THEISTIC EVOLUTIONIST'S DILEMMA

Theistic evolutionists embrace the theory of evolution but insist that the theory does not conflict with the scriptures. Long ago, when I was in college a preacher for a sectarian group made the comment that evolution strengthened his belief in God. I considered that a strange statement coming from one who claimed to believe and defend the Bible as the word of God. The notion was that Bible believers need to get in step with modern scientific thought; that evolution is "logical." It is uncomfortable for some to accept that God spoke matter and energy into existence, instituted the climate and furnished the environment with all the things necessary to support man which was the last of his creation.

Paul addressed the problem of worldly and divine wisdom in 1 Corinthians 1:18 when he wrote: "the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." The Greeks of verse 22 "seek after wisdom." Consequently, "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." As some would reduce problems by separating gospel and doctrine (the idea being we can agree upon the gospel, but doctrine is subject to interpretation and secondary to the gospel) others mis-read Genesis 1 and 2 to accommodate the theory of evolution. It goes down hard but most evolutionists are not Bible believers.

To believe that man, who is imbued with an eternal spirit, evolved from lower forms presents a formidable problem. We oppose abortion because life within or without the womb is life. Modern thinking and law differentiates. The Bible does not. Consider passages such as Luke 1:44 concerning the babe John in the womb. Both Elizabeth and Mary knew they would have sons long before sonic technology. Genesis 25:21-23 makes it clear that Jacob and Esau were defined clearly in God's eyes as they were in the womb. An insurmountable problem for the theistic evolutionist, if the Bible is to be given credence, is: when did the eternal spirit enter man? Did it evolve along with the physical body? Bible believers know that the spirit is coincidental with the beginning of physical life in the womb, at the time of conception. Hebrews 12:9 tells us that the God of verse 7 is "the Father of spirits." Genesis 2:7 is clear concerning Adam: "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Then, not eons later.

What of these creatures which were superior animals but still animals? Did they have primitive spirits? If so did they have any responsibility for moral, ethical, and spiritual behavior? Logic would say, "No." They are animals. Animals are creatures of instinct. An animal's capacity to learn is very limited. But somewhere in the eons of time required by the evolutionists for the changes that produced different species, what is called modern man appeared. The atheist doesn't have the problem the theistic evolutionist has. The atheist believes that man is just an animal with the characteristics of animals albeit more intelligent than others. The spirit the Bible speaks of does not concern the atheist.