“Life.” The word is so common — from cereal to expressions like “get a life,” from terms like “pro-life” to biology, the science of life. We talk a lot about various aspects of “life” as Christians. But we can sometimes forget that this last one — the science of life — is hugely important for a Lutheran’s view of self and of faith.
The origin of life is the most profound puzzle for any secular biologist. Perhaps the current Bio textbook still teaches that there are two main terms dealing with the origin of life. The first is “biogenesis,” which means that life comes only from pre-existing life. This fact is obvious to anyone. The second is “abiogenesis,” which is the idea that life came from non-life. In other words, it created itself.
Looking for a cause
Before we get any further, it should be noted that most biologists shun the idea that there was any kind of “guiding intelligence” that created life, much less God back in Genesis. This is mainly due to the fact that most secular biologists have materialism as their philosophy or worldview. To be fair, it is true that we no longer need Zeus to explain lightning — we know about the cumulonimbus clouds that make lightning occur.
But it is exactly that philosophy which paints them into a corner when it comes to the origin of life. If you are a teen, go to your Bio textbook (parents/grandparents: Ask to see your family member’s book!) and look up the cell diagram. Note the many parts. If you study the parts in detail, you will see that many texts will liken the cell to a factory or small city.
One part of this factory is my most favorite: the walking motor proteins. Please take the time to watch some videos on this wondrous work of God. These proteins are responsible, depending on the type, for several jobs. Some move organelles or vacuoles around the cell. Others move items like mRNA strands to the ribosomes, and then there are ones that pull the chromatids apart during anaphase of mitosis.
Now find the diagram showing how we “explain” how the first cell came to be. Usually, the first part shows random atoms, then an arrow. Next are molecules, another arrow, and finally macromolecules like proteins, lipids, etc. The next part will show a “blobular” circle with some nucleic acids inside, then the requisite arrow, followed by infoldings occurring. Another arrow, and the in next “cell” those infoldings have somehow becoming the endoplasmic reticulum and the nuclear membrane. After another arrow, two different types of bacteria are ingested (but miraculously not digested!) to end up as the mitochondria and chloroplasts in modern cells.
Pause to consider what you are looking at. Do these two diagrams actually show how these events occurred? No. This is why I called those arrows “magic arrows” when I taught abiogenesis. We are to assume that these parts just changed all by themselves into the next parts. Most evolutionists decry Biblical Creationists for using God to solve problems like this. But they have the god Nature doing the magic. What’s the difference?
Origin-of-life researchers are spending lots of money trying to make abiogenesis happen. While I am not against research into challenging questions, it is important to note that many of the experiments being done in this area are somewhat suspect. Getting into this is outside the scope of this article, but I would encourage you to look into this research, and Creationist responses, on your own.
When I taught this section to my students, I taught them evolution from a Creation apologetics format. In other words, I used my biblical worldview to shape the instruction of my students. Here I must stop the nay-sayers who say that I was not teaching evolution correctly or even teaching science at all.
I taught them there really are two types of evolution. There is “Evolution Right” and “Evolution Wrong.” Evolution Right is basically speciation and plants and animals reproducing after their kind, just like we see and as Genesis clearly teaches. Evolution Wrong is abiogenesis and mutations making pond scum into people.
Why does it matter?
It is here that I can leave the idea that you are the product of Evolution Wrong and instead move on to how important it is that you know, and never forget the fact, that you are a distinct creation of God’s hand. This fact greatly influences how you see yourself and those around you and, most importantly, will guard against you losing your faith in Jesus. Statistic researchers like the Barna Institute have warned that more than 50% of Christian teens give up their saving faith after graduating from public high schools and/or universities.
Why does this happen? Think about it. If your teacher/professor can convince you that Genesis is bogus and actually a Bronze Age myth, then why do you need Jesus? Sin’s origin is in Genesis. The idea that you are not just an animal is rooted in Genesis. So, if there is no such thing as sin, then the need of a Savior goes into the trash bin of archaic ideas. Besides, all Christianity really does is stop you from having fun, right?
Allow me to paint a picture of life’s and humanity’s origin as Genesis tells it. Were you to watch the DVD of the Creation days, you would see various items coming into existence after God speaks. You would never see an item’s process of being formed. So, on day three, you’d see the ground and trees! — fully grown with leaves or needles and reproductive organs present. There was no need for millions of years. When God speaks, nature listens!
You and I are different. Go read Genesis 2. Note that God does not say, “Let there be people.” He gets His fingernails dirty by making Adam from the ground. More importantly, He breathes into Adam the soul which makes us vastly different from the animal realm. Then He makes Eve from Adam’s rib. This has huge implications for how we view sex. God says that the two shall become one flesh (Gen. 2:24). Why? Because Eve came from Adam’s rib, and so the unity is recreated again. Not only is sex now viewed as sacred and part of God’s plan, but random sex before marriage is against what God had in mind. Besides, sex creates babies and every baby deserves a mom and a dad. It is time we see that with great gifts comes great responsibility. No other animal has that special restriction to its reproduction. Can you see now why believing Evolution Wrong will mess up one’s life in many ways?
Further, this flawed worldview distorts your view of yourself. If all you really are is mutated pond scum, then what value is there to your life? Read Ecclesiastes. Solomon clearly sees that outside of God, there is no purpose to one’s life. You live, you die, end of story. Who cares?
BUT! If you are a child of the King, things look a lot different. And get this: God is not just Father, but He is Abba, Father. See Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. In English, we would translate “Abba” as something like “daddy.” God is not some distant entity who cares nothing for you. God is not some mystical force with whom we wish to achieve oneness. He is Daddy! This is not meant to diminish the honor or respect that He is fully due. Abba reveals an intimate relationship that is only found between a loving father and his child.
I now give you a homework assignment, much like I did as a teacher. Go to reliable Creationist websites and spend some time learning the truth about Evolution Wrong and why Genesis is truth. Learn the art of biblical apologetics. Practice with others dealing with skeptics and atheists. After all, if you play sports, isn’t scrimmaging a crucial part of practice? Why practice? So you can win? Well, not when it comes to discussing Jesus and Genesis with the unbeliever. It is so that you can effectively sow seeds (Matt. 13, Mark 4, Luke 6).
Perhaps you won’t be the first person that skeptic talks to. Maybe you will water what has been sown. Might you be the weeder of the garden? With the Spirit’s help and your preparation, more will come to knowledge of and saving faith in Jesus.
Cover image: “The Creation of Eve” by Heinrich Aldegrever, 1540.
