Creation

Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

One of the most astounding and shocking discoveries of Intelligent Design theorists is not the almost infinite and irreducible complexity of living organisms, but the almost total resistance to the implications of this on the part of materialistic scientists.

Two leading ID theorists, Benjamin Wiker and Jonathan Witt, stated their amazement in these terms: “Why should we suffer any longer under the reign of materialism and its subspecies, Darwinism? There is no reason except an all-too-human intransigence in the face of mounting evidence… Such blindness is actually a form of the most ancient of sins, pride; and this pride attacks science at its core. At the heart of the scientific enterprise is humility…” (A Meaningful World [Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006], pp. 238, 246).

^{Note: This article is reprinted with permission from As I See It, a monthly electronic magazine compiled and edited by Doug Kutilek. AISI is sent free to all who request it by writing to the editor at dkutilek@juno.com.}

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design by Jonathan Wells. Washington, D. C.: Regnery Press, 2006. 273 pp. paperback. $19.95.

Read Part 1 and Part 2.

The Bible is completely clear on the issue of Intelligent Design: “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20 KJV).

Here the apostle Paul informs us that Adam and Eve could discern God’s “eternal power and Godhead” by “the things that are made,” because “the invisible things of him” were “clearly seen”—not by animals, but by men (beginning with our first parents)—”from the creation of the world.”

But the fall brought about a profound change. When Adam and Eve rejected the clearly revealed will of God, being overwhelmed by a sense of sin and shame they had never known, they tried desperately to hide from their God: “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked… . and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden” (Gen. 3:7-8).

Read Part 1.

The Intelligent Design Movement (IDM) has been widely popularized by Philip E. Johnson (professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley) in his books, beginning with Darwin on Trial in 1991.

Dr. Johnson, considered by many to be the chief architect of IDM, has clearly demonstrated that neo-Darwinian, materialistic evolutionism (which presupposes atheistic naturalism) simply cannot explain the nearly infinite complexity of living things. By inserting “the wedge” of Intelligent Design into the biological sciences, he is quite hopeful that materialistic naturalism will be uprooted in universities and public schools and that science and sociology textbooks will be purged of evolutionary distortions.

These are noble goals, and most of the argumentation of IDM books is, to this extent, on target. Every Christian should applaud legitimate efforts to restore sanity and reality to the study of ultimate origins in our public schools, in our universities, and even in many of our “Christian” colleges.

The tragedy of the IDM, however, it that it stops far short of honoring God’s written revelation, the Bible. In fact, the book of Genesis as literal history seems to be an embarrassment to most of these scholars.

At the end of the twentieth century, the academic world was hearing more and more about IDM—the Intelligent Design Movement. It was the proposition that the biological world could not have come into existence by mere undirected time and chance. Upon closer inspection, under the lenses of powerful microscopes hitherto unimaginable and irreducible, specified complexity came to light within the cells of living things.

Thus, Charles Darwin and his followers were in total error when they assumed that living cells were simple blobs of protoplasm that could easily “evolve” from lifeless chemicals floating in the earth’s ancient oceans. As one writer expressed it, the actual, incomprehensible, incomparable complexity of the cell was therefore a “black box” to Darwin! The Intelligent Design Movement claims many outstanding scientists and philosophers. They have discovered new ways of detecting signs of intelligence, just like detectives looking for clues or archaeologists searching for undeniably human artifacts. In fact, the federal government has even sponsored an expensive program—SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence)—with the expectation that they can determine whether someone—rather than merely something—is really out there!

^{Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from Warren Vanhetloo’s newsletter “Cogitation.”}

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
It may seem that most of creation had been accomplished in the five days examined thus far. The shape and function of the heavenly bodies and of planet Earth have not been changed in the millennia since day five. Boundaries of the seas have shifted slightly, but what God separated has remained distinct, with a set sea level and land arising to be dry land. Vegetation has covered the earth. A great variety of fish have spread through the waterways. Birds of all sorts freely fly across the face of the land.

^{Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from Warren Vanhetloo’s newsletter “Cogitation.”}

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
The word translated “and” can at times be rendered “but” to stress a contrast. Darkness was on the face of the deep, but God said, “Let there be light” (Gen 1:2-3). In Hebrew narrative, it frequently is used to show time sequence, that one action follows another (then). It often serves to indicate a new paragraph. In Genesis 1, it sets off one day from another. On the first day of creation, two things happened (1:1-5). On the second day was a massive division between sky and earth (1:6-9). On the third day was a separation of the seas from dry land and various plants, and trees began to cover the earth (1:10-13). Then on the fourth day the expanse of the sky was finished in that form.

^{Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from Warren Vanhetloo’s newsletter “Cogitation.”}

Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Creation of the heavens and the earth was planned, guided “construction.” None was by accident or as an afterthought. Each step each day proceeded according to divine plan. Each step was divinely accomplished. Each phase was divinely approved, passing inspection. The work was done “on schedule,” God not creating during the night periods, only during the six days. The end result was a perfect earth on which to locate a Garden of Eden, watched over by orderly heavens above.

The first day saw “stuff” and light (probably including energy), a massive, indistinguishable glob. The second day that glob was separated, some to be called “heaven” and some to be called “earth.” Separation and division of the portion to be known as “earth” took place on day three.

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas; and God saw that it was good (Gen 1:10).