Evangelical Evolutionists?

Bill Robinson’s article, “Evolution Theory Singled Out,” on August 12, expressed three questionable statements or untruths that need to be addressed. 

First, Robinson stated, “Intelligent design is not a scientific theory and has no scientific evidence to support it.”  This is far from the truth.  It is obvious that everything physical must have had a beginning.  Did everything create itself—or did someone beyond matter create everything?  Every effect must have a greater cause, and that cause, by whatever name, must be God.  Intelligent design simply says that the intricate design in the universe—whether stellar or microscopic—must have had a designer.  Anyone—including young students—can see the myriads of stars, the complexity of a flower or tree, the varieties of animals and birds and fish, as well as the minute world of the amoeba, and can conclude from this that these things didn’t just happen.  There must be a Designer—a God.

Second, he stated that evolutionary theory is well established.  If this is so, why does he fear examination?  Why would it not be good to examine the evidence—to see that evolution did not take place?  The evidence that there is something beyond natural processes and blind chance is overwhelming. If we open our eyes and ears, the evidence is all around us for creation!

Third, Robinson incredibly states, “Thousands of evolutionary scientists are also evangelical Christians.”  Does he not know what it means to be an Evangelical?  This term refers to those who maintain “the inspiration and authority of the Bible as the Word of God and the only rule of faith and practice” (Cairns, Dictionary of Theological Terms).  If one accepts the fact that the Bible actually is inspired of God through the Holy Spirit and therefore accepts the authority of God’s Word in all it affirms, how can he be an evolutionist?   An evolutionist is one who accepts a theory that “in the very remote past lifeless matter gave rise by the action of natural forces to one or more living organisms” (Cairns).  It is the belief that all living things came from a single cell through natural means and that this has given rise to all that is alive today, billions of years later. 

Obviously, one who believes that God created everything in the beginning, that He created the first humans (Adam and Eve), that all animal and plant life was made by an infinite, eternal, omniscient, omnipotent Creator—this person in no way could be an evolutionist.

Sadly, Robinson is mistaken in all of these ways and simply doesn’t understand the issues.  I would encourage everyone to be open to the truth of Creation and its supporting evidence, and not feel obligated to accept an unproved and unprovable theory that will lead nowhere.

Richard Hollerman