The Evolution Debate

Each week Focus on the Family sends out a Pastor's Weekly Briefing filled with all sort of newsy tidbits.  There were a couple pertaining specifically to evolution that I found interesting:

• A new Zogby poll shows 78 percent of U.S. voters want both sides of the evolution debate brought up in the classroom - up nine points from a similar poll three years ago.  The poll, commissioned by the Discovery Institute, found both Democrats and Republicans overwhelmingly support discussion for and against evolution.  "Many Darwinists are trying to paint supporters of academic freedom as some kind of crazy, fringe element.," said Candi Cushman, education analyst at Focus on the Family Action.  "The truth is, the majority of parents want their kids to examine all the scientific evidence, to engage in critical thinking and to have classrooms that are academically challenging - not controlled by political correctness.
• A Gallup poll released this week shows that 39 percent of Americans say they "believe in the theory of evolution," while a quarter say they do not.  Another 36 percent don't have an opinion either way, CNN reported.  An earlier Gallup poll on this issue, that was conducted in May 2008, found that 44 percent believe God created human beings within the past 10,000 years.

Considering these statistics, it's amazing that the theory of evolution continues to be pushed so hard in the public school system and that creationism or the teaching of Intelligent Design is deemed to be not only religious but ridiculous.  Just recently, comedian Ben Stein backed out of giving the commencement address at the University of Vermont because of complaints about his view of evolution.  UVM President Daniel Fogel, who chose him based on a warm response that Stein got at an on-campus lecture last spring, says he was deluged with e-mail messages from people who find Stein's views of science offensive.  Incidentally, Stein responded by describing the brouhaha over his selection as commencement speaker as "laughable," calling the whole episode "pathetic."  In a phone call to the Free Press, Stein said that describing his views as "antithetical to scientific inquiry" was "a wildly unfair characterization."  Later in an e-mail Stein added, "I am far more pro-science than the Darwinists.  I want all scientific inquirty to happen - not just what the ruling clique calls science."

The suppression and criticism of creationism is not so much a scientific issue as it is a spiritual one.  Darwinism is but a modern manifestation of man's attempt to do away with God.  This is what lies at the heart of evolutionary teaching.  

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  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, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools. . . .

- Romans 1:18-22

Pray for Christian students and teachers who are subjected to criticism and secularism in the classroom.  Pray for their faith not to waver and to remember that God makes the wisdom of this world foolish and saves those who believe the "foolish" message of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18-21).  Pray, too, for those deluded by the lie of evolution, that they would come to a knowledge of the truth.