Did God Use Evolution to Create the World?

BY DR WILLIAM T. PELLETIER/WOODSIDE NEWS BIBLE SCIENCE COLUMNIST

Absolutely NOT! Scripture is crystal clear about this. Evolutionism and Creationism are directly opposed to each other, and the consequences of the two worldviews diverge dramatically.

In a day of rampant confusion on this issue, it is vital for believers to know what Scripture teaches. We must stand firm, as pillars in support of the truth, able to articulate a logical and compelling explanation of origins according to the Word of God.

Genesis specifies that God created life and provided for its orderly continuation through reproduction according to kind. No kind ever develops into a different kind. Ten times the historical record in Genesis 1 says “after their kind.”

This pattern has been man’s consistent observation, without a single exception, throughout the 6,000 years of earth history. Great variation may appear within a kind, yet each kind reproduces only after its own kind. The Dog kind has great variety: wolves, Great Danes, bulldogs, foxes, Chihuahuas, huskies, dingoes. But dogs always produce dogs; dogs never produce cats or camels or crocodiles or canaries or any other kind of non-dog life.

Jesus Himself recognized reproduction only within kind when He said, “Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?” (Matthew 7:16) The logical argument Jesus was making (on identifying false teachers by their fruit) disintegrates unless reproduction of life is only according to kind; otherwise grapes might come from thorn bushes!

Jesus obviously did NOT believe in the evolution of one kind of life into another.

©William T. Pelletier - Monday November 24, 2008 A.D.
BibleScienceGuy@WoodsideNews.org

Read November’s Bible-Science column
Chemistry in the Kitchen
in The Woodside News.

For the LORD gives wisdom. From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
(Proverbs 2:6)a

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Apologetics Is Vital

“Apologetics should be part of parenting classes!”

Does this sound off-the-wall, or does it strike a resonant chord in your soul? This fresh concept came from Dr. William Lane Craig, internationally-known Christian apologist, philosopher, and author. Craig visited Detroit recently for two apologetics sessions.

Apologetics doesn’t mean being sorry for something. Rather it comes from the Greek word apologia meaning defense. Apologetics is the defense of Christianity using evidence, reason, and logic.

“It was a treat to have an apologist of Craig’s stature in our area,” remarked Patrick Smith, Woodside Bible’s theologian. William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot seminary with earned doctorates in theology and philosophy.

The Material World: Is this all there is? was Craig’s topic at Woodside Bible’s Warren campus on November 7. “Craig reviewed five classic proofs for the existence of God to argue the material world is not all there is,” reported Woodside Bible’s Executive Pastor Eric Haven.

Craig’s talk was particularly appropriate looking toward Christmas, when many focus exclusively on material aspects of the season. Craig’s talk energized hearers to look deeper.

“Many I spoke with appreciated Craig’s clear arguments,” said Patrick Smith. “Craig’s presentation stimulated numerous audience questions. Although some of his supporting evidence may have been unfamiliar, he provided helpful examples to illustrate his arguments. Audience interaction showed the need for the church to take seriously the life of the mind and the importance of apologetics in today’s world.”

Subsequent blogs will discuss Craig’s talks further.

Read the sequel:
Prepare for Battle

©William T. Pelletier - Thursday December 3, 2008 A.D.
BibleScienceGuy@WoodsideNews.org

For the LORD gives wisdom. From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
(Proverbs 2:6)

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1. Christmas Animals

 

What is your favorite Christmas animal? Reindeer? Camel? Donkey? Sheep? Cow? Turkey? Goose?

Some like the Cow because of the association with stables and mangers where Jesus was born. Others like the Camel. The Magi caravan undoubtedly included camels.

Some select the Donkey. Mary and Joseph likely used a donkey to help transport a near-term pregnant Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Many choose the Sheep because Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Shepherds were the first to whom Christ’s birth was publicly announced, and sheep figure prominently in manger scenes. Jesus is referred to as a lamb or sheep 33 times in the New Testament. Additionally, numerous Old Testament references to sacrificial sheep prefigure Christ. However, sheep would be better as a choice for a favorite Crucifixion animal.

Men sometimes prefer the Goat because of its tougher image, stubborn nature, and willingness to eat anything. This choice can be viewed redemptively by remembering that Jesus was our scapegoat sent outside the city to bear the sin of His people. (Leviticus 16)

Some choose the Turkey, Goose, or Pig as their favorite because for them Christmas is a time of feasting on one of these delicious animals. There’s nothing wrong with feasting, but a focus on feasting alone misses the whole point of the season—the event the feasting celebrates.

A small survey of children yielded penguin, polar bear, reindeer, horse, snowman. Our culture’s secular slant on Christmas is clearly reflected in these choices.

Probably nobody picked my favorite Christmas animal. It never appears in manger scenes, but religious sites worldwide feature it. It rarely appears on American dinner tables, but it’s a popular Asian food. This animal lays eggs, but it’s not a chicken or turkey. It figured prominently in the life of Moses, and Jesus pointed to it as a type of Christ.

What is it? Check my next blog post to find out.

Read the sequel:
2. My Favorite Christmas Animal

©William T. Pelletier - Thursday December 18, 2008 A.D.
BibleScienceGuy@WoodsideNews.org

For the LORD gives wisdom. From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
(Proverbs 2:6)

Read more of the Bible-Science Guy blog.
See the Table of Contents for the Bible-Science Guy Blog.

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2. My Favorite Christmas Animal

Probably nobody picked my favorite Christmas animal. It never appears in manger scenes, but religious sites worldwide feature it. It rarely appears on American dinner tables, but it’s a popular Asian food. This animal lays eggs, but it’s not a chicken or turkey. It figured prominently in the life of Moses, and Jesus pointed to it as a type of Christ.

Have you guessed my favorite Christmas animal?—It’s the Snake!

Snakes live on every continent except Antarctica. Of 3,000 known species, only 725 are venomous, and only 250 species can kill humans. North America has 120 snake species, 20 of which are venomous. The U.S. averages ten deaths annually from snake bites, while worldwide deaths are estimated at 125,000.

Despite claims to the contrary, snakes actually do “eat dust” per God’s curse on the serpent for deceiving Eve (Genesis 3:14). Snakes pick up dirt particles with their darting forked tongues. The vomeronasal sensory organ in the roof of the mouth “smells” the dust particles for possible prey. The fork in the tongue provides the snake with a directional sense of smell to follow a trail.

Cambodia has the world’s largest snake harvest because it also has the largest crocodile harvest, and snakes are a crocodile’s favorite food. Snakes are to crocodiles as chickens are to man, except that most men do not eat live chickens in one bite.

Cambodia has 900 crocodile farms, some with 2,000 crocodiles, which are raised for their meat and hides. Sour crocodile soup and croc curry are favorite dishes. Snake hunters annually harvest 4 million snakes from Tonle Sap, southeast Asia’s largest lake. Most of the snakes are sold to crocodile farms at $1 for 50 snakes. Other snakes are sold for their skins to make shoes, wallets, or purses, while some are sold to restaurants for meat.

Subsequent blog posts will explain why the Snake is my favorite Christmas animal.

Read the prequel:
1. Christmas Animals
Read the sequel:
3. Snake Worship

©William T. Pelletier - Monday December 22, 2008 A.D.
BibleScienceGuy@WoodsideNews.org

For the LORD gives wisdom. From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
(Proverbs 2:6)

Read more of the Bible-Science Guy blog.
See the Table of Contents for the Bible-Science Guy Blog.

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