____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ May 7, 2000 ____________________________________________________ Inconsistencies of Evolution by Steve Klein Frequently in the Bible, error is exposed by showing the inconsistencies and contradictions of those who espouse it. For instance, Job reasoned with his friends to show them the inconsistencies of their arguments. Jesus often exposed the errors of the Pharisees by focussing on their hypocrisy -- their inconsistency! (e.g. Matthew 23:16ff.). One error widely believed today by many so-called intellectuals is the general theory of evolution. The evolutionist believes that life came from non-life and that over millions of years primitive life forms gradually evolved into the diverse complex forms that now inhabit the planet. He sees that it is just not possible to accept the Biblical account of creation and the general theory of evolution AND be consistent. And so, the evolutionist rejects the Bible -- in part or in whole. His faith in evolution is an insurmountable obstacle in the way of his faith in the Bible. What he fails to see is that, not only does evolution contradict the Bible, but it also repeatedly contradicts itself! My 8th grade daughter's science class uses an Earth Science textbook published by Prentice Hall. In its presentation of evidence to support the theory of evolution, this textbook makes so many contradictory statements and uses so much fallacious reasoning that it borders on the ridiculous -- one wants to laugh to keep from crying. The sad thing is that this textbook is very typical of what can be found in schoolrooms all over the world. Here are a few of the more glaring fallacies and inconsistencies I found: 1. The Principle of Uniformitarianism states that ``the processes that act on the earth's surface today are the same processes that have acted on the earth's surface in the past'' (pg. 514). The evolutionist must accept this principle in order to claim that layers of sedimentary rock have been deposited consistently over time and thus provide a trustworthy means of interpreting the fossil record. What is funny (and sad) is that this fundamental principle of evolutionary theory is not even really believed by the evolutionist. To illustrate, consider that the Earth Science textbook states on page 530 that ``scientists believe that there were different periods of mountain building and during the Precambrian Era.'' ``There were also large glaciers spreading across vast land areas'' and ``the continents changed shape often during this era.'' In trying to explain the disappearance of dinosaurs, the text offers as a plausible theory ``that a huge asteroid or comet hit the earth with such force that dust or soot in the air blocked out sunlight'' and ``resulted in worldwide freezing temperatures'' (pg. 534). Does that sound like uniformitarianism to you?!? You see, these evolutionary scientists do not really even believe their own fundamental principles. Yet, they would refuse to consider that a world-wide flood and the atmospheric changes accompanying it (Genesis 6-9) could account for the extinction of the dinosaurs. Why won't they consider it? Because, they say, that would contradict the principle of uniformitarianism. How much more inconsistent can you be?!? 2. ``The Law of Superposition states that in undisturbed sedimentary rock each layer is older than the one above it and younger than the one below it'' (pg. 514). We are told that the Law of Superposition is used to determine the relative age of a rock layer or a fossil -- which is older, and which is younger. ``Relative age,'' it is explained, ``is not the same as absolute age.'' ``Absolute age is a measure of how many years ago an event occurred or an organism lived``(pg. 515). So, according to this textbook, the law of superposition ``cannot be used to find the absolute, or exact, age of the rock'' (pg. 524). Yet earlier in the book, on page 507, there appears this chart, reproduced to the right, which obviously suggests to the student that in fact rocks and fossils can be given an absolute age based on nothing more than the relative position of the rocks and fossils in the geologic column. Of course, the evolutionist will claim that these layers of sediment have been dated using other methods (a claim we'll examine next). But the fact is that this chart depicts something that according to the evolutionists own law of science, ``cannot be'' done! 3. Radioactive Dating is a primary method evolutionary scientists use ``to help determine the age of rocks'' and fossils (pg. 527). The idea is that radioactive elements decay over time by giving off radiation; as some of these elements decay they produce decay elements or ``daughter'' elements. For example, Carbon-14 decays mainly into Nitrogen. Assuming that the rate of decay of a given element is steady over time, scientists think they can tell the age of a rock by measuring the proportion of a parent radioactive element to that of its decay element in a given rock sample. However, with just a little thought, the fallacies of radioactive dating become very evident. Who knows whether any of the decay or daughter element was in the rock to begin with? Who knows whether the rate of decay of the parent element is actually consistent over thousands of years? The fact is that evolutionary scientists themselves know that radioactive dating is not