SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE

No one has been able to challenge the statement of the apostle Peter about the marvel of creation. He wrote that it escapes the notice of the world that "by the word of God, the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water" (2 Pet. 3:4-5). There is nothing in space that comes close to the earth. It is the miracle "water" planet that has ¾ coverage with H2O. Without this, there would be no life on earth. The Bible speaks correctly by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I am fascinated by the story of the creation of earth and the universe. I got this fascination from my science courses in the university. Today, people can receive some college degrees with only 4 hours of science. But over fifty years ago I was required for my degree 12 hours of science. I was also required 12 hours of language whereas today, some can get a degree from the best of schools with no language. I took German so that I could read technical science journals, which I did the last semester of my required German studies. How many people do you know who have taken a university course on evolution? I did, and my professor was outstanding. Dr. Wells held his Ph.D. in biology and he showed us the weakness in the evolution theory. You might say, "Well, science has so changed these past fifty years!" The answer to that statement is a yes and no. Many principles in regard to evolution have remained the same, however, what we have learned has simply reinforced the fact of the weaknesses of evolution, not supported the field. For example: The study of DNA was just beginning but now, the issue of the chromosome goes against evolution. We know that the crossover from DNA just does not happen! Then there is the the discovery of the cone fish and the Bacterial Flagellum. Some years ago I saw a documentary on the cone fish. It slides along the ocean floor with a tube moving back and forth on the sea bottom. When it somehow "spots" a small meal, a "spear" shoots out from the tube so fast that it can't be seen. It strikes the meal and quickly draws it into its mouth. The spear actually separates itself from the body of the cone fish. It is like an archer firing off an arrow that is detached from the arrow quiver. I phoned the scientists at the Texas Oceanic Institute in Galveston and talked with the professors about the cone fish. They said, "Oh, yeah, we know about the cone fish and we have no explanation for it! It does not fit any creatures that we know of, and it has no parallel that would support evolution. We have no answers!" Then I spent months studying the Bacterial Flagellum in Dr. Michael J. Behe's great book, "Darwin's Black Box" (Simon & Shuster, 1996). (Dr. Behe is professor of Biochemistry at Lehigh University.) The Flagellum has a paddle, a rotor, and a motor. The flagellum operates like an electric motor with turning parts that are separate from its body. It has an armature system like in an electric motor. Behe points out that "it is irreducibly complex. Gradual evolution of the flagellum, like the cilium, therefore faces mammoth hurdles. … The evolutionary literature [on the flagellum] is totally missing. Even though we are told that all biology must be seen through the lens of evolution, no scientist has ever published a model to account for the gradual evolution of this extraordinary molecular machine." (p. 72). The flagellum "has been discovered with staggering complexity, with dozens or even hundreds of precisely tailored parts. It is very likely that many of the parts we have not considered here are required for an cilium to function in a cell. … Darwinian theory has given no explanation for the cilium or flagellum. … As the number of systems that are resistant to gradualist explanation (slow evolution) mounts, the need for a new kind of explanation grows more apparent. Cilia and flagella are far from the only problems for Darwin." (p. 73). With winter coming on I suggest that you purchase Behe's book and cozy down to read through it from cover to cover. You will be fascinated, and, you will find yourself challenged as to the story of creation. I also recommend Dr. Charles Gordon's incredible book "In Plain Sight." Dr. Gordon is a scientist and a medical doctor who loves to study the creation of small things and also to look into the creation of the universe. He wrote about the Galaxy NGC 1309 and said that it is one of approximately 200 galaxies that make up the Eridanus group of galaxies. I have news for Dr. Gordon, recent studies now argue for from 10 to 20 more in number of the galaxies we thought were in space. The Helix nebula is a mere 450 light years away. The Eagle Nebula (NGC 7293) is a fascinating study. It is 7000 light years away! These statistics are just the start of our research on the incredible universe God created. We have a mighty God who is the Author of all we see in space. By the way, as far as one can go in space, there is God! And, the laws He created, of physics and chemistry, are as far off as one can go! Before one can speak about evolution, one must look carefully at the incredible nature of these laws upon which all of creation is formed. But the earth is most unique by its balance of oxygen, the other gases, and water itself. The right balance of all of the chemicals on earth is important: and as well, the distance of the earth from the sun, and the distance of the moon from the earth makes it a miracle planet. The balance is perfect! It is hard for some scientists to imagine but the Word of God tells us that the earth was created to be lived on. "Thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it. He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited). I am the Lord, and there is none else" (Isa. 45:18). --Dr. Mal Couch (12/10)