tthhee ttooooll bb › 2011 › 01 › spring...still alive today, while any supposed evolutionary...
TRANSCRIPT
TTHHEE TTOOOOLL BBOOXX
Spring 2013 Page 1
volume 5 - issue 2
In the previous feature article, we
covered some evidences that indicate,
either directly or indirectly, that the
universe in which we live is “young.”
These evidences were from the realm of
geology. In this current installment, we
are going to examine some evidences for a
young universe from the realm of biology
and anthropology.
Evidences from Biology
Our Ancestral Mother – “Mito-
chondrial Eve”
Studies of human DNA1
have led scientists to
postulate that every woman,
and therefore all of
humanity, can be traced
back to “Mitochondrial Eve”
– the most recent common female
ancestor of humans today. Scientists
believe that this “Mitochondrial Eve”
lived sometime around 200,000 years
ago.2 Because of this evolutionary
timescale, and because scientists do not
claim that Mitochondrial Eve was the first
female human, Mitochondrial Eve is not
the same as the Eve3 of Genesis 2 and 3.
However, it is quite interesting that even
the evolutionary scientists have admitted
that all of humanity goes back to one
1 Specifically what is known as Mitochondrial DNA or “mtDNA.” 2 See “Mitochondrial Eve: Mother of all Humans Lived 200,000 Years Ago” found here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100817122405.htm 3 The name Eve means “life” or “living,” and Adam named her this specifically because she was the “mother of all the living” (see Genesis 3:20).
female ancestor who lived relatively
recently within the evolutionary scope of
things. Further, some creation scientists
have examined the genetic data for
“Mitochondrial Eve” and found that when
the actual measured rates of mutations in
relation to the mitochondrial DNA
evidence are taken into account, the real
time-scale for “Mitochondrial Eve” fits
nicely with the Biblical timeframe of
history.4
Living Fossils
This author has heard the term
“living fossils” used to describe other,
more “aged” people. All joking aside,
however, in this context the
term “living fossils” means
something more than
someone who is so
old they seem to be
from the time of the
dinosaurs. A living
fossil, a term that
seems almost self-contradictory, can be
described as “an organism that has
remained essentially unchanged from
earlier geologic times and whose close
relatives are usually extinct.”5 So,
basically, if a fossil is found that is
virtually identical in form and structure to
an organism that is
(article continued on page 2)
4 See “Genetics and Biblical Demographics Events” by C. W. Nelson found here: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/tj/v17/n1/events#fnMark_1_4_1 5 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/living %20fossil
Inside this issue:
- Evidences for a Young Universe: Part 3, Biological & Anthropological Evidences - Questions Answered: Are the Bible and Evolution Compatible? - The Origins Debate in the News - Resource Spotlight: The Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor - Feedback - Spring and New Life in Christ - Signs of Design: The Human Thumb - Evolutionists in their Own Words - Ministry Update - Free offer: 7 Reasons Why We Should Not Accept Millions of Years
Creation Evangelism Tools
Ministries exists to:
Teach
God’s word starting with Genesis 1:1
Equip
God’s people to answer skeptics
Proclaim
Truth of Creation in times of deception
PAGE 2
still alive today, while any
supposed evolutionary “close
relatives” are non-existent, this
organism is called a living fossil.
Some examples of living fossils
include the Platypus, Coelacanth
fish, the Ginko tree, the Horseshoe
Crab, the Wollemi Pine tree,
Pelicans, Garfish, and many others.
The significance of “living fossils”
is that it shows that plants and
creatures that supposedly existed
millions of years ago have
remained essentially unchanged
over that period of time. Why is
this important? Because, in the
evolutionary paradigm,
organisms are constantly in
flux, mutating, and changing
to adapt to their
environments. While there
is definitely good, biblical
science behind this concept
of adaptation, the
evolutionary mindset
extrapolates variation within
the created kinds (speciation)
to the point where radical
changes result in completely
different organisms (i.e. the change
from an amoeba to a man). If
however, the universe is really
relatively “young,” as the Bible
implies, then to find “living
fossils” should be no surprise at
all!
