In the late 1800s when Darwin's theory began to be promulgated the biological sciences were in their infancy. The evidence put forward by biologists and paleontologists seemed plausible. Many people, including many Bible believing Christians, began to accept evolution as a theory of how living organisms could change over time.
Theologians at the time began to reinterpret the book of Genesis to incorporate long ages of history into the Genesis creation account. (As evolution became popular the belief that the earth was extremely old also became popular because it would require millions, even billions of years for evolution to take place.) The doctrine of "Theistic Evolution" which claims that God guided the process of evolution became standard fare at almost all seminaries.
Christians did, of course, reject atheistic evolution and objected to the teaching of atheistic evolution in the schools. Over the ensuing decades many Christians began to notice the gathering scientific evidence that disproves both evolution and old earth theory.
As time wore on and as more and more fossils were discovered it became evident that there was a lack of transitional forms in the fossil record. The missing links are still missing. Many transitional fossils are put forward but close scientific examination of them reveals that the are not transitional at all. For instance, Archaeopteryx, the alleged transition between lizards and birds has been shown to be fully bird. Colin Patterson, senior paleontologist at the British Museum of Natural History, said that he knows of no transitional fossil for which an airtight case can be made.
People also noted the lack of transitional forms in the very place where we would most expect them. Fully 95% of all fossils are of marine invertebrates such as clams and crabs. Clams and crabs were supposed to have evolved from trilobites yet there are no transitional forms even here. Where the fossil record is most complete is exactly where it is most undarwinian. There are also no transitional forms among insect fossils. All 32 orders of insects appear fully developed in the fossil record. Famous evolutionist S. J. Gould barely mentions insects in his magnum opus.
Christians also began to take notice of the mounting evidence for a young age of earth. The vast majority of natural "clocks" point to an age of earth in the thousands and not billions of years. Polystrate fossils are a good example. Polystrate fossils are fossils that extend through several layers of rock strata that were supposedly laid down over millions of years. A fossil such as a petrified tree that pokes through several layers of rock certainly would have rotted or eroded away long before another layer was gradually laid down. It is apparent that sedimentary rock and other geologic strata were laid down rapidly during global catastrophes such as a global flood or continentwide volcanic convulsions. For other evidence for young earth visit www.icr.org.
Many years ago an engineering instructor at a secular university who considered himself a "Christian evolutionist" became convinced of the scientific unsoundness of evolution. Part of the reason he was convinced that evolution was a philosophical theory of natural history and not true science was because of what he read in books and articles written by evolutionists! This man, Dr. Henry M. Morris, went on to write a book called The Genesis Flood (pub. 1960) that helped launch the creation science movement.
Morris' book and many others since, argue that the book of Genesis is a sober, accurate historical account. The book of Genesis does not have to be stretched or hammered or allegorized. (I will also mention that many other ancient historical accounts mention a worldwide flood and this also witnesses to the historical accuracy of Genesis.)
Since the 1960s there has been a flood of books and articles by hundreds of Ph.D. scientists who support young earth geology and the historical accuracy of Genesis. There are several organizations of creationist scientists including The Institute for Creation Research based in El Cajon California. Another organization called Answers In Genesis was founded in Australia and now has a very large and active U.S. affiliate.
Answers In Genesis has a very helpful website containing reams of useful information in online articles and a question and answer section. The address is www.answersingenesis.org. There is a parallel movement called the Intelligent Design Movement. It is composed of scientists who reject evolution but who don't necessarily embrace Christianity. It is interesting that the most vocal opponents of evolution are the scientists. Like any academic movement, it takes time for their findings to filter down to the masses of people.
The Bible is scientifically accurate! Find the evidence at www.icr.org.
Steps to salvation:
Jesus said "Ye must be born again." (John 3:7)
- Believe that God created you and loves you and sent the Messiah (Messiah is Hebrew for Christ) to redeem you.
- Believe that Jesus the Messiah came in fulfillment of over 300 Bible prophecies to die for you to take upon Himself the penalty for your sins. (Isaiah 53:5-6, John 6:29, Romans 4:5, First Peter 3:18)
- Turn from sin and call on the name of Jesus to receive forgiveness. (Romans 10:13)
- Receive Jesus as Savior and experience the new birth. (John 1:12, Acts 2:38)
- Follow Him as Lord. (John 14:21)
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13)
To receive the salvation that Jesus purchased for us at the terrible cost of His suffering and death on our behalf I invite you to pray this simple prayer:
"Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, the promised Messiah, to die for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness on the basis of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit to empower me to serve you under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Amen."
If you prayed that prayer in the humble sincerity of your heart then you have received everlasting life, which includes power to live right in this life and entrance into heaven in the afterlife!
Bill Nugent, Overcomer Ministries of West Harrison, New York, USA
(C) 2010 William P. Nugent, permission granted to email or republish if credit given
Read Bill Nugent's award winning Christian book, Lawful or Legalistic: How New Testament Believers Must Understand Old Testament Laws. For more information and to order click here.
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DEFENDING THE FAITH
APOLOGETIC ARTICLES
Bill Nugent currently writes a series of articles called "Defending the Faith" which, as the title suggests, defend the Christian faith from the many attacks leveled against it in our postmodern world.
The articles deal with such topics as evolution, UFOs, cults, modern/postmodern philosophy, liberal theology and popular culture. At the end of each article is an invitation to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. These articles are sent out over the Internet to several opt-in email lists. People who receive these articles are encouraged to resend them to their own lists and in this way reach their own unsaved relatives and friends with the Gospel.
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