About Creation
Arising from the view we hold of the Scriptures, the subject of man's origins is determined by our position in this area. For the overwhelming majority of the Church's history, her theologians and teachers consistently held and defended the Bible's account of Creation, both of the universe in general and planet earth and mankind in particular. This included a recent date for the origin of everything and the Genesis account of mankind's fall into sin. Man himself, male and female, was the result of a special creation from God in which human beings, beginning with Adam and Eve, were fashioned differently from the rest of the animal species. Unique in that they were made "in the image and likeness" of God Himself, they reflected that reality of "spirit life" in numerous ways apart from all the other animals. The notion that man was descended from lower forms of life, most notably the apes, was rejected as decidedly unbiblical and unsupported by science.
It is noteworthy that the vast majority of scientists were of the same opinion, be they Christian or not. The notion of "molecules to man" evolution did not make its mark until the latter part of the 1 9th century following the publication of Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species" in which the author attempted to make a scientific case for 'naturalism" or the understanding that life on earth could be explained in terms of natural causes only, without the need for any supernatural intervention. The case for separating science and religion into two mutually exclusive disciplines was thereby introduced and has only gotten more pronounced as time has passed. In our day, the battle shows no signs of letting up and the rhetoric from the evolutionist camp has become vitriolic and downright illogical, going so far as to declare anyone not holding to this evolutionary world view as being unable to do science at all. Truth be told however, the arguments for this position become less and less viable as time goes by and advances are made in the operational sciences such as genetics, molecular biology and info-matics. These scientific disciplines are showing conclusively that there is no possible way that life could have arisen without the interposition of some 'supernatural" intelligence. Life itself is far too complex, even in its so-called "simple" forms to have ever "evolved" by any means other than "intelligent design" at the very least.
The DNA code, co-discovered by Francis Crick, was so complex and detailed that Mr. Crick himself was forced to concede that it could not have arisen spontaneously through natural means alone. His alternative however was to suggest a "seeding" by extraterrestrial means rather than the Bible's simple yet direct explanation, "In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Modern science as it progressively uncovers more and more complexity in life is leading to the inevitable conclusion that the explanation points in the direction of an intelligent designer at the very least. Molecules to man evolutionary theories are not supported by the evidence, on the contrary it is refuted by the ever-growing body of evidence, much of it coming from Bible believing scientists who, contrary to what some would have us believe, are thoroughly credentialed in their scientific disciplines and are showing the Church and the culture that science and the Bible are not at odds. It is true that the Bible is not a scientific textbook, but whenever the Bible touches on subjects related to science it is never wrong.
As Christians we do not have to be intimidated by those who attempt to silence the Church with charges of faith not being compatible with science or reason as they call it. The Bible's clear and simple explanation that God did it and that human beings are unique and special is the answer to modern mans' true identity and his need to find meaning and purpose in this life. The answer from the naturalistic, evolutionist camp that man is, ultimately, a cosmic accident with no ultimate and intrinsic value rings hollow because it is hollow, an 'empty-suit" philosophy leading to the inevitable despair and confusion of modern society.