Evidences from
Anthropology
Human Population Growth
If the universe (and the
Earth) is so old, why are there so
few people on earth? This is a
startling question, considering the
modern claims of many that the
earth is “overpopulated.”
However, the truth of the matter is
that the earth itself, spatially
speaking has room for a lot more
people than currently inhabit it!6
6 This doesn’t necessarily mean however that the resources required to maintain life are currently being developed and stewarded well
The interesting thing about population
growth rates is that they can be used
as a measurement of the approximate
age of humanity. Some have
calculated, using conservative
calculations of population growth, that
even in the time since the great flood,
when virtually the entire human race
was annihilated, the population
growth could have led to a current
world population of well over 8
billion people.7 If the history of
human existence were really as old as
the evolutionists claim, then we would
expect exponentially more people to
be on
this
earth than there
currently are. In fact, using the same
conservative calculations as above,
there would be a head-count of
potentially as many as 1099
, or 1
followed by 100 zeros!8
Length of Recorded Human History
Another related evidence for a
young universe is the length of
recorded human history. Frequently,
when referring to the length of time
given for historical records of human
civilization,9 the ages given generally
enough to support a larger populations. 7 See “Billions of People in Thousands of Years?” by Monty White, Ph.D. found here: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n2/billions-of-people 8 Ibid. 9 Things like a written language, record keeping, technological advances, arts, and other significant cultural developments.
are in the tens of thousands of years,
not millions or billions of years.10
Personally, this author finds it
amusing to read publications that say
something like “about 6,000 – 10,000
years ago, humans started…” It
seems that a lot of the modern
advances for mankind (modern in the
sense of developing what we might
call “civilized” skills) are said to have
come on the scene in this time range.
Why is it that the ages given for the
major advances in “human
evolutionary development” seem to
coincide fairly well with the historical
timeline given by the Bible? Of
course, the Bible teaches that mankind
was specially created in the image
and likeness of God Himself, as
a distinct creature separate
from the animal kingdom.11
Further, the Bible teaches
that mankind was created
during the same week as the
rest of the universe, only a
few thousand years ago.12
Additionally, mankind was
formed without sin, and
without the effects of sin on his
body, so mankind was originally
created a lot more intelligent and
advanced than we can imagine.13
Only after the curse of sin did man
begin to die, both physically (which
would include mental capacities), and
spiritually.14
This contradicts the
evolutionary idea that the man
evolved over millions of years from
the primates, and is advancing
physically and intellectually!
The Human Genetic Clock
The genetic mutational build up
in humankind is yet another
somewhat indirect, yet
complementary confirmation for the
Biblical inferences pointing to a
young universe.
(article continued on page 7)
10 http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/plaintext histories.asp?historyid=ab25 11 See Genesis 1:26 – 29; Genesis 2:7, 18 - 23 12 See Genesis 1; Exodus 20:9-11; 1 Chronicles 1:1-28, 2:1-15; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38 13 See Genesis 1:31 14 See Genesis 2:16, 17; Genesis chapter 3
“Are the Bible and Evolution Compatible?”
This is a question many people
have asked, and more have assumed to
be answered affirmatively. In fact,
many in Christendom today argue that
the Bible and the theories of evolution
are very much compatible. However,
for someone to assert that the Bible
and evolution can be meshed shows
that they are either ignorant of the
basics of the evolutionary time-scale,
or they lack knowledge of the Biblical
text, or a combination of both. The
secular, evolutionary history of the
universe cannot be blended with the
biblical history of the universe. The
two resulting worldviews, when
examined closely, prove to be
contradictory. Either the secular
history of the evolutionary processes
of the astronomical, biological, and
geological realms is true, or the
biblical record of the creation is true.
