Now as we have already learned in our study of origins in the study of the first Chapter of Genesis, it is sheer foolishness scientifically and it is utter unbelief Biblically to impose on creation any kind of evolution. Evolution is not a reasonable explanation for the universe or life on earth in any sense whatsoever. It is scientifically impossible, and it is Biblically rejected. If we look closely at the issue of Genesis 1 and creation, we find no evidence of evolution whatsoever in the text of scripture; nor is there any indication by any kind of reasonable science that any form of evolution from species to species could at all take place. And I’ve suggested to you a number of times, and I do it again, that as you look more closely at the issue of unbelief and denial of the clearly revealed account of creation in the book of Genesis, it is fair to say that anyone who rejects the Genesis creation account, anyone who rejects that God created the universe in six literal 24-hour days, makes an assault on scripture; makes an assault on the historicity of scripture, the accuracy of scripture, the inspiration of scripture, the inerrancy of scripture and the authenticity of scripture.
It is no small thing to deny the straightforward creation account of Genesis Chapter 1. And we could go so far as to say that in actuality, the Bible itself stands or falls with the historical accuracy of Genesis 1. If we cannot trust the creation account, then why should we trust anything else on the pages of scripture? It is sad to say that even the secular world has through the years better understood this than many Christians.
For example, Darwin, who came up with the original idea of the origin of species, was followed by a man by the name of Thomas Huxley, who lived from 1825 to 1895. Now Huxley was an ardent defender of Darwin’s theory. Huxley, in fact, propagated evolution more than Darwin did. He was the one who really pressed evolution into the scientific and philosophical center of life. Listen to what Thomas Huxley wrote, and I’m quoting: “I am fairly at a loss to comprehend how anyone for a moment can doubt that Christian theology must stand or fall with the historical trustworthiness of the Jewish scriptures. The very conception of the Messiah or Christ is inextricably interwoven with Jewish history. The identification of Jesus of Nazareth with that Messiah rests upon the interpretation of the passages of the Hebrew scriptures, which have no evidential value unless they possess the historical character assigned to them.” End quote. There is a godless, atheistic evolutionist saying that the whole of Christian theology rises or falls on the absolute historicity of the Old Testament. He said that in a book on ‘Essays’ by Huxley published in London in 1903. And yet, evangelicals seem to think that they can assault the historicity of Genesis and somehow still save the reality of Biblical revelation.
Tragically, one of the most severe blows ever dealt to the Christian faith has been inflicted by so-called Christians and so-called evangelical scholars, who reject widely the Genesis account in favor of some form of evolution. The British writer by the name of Andy Macintosh has written a book called ‘Genesis For Today,’ and in it he says this. “In recent years, a somewhat strange trend has developed in Christian circles. While some secular authors have begun to doubt the traditional evolutionary thinking of Darwin, Huxley and others who first made popular such views, some evangelical Christians have been developing the concept that God used evolution to make the world, the view which is termed ‘theistic evolution.’ Such an idea is, of course, by no means new, but it is now becoming more fashionable among evangelicals who supposedly hold to the infallibility of scripture, as well as to liberals, who do not. Some notable recent books by evangelical writers doubting the straightforward creationist position on Genesis are ..” And he names ‘Master Plan’ by Roy Clements.
Another book which rejects the creation account is the book called ‘The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind’ written by Mark Knowle. “These books,” says Andy Macintosh, “are published by Intervarsity Press, who has a strong evangelical tradition.” He goes on to say: “The Christian evangelical is increasingly being led to believe that the literal interpretation of Genesis is simply a matter of opinion. This is particularly brought out by the book ‘Creation and Evolution,’ a book in a series called ‘When Christians Disagree.’ “And of course the implication,” he says, “is that the issue of creation is a secondary issue, like things such as pacifism or politics, and Christians have every right to disagree.” Is this really the case?
Is the Bible so unclear as to the method of creation that it’s a point where we can gentlemanly disagree? Well, many evangelicals believe so. In fact, the majority seem to think so. And the irony is that while more and more evangelicals are embracing a form of evolution, secular writers are beginning to rethink whether evolution could have happened at all. And, of course, Thomas Huxley, himself a convinced atheist, understood very clearly that Christianity as such rose or fell on the truthfulness of the Bible. And he knew that included the book of Genesis. And he also knew that if he could shatter society’s confidence in the first book of the Bible, he could ultimately destroy their confidence in the other 65 books. He knew all the major doctrines held by the established church would be abandoned finally, if ultimately they abandoned Genesis. And in the main line denomination, certainly that is exactly what has happened. Andy Macintosh goes on to say: “Once creation, the fall and the flood are brought into question as history, then this brings immediately into disrepute not just the statements of the Apostles, who were basically affirming Genesis, but of the Lord Jesus Christ, who also appealed to Genesis as history.” “And,” he writes, “the whole meaning of sin and redemption is blurred and lost if we lose the anchor of Genesis.”
The Puritan poet John Milton saw the grandeur of redemption based on a firm belief in the Bible. The greatness of 17th Century commitment to a Biblical world view is reflected in his epic poems ‘Paradise Lost’ and ‘Paradise Regained.’ “Now,” says Macintosh, “if we are to believe we originally came from monkeys and apes with generations of violence and bloodshed, and that there was no literal Eden, then what do we make of the Bible’s promises concerning the new heavens and the new earth in which righteousness dwells?” End quote. He’s right. He has it exactly right. And this is pervasive among evangelical quote unquote “scholars.” Even the well-known Bible commentator John Stott, who has benefited many of us with his writings, believes that man had hominoid ancestors from which he evolved. And says that in his book ‘Understanding the Bible,’ of all things, published in 1984. Now this is a grievous and I think fair to say a carnal distrust of scripture in its first Chapter. And it ultimately undermines all Biblical authority and brings the right to question everything that comes after Genesis Chapter 1.
So as we have been going through this section of origins, it has become clear to us that it is the true word of God regarding creation history, and we have treated it as such, to the honor of God and the clarity of our own understanding. Now the high point of creation came on day six. And you will remember back on day six in Verse 26, God made man. “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them: and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ “And God said, ‘I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you.”
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
