Did God use evolution?
Did God Use Evolution?
It is now commonly accepted in western culture that humans are the product of evolution. The idea is that all life (including humans) have evolved from simpler forms of life over the course of a very long period of time.
Let’s start by asking the following question.
How does the Bible explain the origin of human beings?
The Bible account in the book of Genesis tells us that God created the first human beings directly himself.
7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Genesis 2:7-8 (ESV)
If we are to take this account literally and on face value then the theory of evolution appears to be incompatible. For the Christian, God directly breathed life into man and formed him.
This of course creates some problems with navigating the culture that we live in because evolution is commonly accepted.
What are the implications of the Biblical account?
We are then faced with the possible options:
- The Bible is not accurate or reliable. We might as well not bother following Jesus at all then.
- Evolution did not take place.
- Genesis is describing events that are taking place metaphorically not literally.
The latter option seems unlikely and most likely comes from our desire to fit in with our peers but we’ll consider it as a possible option for now.
A footnote on adaptation
It’s worth noting that the Biblical view in Genesis is completely compatible with the idea of adaptation (gradual mutation within a species) but rejects the idea that a species could become something else entirely (e.g. evolution asserts human beings have evolved from apes).
Could God have used evolution to create humans?
Let’s pursue the possibility that our final option is correct and the events of creation described by the Bible are not literal.
Even still, the theory of evolution remains thoroughly incompatible with central Christian doctrine. Here’s why.
Evolution says death isn’t the result of sin
Evolution necessarily requires death in abundance to work. Mutation theoretically occurs over millions of generational iterations. This means that death was already present in the earth before the creation of man.
But we know from the rest of scripture that sin is a result of man’s disobedience to God. And the wages of sin are death. Therefore sin didn’t cause death and who could blame us for sinning if we are a product of death itself?
This also has huge implications on the nature of God.
Evolution says God is evil
If God used evolution to create man then God used the deaths of countless generations of pre-human species to do so. Not only does this mean that God is the author of death but it also raises huge ethical questions around these previous generations.
God is good therefore he cannot do anything evil. Now that sin and death is in the world, God uses it (think Jesus on the cross) to redeem humanity. But he is not the originator of it. Yet evolution implies he is.
Evolution has moral implications
There have been many periods of history when a group of human beings (usually identified by race) have been treated as sub-human. Yet this is the inescapable conclusion of the theory of evolution. When we consider those previous generations of pre-human life, at which point did they become human beings, made in the image of God?
God did not use evolution to create human beings
Although it’s tempting to try to fit the culture we live in by asserting God could have used evolution, it’s clear to see that the Bible teaching is directly contradictory to the theory of evolution.
Interested in finding out more about the philosophy of a Christian worldview? Watch this teaching that explains why evolution cannot be true here.
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Can I come to church?
Is church just for Christians?
Every week in our church services, we welcome new people and visitors. Some have simply moved to a new city and want to find a new church home. Others have grown up with some sort of faith but are on a journey of reconnecting with God. And others have no faith at all.
Church is for everyone
Our church services are designed to be open and welcoming to any person, regardless of their beliefs. This includes anyone from another religion or no religion at all. Everyone is welcome to come and decide for themselves.
We believe that Jesus is the ultimate source of truth and that when we follow him, we will experience true life. And of course we want to share that with everyone.
But we also acknowledge that we are all on a journey and each of us have to make our own choices in our time. You can probably expect to be both encouraged and challenged in our church services.
To find out what actually happens in a church service, read our article here.
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What happens at a church service?
Wondering what church looks like at C3 Reflect?
Church services are a time of celebration, fun and time with community. It’s also an opportunity to meet with God, worship together and experience his presence and power.
How long does a church service go for?
Our services are usually a little over 60 minutes. But we find people stick around after for tea, coffee and catch up. We love hosting new people and our services are open to anyone to come and check out.
What does worship look and sound like?
We start with a time of worship which usually consists of 3-4 songs for approx 20 minutes. These are most often contemporary songs written recently by churches and artists that glorify God. Whilst we’re always a big fan of hymns and traditional classics, we also recognise that new season require new songs and God is doing something fresh in every generation.
Depending on the team for the day, we’ll be using instruments much like any live music you might experience today such as acoustic guitars, keyboards, bass, synths and so on.
You might see people closing their eyes, lifting their hands and engaging in a way that is personal to them in worship. If worship is something that is new to you then you’re absolutely welcome just to stand, watch and enjoy the music.
Am I allowed to come?
Everyone is welcome to attend C3 Reflect whether they’ve been there for years or are exploring faith for the first time or looking for a church.
We take a few minutes to welcome everyone to the service after worship and let me know what’s happening in the life of the church. We may also take a few moments as we close worship to pray together and allow the Holy Spirit to encourage us.
(Wondering what to wear to church? Read the article here).
Last but not least we will have an encouraging message
Whilst the tone of our preaching is always encouraging and often fun, we are not just about inspiring or self-help but teaching the word of God (the Bible) and helping people very practically to live as followers of Jesus.
We often tackle wider themes over several weeks so that we can take our time as a community to learn together. We welcome healthy interaction and encouragement as we hear the message, take notes and apply the thoughts to our lives.
Preaching is never normally a silent or boring part of the service but a time where God can really speak to us through the speaker. Our preaching is approx 30 minutes long.
What happens next?
At the end of the preach, we will take a few moments to respond to the message together. This often involves some space for music and worship. After this, the services officially closes but most will stick around to hang out, catch up with friends over a delicious cup of coffee.
Come and join us at a Sunday service soon. We’d love to see you there!
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What should I wear to church?
Worried about your first time attending C3 Reflect?
The key to dressing well is all about understanding the setting. Naturally at special events such as a wedding we are bringing our best smarts. And when we’re hanging at our mates place for a game of FIFA, there’s no need to go all out.
Christianity is hugely diverse and whilst there are many different expressions across denominations and movements, what we wear to gather as church community is not something mandated by scripture but really up to the personal choice and culture of the congregation.
So what can you expect at C3 Reflect?
Our services are relaxed and informal in nature because we want every visitor and member to know that they can come to God exactly as they are.
You’ll probably find our team (including our pastors) wearing jeans, trainers or even jump suits. The most important thing for us is that you feel comfortable and you feel like you can be yourself.
Why do some traditions wear more formal clothing?
Other traditions or cultures may have a special emphasis on attire or formality as a means of expressing honour to God and this is absolutely great reason to do so. God is most interested in our heart as we come to worship him, not how we look externally.
We’d love to invite you to hang out at a Sunday service soon.