Only one can be true. The following is
a brief attempt to demonstrate the
illogical nature of trying to blend the
two diametrically opposed histories of
the categories of science in which
evolutionism is propagated the most
often. By simply outlining the history
proposed by the two worldviews, we
see that they are fundamentally
incompatible.
The secular history of
astronomy states that:
The universe formed as the
result of a Big Bang, in which an
infinitely small, hot and dense point,
called singularity which contained all
the mass and energy seen today,
exploded spreading out the energy and
space. As the universe expanded, the
energy cooled down, some of which
turned into matter, which eventually
formed the stars and then eventually
the planets.1
The biblical history of astronomy
states that:
The universe was created in 6
literal days,2 just a few thousand years
1 http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/bigbang.htm 2 Genesis 1, Exodus 20:9-11
ago,3 by the spoken word of God.
4 The
earth was formed before the sun, moon
and stars.5
The secular history of biology
states that:
All life came from a single cell
over the process of millions of years of
chance, random processes involving the
death of various life forms in order to
advance the evolution of life. Reptiles
evolved into birds; whales evolved into
hippopotamus; apes evolved into
humans.6
The biblical history of biology
states that:
During the Creation week of 6
literal days, which took place around 6-8
thousand years ago, God created plant and
animal life according to their kinds.7 Sea
dwelling creatures and birds were formed
on Day 5, while land dwelling creatures
were made on Day 6.8 He made mankind
in His own image.9 God finished creating
and pronounced everything He created
very good - indicating that there was no
need for evolution or death to make life
forms more complex.10
The secular history of geology
states that:
The sedimentary layers seen in
such formations as Grand Canyon were
laid down very slowly over the course of
millions of years. Fossils are found in
these layers that indicate the order in
which biological evolution took place,
based upon some observances in which
less complex creatures are buried lower in
3 1 Chronicles 1:1-28, 2:1-15; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38 4 Genesis 1, Psalm 33:6, 9. Hebrews 11:3, 2 Peter 3:5 5 Genesis 1:1, 2, 14-18 6 http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Evolution.htm 7 Genesis 1; Exodus 20:9-11; 1 Chronicles 1:1-28, 2:1-15; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38; Genesis 1:11, 12, 20, 21, 24, 25 8 Genesis 1:20, 21; Genesis 1:24, 25 9 Genesis 1:26, 27 10 Genesis 1:31, 2:1-3
these layers while more complex
creatures are buried closer to the
surface.11
The biblical history of geology
states that:
A worldwide flood occurred during
the time of Noah,12
approximately 5
thousand years ago.13
In this worldwide
flood, the fountains of the great deep
broke up, the windows of heaven were
opened, sending rain upon the earth for 40
days and nights,14
and submerging all the
high hills and mountains by at least 20
feet.15
This flood resulted in the death of
every living thing that lived upon the land
and breathed air, except for those on the
Ark.16
Either during the creation week, or
else during the flood, or shortly
thereafter,17
the mountains rose, and the
valleys and ocean basins sunk.18
Conclusion: the Bible and
Evolution are NOT Compatible!
There are many other areas in
which the evolutionary history of the
universe does not line up with either the
Biblical history of the universe, and / or
real, observable, repeatable science.
However, for the sake of space, they were
not included. Additionally, this is not
intended to be a comprehensive study of
the two “histories” of the three
aforementioned areas of science, only a
brief overview of the general
incompatibilities between the two
“histories” in these three categories of
science.
