed
before.  The same verb of command is used for the sun in verse 14
as was used of other light in verse 3.  Our sun provides but a
small part of the light of the universe, but God has ordered that
light and life as we know it on this planet are dependent on our
sun either directly or indirectly.  As The Volume Library
summaries it, "except for it, there would be no form of activity
on our earth.  We depend upon the sun for all power and warmth
and life on this earth.")
     (3) In the 6th day man was created (Genesis 1:27, 31). 
Evolution would have these days, as stated above, to be millions
of years.  By all fair interpretation, the 7th day like the 6th
should be ages long.  Yet from the time of Adam's creation
through the rest of that day, through the 7th day, past the
ejection from the garden, the birth and growth of two sons, the
slaying of one and the birth of a third, Seth -- all this took
only 130 years, for this was Adam's age at the birth of Seth
(Genesis 5:3).  So if we accept God's Word as correct, evolution
was impossible for lack of time.  
     (4) In Genesis 2:7 we are told that man was formed out of
the dust of the ground.  In 2:19, we are told that animals and
fowls were likewise formed.  Each was made, not of lower forms of
life but of a common substance, earth.  To say that this means
that man was formed of dust by being made of lower forms of life
is to accuse God of deception.  Had He meant that, He would have
so stated.  The clear impression here is that all life came by
the direct act of God at specific times and using the same
specific substance.  Satan is the deceiver (John 8:44; Revelation
12:9) not God.  So if words mean anything, the Bible teaches
direct creation and not a gradual evolution.
     (5) Again in Genesis 2:7, we learn that as the direct result
of God's breathing into his nostrils, man became alive -- or
literally "a soul of life."  Obviously before this action of God,
man's body was not alive.  This brought life to him.  Hence we
have here not an evolving from one form of life to anther but a
transformation from an inanimate object of clay to a living
person.  If the Genesis record is accepted, evolution is false. 
     Thus we can see that God puts it squarely up to men.  He
gives ample evidence of His Divine creative acts for those who
will believe Him.  The choice is simply do we believe God who is
true or Satan who is a liar?  A faithful record or a counterfeit? 
Without distorting God's Word, it is impossible to accept
evolution.
     One further word of warning needs to be sounded.  Satan's
method is exposed in Genesis 3.  He first injects doubt and then
openly denies God, trying to make Him appear to be the liar.  If
men accept evolution, they must discard the Genesis record.  Next
will come the rejection of other vital doctrines of the faith. 
As proof, observe that evolution and apostasy go hand in hand in
our schools.  Take heed and beware of what you believe.
               CHRISTIAN MISSIONS PRESS
                                                                 
                    Box 675 Waynesboro, Georgia 30830     
     
                                                                 
