An Accidental Life
Image © Damon Bowie from GoodSalt.com
When my sons were little, we spent a lot of time watching shows or videos about animals. And, initially that sounds awesome because then they were learning things instead of watching mindless kids’ shows (they watched those too). Nature shows are so much fun to watch – the photography is beautiful. Except that every single one of them had to throw in its mandatory this-animal-evolved-from-that-animal line. At which point I would feel the need to disagree with the voice-over out loud so that my children would not get the idea that I agreed with those statements. I did it so often that we could all recite my various responses together.
I have a big problem with the theory of evolution … well, I have several, but my biggest problem with it goes beyond all of the scientific impossibilities and unlikelihoods of life just popping up out of nowhere. My biggest problem with the theory of evolution is that believing it changes the way persons see themselves and how they fit into the grand scheme of things. I believe that so many of the things for which we are trying to find solutions are outgrowths of believing that life is merely the result of a biological accident.
In the interest of full disclosure, I went to public schools for most of my academic life and I worked in public schools – first as a teacher and then as a school psychologist. My children also went to public schools. I grew up in a time when only the theory of evolution was taught in science classes and formal prayer was not allowed. So, that may all flavor my opinions to some extent.
One of the first side effects of teaching our children that they are nothing but biological accidents is the loss of the knowledge that each individual is inherently valuable. If we can no longer believe that we were knit together in our mothers’ wombs by a loving Creator God, then who are we? And why are we here? To fill the void of our value through our Creator and Redeemer, educators started trying to artificially produce self-esteem in each student. The self-esteem movement has become almost a joke – everybody gets a trophy for participating, teachers shouldn’t use red ink, shouldn’t tell students they’re wrong – but has not been able to instill in anyone a healthy knowledge that they were created and loved by God. Artificial value then has to come from how we look and what we have.
Unfortunately not everyone is considered beautiful, and not everyone has the funds to buy the things that will make them “valuable” – expensive athletic shoes, clothes, fancy cars or any other thing that is considered a symbol of a person’s importance in society.
In my opinion, one of the reasons that bullying has become such a devastating problem is that children who have been artificially infused with self-worth have no positive way to maintain it and so try to build themselves up by pushing others down. Those who are being pushed down have no resources with which to protect themselves and are emotionally devastated, sometimes to the point of suicide.
A casualty of being taught we were accidents was morality. Teenagers who have been told they are nothing more than a step along the evolutionary ladder – just a little higher than monkeys – are no longer bound by the morals of individuals who were created just a little lower than angels.
“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,” Psalm 8:4-6
That’s a very different way of thinking of humans than most people use, isn’t it? A being just lower than an angel has value and purpose. A being just higher than a monkey has neither of those things.
One of the most tragic and heartbreaking consequences of being taught we are nothing more than glorified monkeys and have no intrinsic value in and of ourselves is the proliferation and acceptance of abortion.
We no longer think of life like King David did:
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.” Psalm 139:13-15
An inconvenient pregnancy is easily and thoughtlessly ended with little thought about what miracle is taking place. From there we can apply the same lack of value for life to so many other aspects of our society – school shootings jump immediately into my mind.
If we are nothing but biological accidents, where does that leave us? What is our purpose for being here? Who cares that we’re here? Our hearts and minds are essentially a vacuum that was supposed to be filled by God, but is now just empty and waiting for whatever comes along.
“Those who leave the Word of God to account for His created works on scientific principles are drifting without chart or compass upon an unknown ocean. The greatest minds, if not guided by the Word of God in their research, become bewildered in their attempts to trace the relations of science and revelation. Those who doubt the records of the Old and New Testaments will be led to go a step further and doubt the existence of God. Then, having lost their anchor, they are left to beat about upon the rocks of infidelity.