11 http://www.nps.gov/akso/parkwise/Students/ ReferenceLibrary/Paleontology/GeologicTime Scale.htm 12 Genesis 6:5-22, and chapters 7 and 8; Matthew 24:37-39, 2 Peter 2:4, 5 13 1 Chronicles 1:1-28, 2:1-15; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38 14 Genesis 7:11, 12; 15 Genesis 7:19, 20 16 Genesis 7:18-24 17 Depending upon how you interpret the reading of these verses. Dr. John MacArthur’s Study Bible indicates that this is a reference to the creation week, while Dr. Henry Morris’ Defender’s Study Bible seems to indicate that this is a reference to the flood or shortly after the flood, when the waters receded from the land. In either case, this was likely a fairly rapid formation of mountains, hills and valleys, not a gradual formation process taking millions of years, as the evolutionary history requires. 18 Psalm 104:6 – 9, see also Genesis 1:9, 10; Genesis 7:11, 12, 17 – 19, 24, 8:1 – 3, 5, 13, 14
Questions Answered PAGE 3
By Joel Kautt
PAGE 4
TThhee OOrriiggiinnss DDeebbaattee iinn tthhee NNeewwss
Recent news headlines have claimed that a NASA rover mission to
Mars has found conditions on the Red Planet that would be conducive to
“ancient” life.1 Does this claim sound familiar? It should. After all,
numerous missions have been made to Mars to explore its planetary
atmosphere and surface, and the results from many such missions have
touted “evidence” that life once existed on Mars.2 Vast sums of money
have been spent over the years in researching and exploring our universe
in search for “intelligent life.” The majority of these efforts have been
disappointing dead ends. Time and money could be saved by reading the
Words of the Creator of the universe regarding the life forms He created
for it. Genesis 1:1, 2 tells us that the Almighty Triune God created the
universe. Isaiah 45:18 says
“For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did
not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD;
and there is no other.”
Further, Psalm 115:16 states that “The heaven, even the heavens, are
the LORD’S: but the earth He has given to the children of men.”
Not surprisingly, observable science confirms the Word of God. The
search for any trace of life in other parts of the cosmos has included
scanning for radio signals, sending probes through space, and landing
rovers on other planets. It always turns out to be exactly as the Bible
teaches – the earth is unique. It was suitably formed specifically for human,
plant, and animal life. No intelligent life, nor any place suitable for life to
survive and thrive, has been found anywhere else in the universe other than
the Earth.
In recent years, Mars specifically has been the subject of several probes
sent there from Earth to search for any conclusive signs of life. So far these
missions have been very unsuccessful in their quest to find “intelligent” life,
and even “simple” life on the Red planet. Further, liquid water – essential for
life as we know it to exist – on Mars is all but non-existent. Of course,
scientists claim that water once was found on Mars in abundance, helping to
make life there more possible in the past.3 This is very ironic when we
consider that most scientists scoff at the Biblically based belief in a global
flood, which they disbelieve in spite of the fact that the earth is covered almost
70 percent by water.4 But, it shouldn’t be too surprising for those who
disbelieve God’s Word to grasp at unrealistic straws to support their own
worldview.
I believe that when all is said and done the Bible will be vindicated in
stating that the earth was uniquely formed for human life, and that the
heavens are the LORD’s. Even now, based on the Bible and confirmations
from observable science, we know that the God of the Bible is the only
intelligent life in outer space. ~
1 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20130312.html 2 http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/programmissions/missions/past/ 3 http://www.space.com/14483-mars-ancient-ocean-evidence-european-probe.html 4 http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html
Resource Spotlight
The Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor,
by Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor.
The Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor
is probably the best biography I’ve ever
read. Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor did an
amazing job putting together all of Hudson
Taylor’s letters, and his amazing life story,
into one inspiring book.
Do you need encouragement and
conviction in your daily Christian walk?
This book, telling about the struggles and
victories that Hudson Taylor experienced,
will definitely benefit your spiritual life
greatly. Taylor, knowing God’s calling on
his life, and yet struggling to find the how-to
in truly living in faith, followed the call and
went to the unreached people of China.
Through many trials, including the death of
two of his children and his dear wife, Taylor
found his rest and peace in God, his Rock
and Comfort.
There are many of great quotes from
this book that could be shared, but this one
particularly stood out:
“Oh… it is a wonderful thing to be
really one with a risen and exalted Savior, to
be a member of Christ! Think what it
involves. Can Christ be rich and I poor?
