I greatly appreciated Jonathan Waits’s letter in the May 21 edition [“Evolution is uncertain”]. I differ with him in that I am a young-earth creationist, but he was very respectful and pointed out several important facts that many strict evolutionists seem to ignore. He is obviously well-read and quite intelligent.
I feel like there is a belief that we creationists disregard scientific evidence. I’m sure that some do, but many of us have done a great deal of study. Although you won’t see it in schools and libraries, there is much literature available on the subject of creation science. The same data that many consider as evidence for evolution, other scientists see as evidence for creation. As a simple example, many animals have similar skeletal structures. Many see this as evidence of evolution, others as evidence of a common designer. Data is data. But data is subject to interpretation, which is not always correct.
Furthermore, there is a mistaken belief that scientists are totally objective, that they come to a verdict only after carefully examining all the evidence. Wrong! Every scientist has biases, just like everyone else. One has to have an untested idea just to come up with a hypothesis to test! And data tends to be interpreted according to one’s prejudices. When Darwin came up with his theory, he had no evidence. He just observed that there were many similarities between different kinds of birds. Duh!
The main point of my letter, however, is not scientific debate; rather, it is theological. First of all, although many scholars don’t believe it, many of the same scholars think that the creation story in Genesis is intended by the author(s) to be taken literally. If this is true (as I believe), then to interpret it otherwise is a rejection of hermeneutical principles. Why should such principles apply to the rest of the Bible and not to the creation account?
Second, Romans 5:12 says, “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin” (NIV). Death is the result of sin. If theistic evolution be true, sin is the result of death! Millions of humanoids died until finally a “person” who was considered morally responsible sinned, the consequences being something that was being experienced already. This makes no sense! Evolution is necessarily a contradiction of this verse. (I’m sure someone will try to give it a “spiritualized” meaning.)
Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 15:26 says, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (NIV). God considers death an enemy. If theistic evolution is true, God created an enemy which he will fully destroy through which to create man. Again, this makes no sense! God does everything right the first time! His original intention was for man to live forever. Thankfully, eternal life for man is still his intention, despite the Fall, and so he sent Jesus.
I want to make it clear that I do not believe one has to be a creationist to be saved or to become mature in Christ. I have known and loved some very fine Christians who believe in evolution to some degree. But how God did it is more important than many think. I have heard it said that debating this issue never led anyone to Christ. In fact, there are creation science ministries that have led many people to Christ. Undeniably, the theory of evolution has led many to reject God, resulting in eternity in hell. Think about it!
Mark S. Davis, Monterey