How man came into existence is a topic that has been debated since he first understood that he had an origin, but as soon as he began to reflect on what might have happened, theories began to evolve (no pun intended). The very definition of theory (Speculation; a doctrine or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice: Webster’s 1828 dictionary) leaves us in nothing but doubt and confusion about our humble beginnings.
Charles Darwin’s theory, “Origin of Species” is less than one hundred fifty years old, thereby making it relatively young, but the concept of evolution is as old as antiquity itself. It was the ancient Greek Gnostics and philosophers who originally conceived the notion that life developed from non-life forms and that the descent of man was from the animal. Darwin simply put a new twist on an old concept. His theory of evolution added the mechanics of “natural selection”, which states that when the stronger of a species survives it passes on any slight advantageous genetic mutations to its offspring; each generation thereby grows stronger, by building upon and strengthening that mutated trait. The antithesis being that the weaker of the species, or those which are not augmented due to the lack of any mutation, will eventually, over time, vanish or die out.
We may find, barring only a few minor nuances, that most all of the “scientific” theories concerning our genesis, which have gained popularity over the last few centuries have one common thread that binds them together. That thread is atheism (or “without God”). The defenders of most of the evolutionary theories, believe that it was time, events and acts of “nature”, not God, that were the determining factors of creation, i.e. given enough time, new species can or will appear and can or will be replaced by other species. Whichever the case, God is almost always left out of the equation.
I stand fully amazed at all the conclusions, at which man has arrived concerning his origin. Man’s imagination (for he has nothing else on which to base his hypotheses) takes him into realms of the unknown: into the vast seas of speculation into which he is constantly diving, searching for any “pearl” of wisdom, which will give him the answers to all the questions of life. He is constantly seeking to satisfy his insatiable thirst for some or any understanding of those things, which have been hidden from view. All he has to fortify his theoretical “stronghold” is his personal belief that his concepts are reality. He becomes so satisfied with what he has “learned” from his own invented ideologies that he begins to teach others his imaginations and conjectures as being factual.
However, those of us who have received the gift of faith are fully content with the understanding that we were created by a greater and higher power.
Anyone who has been afforded the ability to grasp the simplicity of scripture concerning the dawn of humanity has no problem with how the world was formed, or how we, the human race were created. However, those who do not have the ability to understand this will never be satisfied with, “In the beginning God created”.
Man (in his nature) harbors no desire to accept any notion that he was created. He would much rather hold to some unfounded theory that he started as a one-cell amoeba, eventually evolving into the intelligent being that he is, than to acknowledge his true origin. He feels the need to merit himself and his abilities in arriving at his present state of intellect. Whereas: if he admits that he has a designer and a maker, he must then deny himself and relinquish this honor to another.
I think it would be safe to say that almost all who dwell in the world of Christendom today will wholeheartedly agree to the biblical account of our beginning. Ask any Christian, the basis on which their understanding of man’s introduction is founded. Without argument, most will point to Adam of the bible, who was formed and shaped by the very hand of God. They will agree that life came into an inert gathering of dust, simply by the breath of God into man’s nostrils. I doubt that anyone would be so bold as to deny that Adam was made after the will and purpose of God, or to state that Adam was introduced to life by his own will or desire.
Most have no problem with creationism when it comes to the natural, but amazingly they struggle with creationism in the spiritual. Almost all will agree that man, in the natural, with no ability or of any power of his own, was created and made by God alone. Yet, few will concede to the scriptural teaching that the spiritual man must be quickened to life in the same manner. It is evident that most believe that the spiritual man, in all actuality, is not dead in trespasses and in sin as the scriptures so avidly state (Eph 2:1, Col 2:13), but that he has, at least, a flicker of power with which to bring about life within him.
If you ask those in the world of Christendom today how one comes to spiritual life, most will leave out the scriptural accounts of the spiritual man’s “birth” (or beginning), usually going into one or some of the many theological “theories” that have been taught over the years. It seems the majority is not willing to accept the biblical basis of how we are created spiritually; that is by an instantaneous work of the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:10). This takes away man’s involvement as well as his evolvement and, again, puts it all in the hands of a creator. Sadly there are many different theories of spiritual evolution that are being taught and fully accepted as being scriptural as well as factual in most modern day churches.
For whatever the reasons, it is very hard for most in Christendom today to accept the fact that we all are or were dead in trespasses and in sins, and that life comes only through the quickening power of God (John 5:21, John 6:63, Eph 2:1, I Corinthians 15:45)
As for me, I cannot accept any theory, which considers that natural life spontaneously began from any nonliving matter. It is impossible for life to spring from non-life. Neither can I accept any belief, which points toward anyone, who is spiritually dead as being made alive by one’s own power or will. Life must be begotten of life (biogenesis): created by a living, greater and higher power. Only God creates life, whether natural or spiritual.
Man, in his humanity has a great need to be in control or at least to be included in the decision making of God. He will not readily welcome the fact that he had nothing to do with the creation of spiritual life within him. For him to admit this, he must also accept the truth that, as it is in the case of creation of life in the natural, it is God alone who is the creator of life in the spiritual.
The beginning of physical life as we know it began when the quickening Spirit of God breathed into a form that was gathered from the dust of the ground. This form, which was lifeless and without power now has life with all the senses and desires that are gifted to the natural man. The genesis of spiritual life also begins with the same quickening power by which man is made alive spiritually and now has all the senses and desires afforded the spiritual man (Matthew 5: 3-9).
Sam Everett
