EVOLUTION

Does the Bible's account allow for living things to change over time?

Yes, the Bible says that God created living things according to their kinds." (Genesis 1:11, 12,21, 24, 25)  Can variation occur within a kind?  Yes.  However, does observed adaptation within a kind prove that eventually new kinds can evolve? No.

Consider an example: In the 1970's, researchers studied finches on the Galapagos islands.  They noted that climate changes caused finches with slightly larger beaks to survive more readily.  This, some concluded provided evidence of evolution. But was it evidence of evolution, or was it simply adaptation?  Years later, the finches with smaller beaks once again dominated the population.  This experiment led Jeffrey H. Schwartz, a professor of anthropology, to conclude that while adaptation may help a species survive under changing circumstances, "it is not creating anything new."

Can the Bible and the theory of evolution be reconciled?

The Bible says that "[God] created all things. (Revelation 4:11)  He did not "rest" until his creative work was complete.  (Genesis 2:2) the implication is clear:  God did not create a simple organism and then rest, or take a backseat, while that organism evolve over millions of years into various kind of fish, apes, and humans.   

That idea, called macroevolution , denies the role of Creator, who the Bible /God Words say "made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that  is in them." -Exodus 20:11; Revelation 10:6.  

Next time: LANDS AND PEOPLES /UZBEKISTAN-A Visit to Uzbekistan

From the Awake! magazine