On vacation in Washington D.C. last summer our family visited a number of the famed Smithsonian museums in that city. The one that struck me most was the National Museum of Natural History which was featuring an exhibit on human origins.
The director of the Museum, Cristián Samper, said this about the purpose of the 20.7 million dollar exhibit: “The hall offers the opportunity to explore the scientific finds that shed light on one of the really significant sparks to human curiosity—our own origins.”
What was discouraging—and yet depressingly expected—about this “scientific” exhibit on human origins was that there was not one single mention of God.
How can one explain human origins without referring to the God who created it? What has happened to “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1)?
Have you noticed how many people in the sciences today have arbitrarily re-defined science to fit their own belief system? Though the word “science” comes from the Latin and means “knowledge,” this so-called science had nothing to do with God. Many “scientists” will only permit or advance “knowledge” which is in accord with their view of naturalism—the religion of atheism.
This same naturalism is being taught in the nation’s public schools already at the elementary level, causing our children to become slowly indoctrinated into the religion of atheism!
Drifting Away!
If you don’t think this is a big deal, look around you. Look at how many young people are walking away from the Christian church. Look at how many churches are drifting away from their historic confessions to make room for “other” ways of interpreting Scripture.
The Biblical teaching of verbal inspiration has been compromised by the majority of those who call themselves Christians today. God tells us: “No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Naturalism is not the private interpreter of Scripture! Yet many Christians are caving in to “Theistic evolution”— the notion that God created the world but used the process of evolution to carry it out.
Understand this: theism and evolution are mutually exclusive. In no way can these two ideas be reconciled. Those who hold to theistic evolution must give up either the claims of evolution or the truths of Scripture. God is being rejected in favor of the constantly changing uncertainty of naturalism.
As Christians we need to be on guard against such attacks by the religion of atheism through the supposed harmlessness of naturalism. We must defend against the reinterpretation of God’s infallible Word on the basis of man’s fallible ideas and theories.
But don’t misunderstand—God is not losing! Every soul that is won to Christ through the Holy Spirit is another victory for God. And although His Word is rejected by many as “out of date,” it remains forever true and will abide until the end of time: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
All praise to our Creator God!
Editor’s note: Pastor Mayhew says he “tweaked” an article for us which he had prepared for a Creation-Evolution Seminar recently hosted by his congregation, Zion Ev. Lutheran Church. We thank him for sharing!