Can your right hand be rich and the left
poor? Or your head be well fed while your
body starves? … No more can your prayers,
or mine, be discredited if offered in the name
of Jesus… so long as we keep within the
extent of Christ’s credit – a tolerably wide
limit!”
To order a copy of this excellent book, please visit our website: www.creationevangelismtools.org, click on the “resources” button at the top, then click on the “Family” link.
Feedback:
“I enjoyed your toolbox! Keep up the
great work!”
- J. M., Texas
Just as a new year brings about
plans to start new habits, and
accomplish new goals, the season of
the year that we call spring brings a
time of new life. After weeks of the
cold, dreary days of winter come the
bright sunshine, warm breezes, and
gentle rains of spring. Each change of
season is a testament to the promise
made by the Creator Lord that He
would never judge the world by
means of a flood again, and that the
seasonal cycles would continue for as
long as the earth exists.1 Further, the
changes of the seasons are in effect a
striking simile of both the physical
progression and even the spiritual
succession that is common to
mankind. We see new life, or birth, in
spring, and maturity throughout the
progression of the year, culminating
in winter, which is analogous to death
or sleeping. In the spiritual lives of
some people, a cold, deadness, like
winter, gives way to new life, growth
and maturity. In this article, we will
examine some of the connections
between the physical world, and the
spiritual rebirth of those who come to
know Jesus Christ as the giver of
spiritual life.
Science
Seeds of various plants enter a
phase of “hibernation” during the
winter months when the
environmental conditions are harsh,
and un-conducive to the growth of the
seed into a plant. Once the sun shines
brightly, and the ground warms to a
friendly temperature, and the spring
showers begin to hydrate the ground,
1 See Genesis 8:20 - 22
the genetic coding in the seed activates the start of the process of seed
germination. A seed may lie dormant for many years if the conditions are not
right for it to begin germination.
Theology
Every year near the start of spring, Christians around the world
celebrate the most important holiday of the Christian faith – Resurrection
Day.2 This special day commemorates the raising of Jesus Christ from the
dead three days following His death by crucifixion at the hands of the
Romans. Just as new life comes in spring after the long, cold winter when
plants are dead, trees are bare and lifeless looking, and animals are in
hibernation, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead brings new
spiritual life to those who are “dead in their sins.”3
The Bible informs us that
our spiritual “deadness” makes it where even our best efforts at living in
obedience to God cannot pay for our sins against Him.4 Someone who is
completely sinless must give their life to make the payment for our sins
against God.5 That someone was Jesus Christ, the One who was God in
human form,6 fully God, fully man, who lived in complete obedience to God
the Father7 in order to pay the ultimate price for our salvation.
8
Jesus, in speaking of His imminent death, used the analogy of the
germination process of a seed to illustrate the new life
He would bring through His
death, burial and resurrection.
