The question of origins is the most fundamental issue in every age and culture, but especially in the modern world. Where we come from determines who we are, why we are here, and what our destination may be. For many centuries in the Western world the record of creation given in the opening chapters of the biblical Book of Genesis was almost universally received as true history. But after the publication in 1859 of Charles Darwin's revolutionary book, The Origin of Species, a rapid shift began to take place in the public mind. Now in the last decade of the 20th century, some lip service is still given to God the Creator. Nevertheless, various forms of evolutionary thinking have strongly influenced and changed the thinking of probably a majority of the people of America. They have been led to believe that science has proved some type of evolution to be a fact. Or perhaps both evolution and creation are facts, because God "used evolution to do His work of creation."
But has science proved the case for evolution? To hear the boasts of many in science, education, and the mass media, the case has been proved. One of the purposes for Handy Dandy Evolution Refuter is to show that the scientific case for evolution has not been proved.
There is, in fact, a strong scientific case against evolution, and this is automatically a scientific case for the only alternative, creation. In other words, the burden of proof is on believers in evolution, not on believers in divine creation, for God's work of creation cannot be explained by science. Evolutionary science is aimed at explaining how dumb, dead atoms transformed themselves in people in just three billion years. This means that evolutionists must prove that it really happened and also explain with testable scientific theories how it happened. Our little book shows that they have not achieved their goal. Therefore, creation by God continues to be a scientifically acceptable alternative. Furthermore, in the absence of an acceptable, demonstrable evolutionary explanation, all of the marvelous complex designs in living things speak authoritatively for the God of creation.
Extremely pertinent to the creation/evolution controversy is the problem of knowledge and how we get it. The study of this subject is called epistemology. For example, how do we gain knowledge about the natural world? Secular scientists and other scholars who opt for an evolved world generally hold that only by scientific research can we gain valid knowledge about the world. In other words, man must find out for himself how the world got here. By faith the believers in an uncreated world rule out the possibility that there might be some other source of such knowledge. In contrast, scientists who are Christians believe that there is an additional source of valid knowledge about the natural world. This source of knowledge is divinely revealed truth in the Christian Bible. Christians accept by faith what God tells them in the Bible about the creation of the world. And what God has revealed, they use to construct in their minds a framework of thinking to use in criticizing all theories and in interpreting or understanding the facts that science discovers about the world.
Therefore, in Handy Dandy Evolution Refuter, we make no apology for starting with what God has revealed to us in the Bible. We find that the biblical record of creation contradicts the evolved world in which secular scientists glory. We examine the claims of evolutionary science and find that the scientific case for evolution has not been proved. Without question an imposing structure of evidence has been erected for evolution. Nevertheless, the evolution case is laden with crucial deficiencies and failures. Consequently, the alternative to evolution, creation of all things by God, is and continues to be a valid option for scientists, students and teachers of science to hold. But the final decision for every person is one of faith, of surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
But more than this, belief in and advocacy of divine special creation is also a right and a freedom of all Christians. This includes Christian scientists, students and teachers of science. And it is more than a right and a freedom; it is also a responsibility of Christians. As long as the Lord Jesus Christ delays His return, we must do what we can to restore to all peoples knowledge of the biblical faith in the creation of all things by God. This must be foundational to effective evangelism in the last days.
Remember that the final proclamation of the gospel to a lost world will point all rebel sinners to the God of creation.
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth -- to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people -- saying with a loud voice...
"Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." Revelation 14:6, 7
We trust and pray that Handy Dandy Evolution Refuter will continue to be used by God to help Christians remain faithful and ever more effective in their witness for Christ. And we pray that the book may also be used by the Holy Spirit to bring lost souls to repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ, the only Savior of sinners.