accurate. For one thing, the dates given using different parent elements, such as Uranium-238 and Potassium-40 give results that sometimes differ by millions of years. Scientists themselves often reject the results of radiometric testing. This article has really only addressed the ``tip of the iceberg'' of the inconsistencies of evolution. The entire evolutionary theory is in fact just one gigantic, inconsistent, absurdity. As G.K. Chesterton said many years ago, ``It is absurd for the Evolutionist to complain that it is unthinkable for an admittedly unthinkable God to make everything out of nothing, and then pretend that it is more thinkable that nothing should turn itself into anything.'' It is the saddest of all things that the evolutionist takes the Creation -- the very thing that speaks to us most clearly of the existence of God -- and tries to twist it to disprove God's word. Surely the design of this universe speaks to us loud and clear of the Great Designer. No one -- not the inconsistent evolutionist, the pygmy in Africa, or the American schoolboy -- is excused from listening to the voice of the Creation. ``For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse'' (Romans 1:20). Truly, ``The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard'' (Psalms 19:1-3). A recent Gallup Poll found that the greatest number of Americans (47% of those expressing an opinion) hold to the strict creationist view, that God created man pretty much in his present form within the last 10,000 years. Most other Americans believe in some combination of evolution and creationism, and only nine percent of Americans believe in strict evolution (May, 1993, Christian News, p. 3). These statistics are encouraging, and they demonstrate the overall common sense of the American people. But the assault of evolutionists continues. Christians must be prepared to defend their faith against the godless faith of evolutionary science. We must ``always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks (us) a reason for the hope that is in (us), with meekness and fear'' (1 Peter 3:15). -- Via The Exhorter, May 7, 2000 ___________________________________________ The Message of the Cross by David Dann ``For the message of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, `I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe'' (1 Cor. 1:18-21). The apostle Paul points out in this passage that during the first century there was much confusion and controversy surrounding the cross of Christ. It is easy to see that this confusion continues even today. Many differing and conflicting ideas have been circulated concerning Jesus, his message, and his death on the cross. However, the Bible clearly explains the message of the cross to us. The message of the cross is a message of... Love ``For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him'' (Rom. 5:6-9). The fact that Jesus was willing to die on the cross for us is a testimony in and of itself of the amazing love of God. Christ loved us so much that, although he was innocent, he was perfectly willing to undergo that cruel death in order to give us hope. ``For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life'' (John 3:16). Sacrifice In Hebrews chapter 9 we read, ``...but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation'' (Heb. 9:26-28). Christ's death on the cross was the sacrifice that was required by God in order that our sins might be forgiven, for, ``without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness'' (Heb. 9:22). The sacrifice of Jesus was a one-time sacrifice that is superior to the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament. ``For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?'' (Heb. 9:13,14). Salvation ``For the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works'' (Titus 2:11-14). If it were not for the death of Christ on the cross we could have no salvation. But since Christ did die for us, Paul says that the gospel, ``is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek'' (Rom. 1:16). However, only those who are obedient to Christ will be able to enjoy the salvation that he offers; as the Hebrew writer plainly states, ``And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him'' (Heb. 5:9). Condemnation ``He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil'' (John 3:18-19). To those who do not believe and those who do evil, the message of the cross is a message that brings condemnation. Jesus spoke these words to the Jews of his day: ``I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins'' (John 8:24). Those who reject the gospel will not benefit from the death of Christ. Conclusion ``For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross....'' (Col. 1:19,20). Have you submitted to the message of the cross? -- Via Sound Doctrine, January 9, 2000 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Bill Watterson (Olive Baker's cousin) passed away recently at only 62 years of age. Let us be praying for all the family and friends. The three-day meeting at the Airy church of Christ (in Philadelphia) with Steve Wolfgang (from Danville, Kentucky) will begin Friday after next: May 19-21. The church meets at 45 W. Durham Street. (Directions are shown on our bulletin board in back.) ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST P.O. Box 421 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________