He said, “…unless a grain of
wheat falls into the earth and
dies, it remains alone; but if it
dies, it bears much fruit.”9
Later, the Apostle Paul
developed this concept further by
telling us that we must “die to sin,”
in order to “live for Christ” and bear
the “fruits of the Holy Spirit.”10
(article continued on page 6)
2 Which is commonly known as “Easter.” 3 See Colossians 2:13 and Ephesians 2:1 4 See Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:9 - 25 5 See Hebrews 10:1 – 18 (especially verses 4 – 8); Hebrews 9:22 (also Leviticus 17:11) 6 See John 1:1 - 14 7 See Philippians 2:5 - 8 8 See Romans 5:6 – 10; 6:23 9 See John 12:24, and the preceding verses. 10 See Romans 6:1 – 14; and Galatians 5:16 - 25
PAGE 6
Spring and New Life in Christ, cont’d from page 5:
Evangelism
Just as a seed may lie dormant in
the ground for months and years, and
appear to be dead, the spiritual life of a
person can experience similar
circumstances. It may seem like an
unbeliever is so “dead in their sin” that
they will never come to accept the gift of
salvation through faith in Christ. But, as
Paul implies in 1 Corinthians 3:6, 7, one
person may “plant” the “seed” of the
gospel,11
another person may “water” the
seed, and yet another person may “reap”
the harvest that God gives. Our job, as
Christians is to be “sowers” who
faithfully “plant” the “seed of the gospel”
in the lives of those who are spiritually
dead, and faithfully pray for their
conversion. We leave the results up to
the work of the Holy Spirit. However, it
is essential that we do our part to get the
good news to those who need to hear the
message.12
In preparing to “plant” the
“seed of the gospel,” it is sometimes
necessary to “prepare the soil” by helping
to soften the person's heart to the gospel
by answering their questions about the
Bible and Christianity. Just as preparing
the soil is directly linked with planting the
seeds, so being prepared to answer
questions about the Bible and Christianity
is a vital part of sharing the gospel. In
this way, Christian apologetics and
evangelism are closely intertwined.
So, this spring, when you marvel at
the bright flowers bursting forth from the
ground, and you admire the blossoms on
the trees, and you watch the baby birds,
squirrels, and rabbits playing in your
yard, think about the grace of God in
bringing new life to our physical world
after the deadness of winter. Most
importantly, thank Him for His loving
mercy and grace in bringing new spiritual
life to you, who, apart from Him, were
without hope, and “dead in your sins.”
Then, go out and share with someone else
how our Creator reflects His redemptive
work in both His creation and in the lives
of those who submit their lives to His rule
and saving grace!
11 See Mathew 13:3 - 9 12 See Mathew 13:3 - 9
The Human Thumb
I have said for several years, vaguely quoting someone, that my thumb alone
convinces me that there is a God1. Thumbs are truly amazing parts to our bodies, and
without them, life would definitely be more difficult. Just try typing an email without
your thumb, or opening a jar lid, or a door. I play a lot of sports that require my
thumb; it would be tough trying to catch a Frisbee or throw a baseball without my
thumbs.
Our thumbs are the first of five digits which make up what we call our
“fingers” – I used to think that it was in fact, the fifth digit. Obviously, I was asleep
in science class when it came to anatomy. The medical (Latin) term for thumb is
pollex, which means “the first, or preaxial, digit of the fore limb, corresponding to the
hallux in the hind limb; the thumb…”2
Opposition vs. Apposition in humans:
Opposition as defined by researches J. Napier and P.
Napier, is: “A movement by which the pulp surface of the thumb
is placed squarely in contact with – or diametrically opposite to –
the terminal pads of one or all the remaining digits.”3 The way
the muscles of the arm run into the hand, is simply amazing. You
have the FPL (flexor pollicis longus) which is the forearm muscle
which passes through the carpal tunnel, in its own tendon sheath,
attaching at the thumb.4 But, this is not the only muscle attached to
the thumb. Amazingly, there are 34 total muscles which control the
hand and thumb, nine of which control the thumb, and are
subsequently controlled by the 3 major forearm muscles.5
The evolution of the hand:
In my research, I ran across the evolutionary explanations
for how our hands were formed, and why. Some are quite
interesting actually. But, in the end, they all admit one thing:
human hands were not made to grasp tree limbs.
“On an office table, Orr has laid out skeletal hands of three
apes, and a human. The apes’ hands are enormous – the Orangutan’s is like a
catcher’s mitt.
