LARCHMONT HAPPENINGS:

Free Community Dinner on Saturday, February 26th at 4:00 PM.

Each Saturday - Men's Bible Study @ 9:00 AM

Third Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM - The Food Pantry is open to all who are in need.

Fourth Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM - Our Clothes Closet is open to the community.

Women's Fitness Class each Thursday at 7:oo PM

WEEKLY DEVOTION:

"Why I Don't Believe in Evolution"

Evolution is a very controversial issue in America.  We see this in the public school system.  Some believe that biological evolution should be taught as a scientific fact, while others think it should be taught as a theory.  Those that believe it should be taught as a theory often wish other options were presented as well like divine creation and intelligent design.  When it comes to the issue of evolution, there are three main options: (1) secular evolution which embraces evolution and denies God, (2) theistic evolution which embraces both God and evolution, and (3) biblical creation which denies evolution and embraces God and his direct role in creation.  According to a 2010 Gallup poll, 40% of Americans hold to biblical creation, 38% embrace theistic evolution, and only 16% believe in secular evolution.  Though I do not de-Christianize those who hold to theistic evolution, I think there are really on two options: biblical creation or secular evolution.  Theistic evolution gives too much away to Darwinian evolution and sacrifices important biblical truths in the process.  The following are several reasons why I don’t believe in evolution.

First, the fossil record has never proven the reality of an intermediate species that would support evolution.  Evolution teaches that all life forms have evolved from a single, common ancestor over a few billion years and that through natural selection new species have evolved from other species.  Yet, we have never found the fossil proof of a species that is in the process of evolving into a new species.  Charles Darwin admitted this but he believed that the fossil record would one day support his thesis.  It has been over 150 years since Darwin wrote The Origin of the Species, and compelling fossil proof has yet to come forward. 

Second, evolution fails to explain the origin of life.  One of the most basic and most important questions you can ask is, “Where did life come from?”  We see life all around us.  We see human life, animal life, plant life, and other forms of life.  But where did life originate?  Who created life itself?  I don’t believe secular evolution has a good answer to this question.  To believe that chance and time worked together to create the complexity of life that we see today takes a lot of faith.  I think it takes more faith than to believe that an intelligent, all-powerful God created this world.  Genesis 1.1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  No scientist was there when the world began, but God was.  When it comes to the creation of this world, I am going to trust the one who was there and that’s God.  In his word he teaches us that he created the world.  The origin of life is best explained with God as its Creator. 

Third, evolution denies the uniqueness and dignity of human beings made in God’s image.  The Bible teaches that unlike the animal world human beings were made like God, in his very image (see Gen 1.26-28).  As creatures made in God’s image, we can know God and communicate with him.  Being made in God’s image means that we represent him on the earth and are accountable to him for how we govern and oversee God’s good creation.  Yet, evolution denies the uniqueness of humanity.  It teaches that human beings evolved from ape-like creatures and came on the scene rather later on the evolutionary time-table.  Humans are not directly created by God and made in his image; rather, according to evolution, humans have descended not from Adam but from animals.  Thus, humans are not the crown and climax of God’s creation as presented in Genesis 1.  Anything that takes away from the uniqueness and supreme dignity of humanity goes right against the clear teaching of Scripture. 

Fourth, evolution undercuts the basis for biblical morality.  Once you deny God’s role in creation, then there is no accountability and no basis for morality.  As Creator, God has a right to tell us how to live and to hold us accountable to his divine standard for living.  But if God is not our Creator, then we can live however we want to and not worry about the judgment to come.  This is exactly what is happening in our society.  People live how they want to, and they don’t want anyone imposing their moral viewpoint on them.  People want to create their own moral standard and come up with their own values.  This is very dangerous.  If there is no divinely-given, universal moral standard, then someone will have to devise one and ultimately it will be those in power like the media or the government.  But if the Bible is true, then God is our Creator and he alone has the right to tell us how to live.  If you get rid of God, then you have destroyed the very foundation for morality. 

                                 Pastor Mark