“The Bible is not to be tested by men’s ideas of science. Skeptics, through an imperfect comprehension of either science or revelation, claim to find contradictions between them; but rightly understood they are in perfect harmony. Moses wrote under the guidance of the Spirit of God, and a correct theory … will never claim discoveries that cannot be reconciled with his statements.” (E.G. White, From Eternity Past, p.67)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5
How would you rather live your life?
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Amen.
Thank you for putting these things into perspective. I really feel sorry for my colleagues (other science teachers) who swear by evolution and have sworn allegiance to atheism.
It is difficult to watch people we know and care about take stands for something that leads to such a hopeless existence. I think sometimes though they are just believing what they've been led to believe and have never really thought it out completely.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
I don't know if the theory of evolution has led to school shootings and all abortions, if any. My reason for this is that lack of reverence for the value of life at any stage of development is a sin problem that can affect even the most highly educated Bible scholars. Who led their nation to condemn and execute Jesus, stone Stephen and persecute God's faithful servants? The theory of evolution was unknown, and they were the leaders of the chosen nation of God, who "observed" and taught His law with great emphasis. The Inquisition was the instrument of people who claimed to be defending the truth in the name of God. Again, evolution had not yet come to their knowledge. There is no evidence that Cain considered the monkey as his distant ancestor but was actually very "religious", bringing to God his best offering, just before he revealed anger and hatred, taking his brother's life. Before Darwin's thoughts were shared, many had looked to the gathering of wealth and possessions to define their worth, while professing to be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. Also, all the abortions I am personally acquainted with were by those raised SDA, attended SDA schools or at least believed in God. The first being to try and lift themselves by disparaging others was raised in a perfect environment, had no doubts of his origin and held the highest position given to a creature. Pride alone was the root of what has turned into the greatest moral degenerate.
My thought is that those who choose to accept this theory are looking for an out from the conviction that would guide them forward if followed. It's similar to choosing a flavor of religion that best suits the carnal heart and stifles conviction by presenting a god that allows one more freedom to do their own thing. The theory of evolution works to tear down faith in God in those who look for a reason to deny faith, which the account of creation helps to strengthen.
We have been told that "God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat." This threat to the foundation of truth must be expected in this hour. Delay has marked our existence as a people and God is more desirous of ending sin that we are apparently. Those wanting to know the truth so they can obey will not be misled if they follow all the light they know. Others will fall away from one reason or another, and this is just another reason to foster doubt. False theories are not the problem, unbelief in the truth is.
Thank you Lillianne! No child wants to find out they were an accident, and denying a loving Creator is basically saying we all were accidents!
Yesterday I was surfing through the websites on ID and creationism that I periodically get interested in and came across this article on the relationship between evolution and suicide. Of course it isn't based on research but I do think there is a causal relationship.
Just click on the address to access the website http://creation.com/evolution-and-suicide
God's mercy and forgivenss are great. At one time, I was an unwed mother. When my son was about 25 years old, my mother said, "You don't know what that did to me"!
"To you", I said, "Did you think I wanted to have a child without a father"?
My mother was always about image and at one time we lived in a place that was all about image.
Because of my mother's attitudes, my sister had at least two abortions.
We didn't have a happy, caring home. There wasn't communication. My parents argued and fought most of the time.
My parents were Catholic. They didn't talk about the facts of life, how us children were special, or anything. So we made huge mistakes.
Thank God, He is rich in mercy and forgiveness.
Jane, your issue is touching. A lot of people have gone through your experience. Some have come out in one piece, some with scars of life and yet some have failed to pass through. As you have said, God is love and this is repeated over and over in lifes' lessons.
God bless you
Thank for what you have written, it makes so much sense, and gives us value, and worth. I want all my children and grandchildren to read these comments. God bless you forever.
Creation and science has not enough proof, fairly. Pls. See Heb. 11:3. I am like
Nicodemus asking Jesus what heaven looks like. Only though Mat. 17:1-13
Elijah and Moses Had gone to heaven with Jesus. Still my faith remains the word
Of God John 1:1-18 Pls. correct me if any mistake or question.