“But their thumbs are tiny and splayed out to the side; the fingers are long and
curved. They look powerful, but Orr says the strength runs vertically, from the wrist
up through the fingers. That’s good for hanging on tree limbs, but not for much
else.”6
“Extant great apes do not significantly use the thumb during locomotion: it
does not participate in below-branch suspensory behaviors, and it does not support
(article continued on page 7)
1 http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/facts.htm 2 http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resource=Webster%27s&word=pollex&use1913=on 3 http://www.primates.com/faq/#23 4 http://books.google.com/books?id=Bl8RO_Tq7zoC&printsec=frontcover#v=one page&q=flexor%20pollicis%20longus&f=false 5 http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/facts.htm 6 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128676181
Evidences for a Young Universe: Part 3, article continued from page 2:
Only with recent developments in
genetic research have scientists been able to research the genetic defects (mutations) that have accumulated in
the human genome. The findings of this research confirms a recent creation because the amount of mutational
accumulation, combined with observed rates of mutations would mean that the
human genome would have been overwhelmed by mutations long ago, if the history of humanity were really as
old as evolutionists argue.15
On the other hand, if the history of man is only around six thousand years old (as the
Bible indicates), then the amount of mutations we see in the human genome
is easily explainable.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the
evidences from biology and
anthropology that point to a young universe. As has been previously
stated, none of the evidences given above independently proves the age of the universe, but taken together, they do
confirm the Biblical testimony regarding the age of the earth, and inferentially, the timespan of the
existence of the cosmos! The great thing about the Bible is that while it makes bold assertions, and gives us
inferential clues, in all of this, it is flawless and comes away vindicated by
the confirmations we see in the universe all around us! The Psalmist said it well: “As for God, his way is perfect: The
LORD’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in him.”
16 In our next
article, we will spend time exploring the
theological evidence for a young universe. Meanwhile, keep these things
in mind, and share what you’ve learned with someone else who may not know that there is solid evidence to confirm
what the Bible tells us about the universe in which we live!
15 See “Human Mutation Clock Confirms Creation” – by Brian Thomas, M.S. found here: https://www.icr.org/article/7077/ 16 Psalm 18:30 (New International Version)
Signs of Design, article continued from page 6: PAGE 7
body weight during knuckle-walking in African apes.”7
“Chimps and gorillas do efficiently manipulate small object between their
thumb and index finger using different precision grip combinations (e.g. tip-to-tip and
pad-to-side), but a human-like, pad-to-pad precision grip is precluded due to the
disproportionate length of their digits II-V relative to that of the thumb.”8
“The morphology displayed by the PDP of modern humans—including a
relatively long bone, dorsopalmarly flat and wide at the shaft and apical tuberosity,
together with several morphological traits related to a powerful FPL and
compartmentalized digital pulp —is not found among non-human primates, being
indicative of a stable and powerful pad-to-pad contact during refined manipulation.” 9
An interesting article in Popular Science magazine,
suggests that so-called “junk DNA might be what separates
apes and humans” – “The researchers then showed that the
difference between the human and chimp versions of the
enhancer result from a difference of only 13 nucleotides,
a far larger number of changes than would be expected
had the mutations been the result of drift rather than
selection. The location of enhancer activity highlights
the importance of the difference. Our hands, with
their opposable thumbs, our feet, evolved for
bipedal locomotion, and our throats, which allow
us to speak, make up three key differences
between humans and all other apes.”10
But, even if humans are supposedly “only 13 nucleotides different” from
chimps, that doesn’t create a concrete argument that we came from them. All that
tells me is that we share a common Designer, who used a somewhat similar blueprint
in His creation. That doesn’t mean that humans came from monkeys, or that we are
in any way, shape or form, relatives of monkeys.
In the beginning God created Man in His image and likeness; not monkeys or
elephants, or tigers or llamas. Man was created unique apart from all the animal
kingdom. Not as one of the animal kingdom. Adam was given special privileges
over the animals (e.g. he named them, and was given dominion over them); he didn’t
mimic their behavior or try to become “one with nature.”11
God created man in order
that they might worship and serve Him, not creation or animals, or science or
anything else.12
Animals can’t worship God, or have a personal relationship with Jesus; they
can’t share the Gospel with other members of mankind, or feel love, show mercy or
extend friendship. All they can do is what they were especially created to do – “Then
God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and
creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. And
God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and
everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was
good.”13
What does all of that have to do with thumbs? Well, it shows me that I was
created special, different. Not as just another animal, but – in God’s own image and
likeness. My thumbs really do show that there is a Creator who knew what He was
doing.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!
