Darwinism and Intelligent Design with the Young Adults

There is a running joke involving humanity’s origin stories that may be somewhat humorous if we don’t get too defensive about it. The joke shows the “March of Progression” from Australopithecus Africanus to Homo Erectus, then a break in the illustration, and followed by the Neanderthal and then finally modern man.  The critique is found when the break between Homo Erectus and the Neanderthal is filled in by a Creationist. 

Did you know that we were always the Missing Link!?  I had no idea, but it’s always good to know how those around us will receive us, and for the Christian Creationist, we are received as shackles that hold the scientific community back from progress.

Now, let me be adamant that this illustration should not cause frustration or anger among God’s people.  We know that our standard for reality is God’s Word, and to a world that has not yet accepted this Truth, it makes perfect sense that they would see us as simpletons.  Rather than holding it against them, we’ll allow this knowledge to inform the ways in which we reach out to and minister to them, as God would have us do.

However, it is always an exciting time for me personally when we discuss the differences between Darwinism and Intelligent Design (or more narrowly, Scientific Creationism).  I find that it explains much of the character of God and I absolutely love His creativity in the world that we see around us, not to mention much deeper theological truths that He communicates through the creation story.

The young adults are beginning a two- or three-week study looking at Darwin’s weaknesses, Intelligent Design’s strengths, and many of the examples in the natural world that stand against an evolutionary reading of the creation story in Genesis.  We will hash out the perspectives of those who critique our views, including atheists, theological liberals, and theistic evolutionists and how to elevate our discussions with them into Gospel-centered messages of hope rather than a battle-field to be won.

This week, we will discover fallacies involved in the argument that “with a god interfering in the natural order, there can be no science.”  We’ll dive into multiple proposed evidences for evolution and recognize the leaps in assumptions that are involved such as in the case of the peppered moth argument or embryonic development that has been presented in Ernst Haeckel’s false drawings from the 1870’s which were used when I was still in high school. 

Please pray with me that this will be a great time to expand our minds and that it will prepare us to better see the expanse of the natural revelation all around us as a testament to God’s greatness.  Please also pray that this study will draw us into a greater mindset of evangelism to those who disagree with us, as opposed to pushing them away.  People in our world have many different perspectives and interests, and the study of creation is one that will not only help us to personally love God for exactly who He shows Himself to be in His Word, but it can be used to draw in unbelieving science-lovers to know and appreciate a God that works through science and not in opposition to it.  We serve a great God and we look forward to this discussion this week!

Love you all,

Young Adult Minister – Evan McNeff