Facebook Question/Response
Question from Jennifer Bailey, Facebook:
why are christians threatened by the idea of evolution? Doesn't the organized adaptive nature of DNA lend more to the side of intelligent design? Humans did not "come from" apes. We shared an ancestor a long ways back on the line, somewhere around 3 million years before present. Why can't God work through evolution? Is it because the thought that our species is not significant among the animals or the cosmos...is that an appaling, terrifying thought to humans? Of course. But whos to say we aren't important just based on the way we came about? Our vantage point is stuck confused forever between past and future, for now unsolved. We don't know God's purpose, we can only sense his stirring. I think that in this case, HOW God brought us about is not important, but that he did at all. Therefore I argue we have a right to uncover and analyze our past so we can prepare for the future.
My Response:
Jennifer, I don’t know if you sent out this message as bulk or if you were searching profiles and stumbled upon mine, and decided to ask me. Whatever the case, I will answer, because I have the thought that you were honest in asking the question. So, I will be honest in the answer. I guess the main divergence between how most Christians feel humans came to be and the theory of evolution is the time issue. The time tables don’t match up, so consequently the two versions are mutually exclusive, meaning if you choose to believe one, its hard to agree with the other. The timetable concerning evolution involves millions of years…you stated 3 million, I’ve heard as much as 9 million (existence of first upright walking mammal). The bible, on which Christianity is based, suggests a far younger universe, about 6,000 years, and thus a much younger “first human.” If one is a Christian, which I am, the bible is the ultimate authority. If an idea or theory contradicts the bible than the Christian must conclude this to be false.
Now, having said that I believe the very reason we are important is based on the way we came about. I believe we were created in God’s image. There is much evidence to suggest a creation as there is much to suggest an evolution of the species. I believe that your perspective (on any issue including creation/evolution), is determined by your vantage point. I believe creation because it makes sense to me, but mostly I believe it because I believe in Christ. Believing in Christ, means trusting in him to save you from sin and hell. Now I don’t know your religious background, or even if you have any, but this “conversion” (when you give up trying to be righteous enough, and let Christ do it) that I speak of is central to a Christian’s life. Without this conversion, one is lost. Once the conversion takes place, one has hope of eternity in heaven.
So, having said that, my belief that affirms the 6,000 year old earth, and a Genesis version of creation, is a by-product of a personal relationship with Christ. Sure, I was raised in church all my life, but now at 22 years old, I find that I am truly fulfilled be cause of that relationship, and would be lost without it. On the other hand, it is very easy to see how someone without a relationship with Christ, would think that the creation story is preposterous, as the bible would not enter in to the discussion.
I hope you will read this as a respectful answer to your question and as a caring attempt on my part to help you to see my perspective. I look forward to hearing your comments.
why are christians threatened by the idea of evolution? Doesn't the organized adaptive nature of DNA lend more to the side of intelligent design? Humans did not "come from" apes. We shared an ancestor a long ways back on the line, somewhere around 3 million years before present. Why can't God work through evolution? Is it because the thought that our species is not significant among the animals or the cosmos...is that an appaling, terrifying thought to humans? Of course. But whos to say we aren't important just based on the way we came about? Our vantage point is stuck confused forever between past and future, for now unsolved. We don't know God's purpose, we can only sense his stirring. I think that in this case, HOW God brought us about is not important, but that he did at all. Therefore I argue we have a right to uncover and analyze our past so we can prepare for the future.
My Response:
Jennifer, I don’t know if you sent out this message as bulk or if you were searching profiles and stumbled upon mine, and decided to ask me. Whatever the case, I will answer, because I have the thought that you were honest in asking the question. So, I will be honest in the answer. I guess the main divergence between how most Christians feel humans came to be and the theory of evolution is the time issue. The time tables don’t match up, so consequently the two versions are mutually exclusive, meaning if you choose to believe one, its hard to agree with the other. The timetable concerning evolution involves millions of years…you stated 3 million, I’ve heard as much as 9 million (existence of first upright walking mammal). The bible, on which Christianity is based, suggests a far younger universe, about 6,000 years, and thus a much younger “first human.” If one is a Christian, which I am, the bible is the ultimate authority. If an idea or theory contradicts the bible than the Christian must conclude this to be false.
Now, having said that I believe the very reason we are important is based on the way we came about. I believe we were created in God’s image. There is much evidence to suggest a creation as there is much to suggest an evolution of the species. I believe that your perspective (on any issue including creation/evolution), is determined by your vantage point. I believe creation because it makes sense to me, but mostly I believe it because I believe in Christ. Believing in Christ, means trusting in him to save you from sin and hell. Now I don’t know your religious background, or even if you have any, but this “conversion” (when you give up trying to be righteous enough, and let Christ do it) that I speak of is central to a Christian’s life. Without this conversion, one is lost. Once the conversion takes place, one has hope of eternity in heaven.
So, having said that, my belief that affirms the 6,000 year old earth, and a Genesis version of creation, is a by-product of a personal relationship with Christ. Sure, I was raised in church all my life, but now at 22 years old, I find that I am truly fulfilled be cause of that relationship, and would be lost without it. On the other hand, it is very easy to see how someone without a relationship with Christ, would think that the creation story is preposterous, as the bible would not enter in to the discussion.
I hope you will read this as a respectful answer to your question and as a caring attempt on my part to help you to see my perspective. I look forward to hearing your comments.
posted by Bryan Alston @ 4:54 PM
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