Psalm 150:6
7 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908684/ 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid. 10 http://www.popsci.com/stuart-fox/article/2008-09/how-human-got-his-thumbs 11 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201:26-28&version=NKJV 12 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:18-23&version=NKJV 13 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201:24-25&version=NKJV
PAGE 8
EVOLUTIONISTS IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Compiled by Phoebe Kautt
“If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ
existed, which could not possibly have been formed by
numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would
absolutely break down. But I
can find out no such case.”1
- Charles Darwin, author of the book, “On the Origin of Species,” and popularize of the theory of Evolution.
Compiler’s Note:
Now, in the age of modern
technology and science, it is abundantly
clear that even the smallest cell or tiniest
molecule is more complex than Charles
Darwin could’ve fathomed. A special
creation, the kind described in Genesis
chapters 1 and 2, makes a much more
sensible explanation for why we see
complex organisms. So, it seems that
Charles Darwin’s theory has broken
down, though many still choose to believe
in it, despite the lack of real scientific
evidence. Try as they might, no
evolutionist has been able to come up with
the “missing link”, or any transitional
form in the fossil record.2 Why is that?
Because there are none! God created each
kind of creature with variety, yes, but not
with the ability to change from one kind
into another.
Footnotes: 1 http://tinyurl.com/bo3y9xf 2 http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2000/10/
16/missing-link-takes-flight
Ministry Update
Sadly, the plans that we had to
host another apologetics and worldviews conference this summer are not coming together well enough for us to have the
conference this summer. We are disappointed about this, but we know that God has a plan, and that His timing is
perfect, so we trust that He will work this out for His glory! The main hang up has
been securing a venue suitable for the conference that would be available during a time when the speakers we
would like to have come are available. This is a matter about which you, our supporters can be joining us in prayer.
The good news is that a local Christian college has graciously offered to allow us
to use their facilities for the conference. Now it’s just a matter of getting the details worked out for when the facilities
will be available, and then coordinating with our line-up of speakers. It looks like the conference will have to be
postponed until fall or early winter because of this. Stay tuned, and we will give you more details as they become
available.
On a similar note, all the videos from the “One God. One Faith. One Book.” Conference hosted in Fall 2011,
are now available for anyone to view and share for free on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/creationevangelism.
We invite you to view all 6 sessions online. Or, if you would prefer to have a
DVD copy of any or all of these videos, please write to us and let us know and we will be happy to send you DVDs for your
viewing and to share with others.
Thank you for your continued
prayers and support for our family, and for our ministry work! May the LORD
pour out His blessings upon you as you serve Him in the areas where He has called you to serve!
Mission Statement
We see the problem of
evolutionary thinking as eating
into the foundation of the
Biblically correct worldview. We
desire to strengthen the faith of
other Christians in the reliability
of Scripture, and equip them to
have answers for skeptics and
unbelievers. As our culture
declines morally, Christians need
to uphold the authority of the
Bible in every aspect of the
culture.
Our ultimate mission is to reach
souls for Christ. We work to lay
the Foundation (Genesis) for the
Gospel.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You can contact CET Ministries by:
Mail: P.O. Box 265 Princeton, Texas 75407 Phone: (972) 542 - 6211 Email: [email protected] Website: www.creationevangelismtools.org
Free Offer!
To receive a free copy of the booklet: “7 Reasons Why We Should Not Accept Millions of Years” please write us at:
CET Ministries P.O. Box 265 Princeton, Texas 75407 [email protected]
Have you read your Bible today? “Seek first the kingdom of God and
His righteousness…” (Matt. 6:33)
“Your word I have hidden in my
heart, that I might not sin against
You.” (Psalm 119:11)