Question: Is there a difference between evolution and natural selection? Can a Christian believe in either?My Response: Christians are not defined by what they believe but by Who they believe in. Faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is the bottom line. A personal relationship with Jesus is the definition of Christianity, not the embracing of a defined list of acceptable positions. After entering into a relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit is committed to guiding us into all truth. While issues, such as the one in this question, are important, they aren't the issues that define Christian faith. Having said that, I want to respond to the specific subjects in the question. Are these positions biblically supported? Can you be biblically sound and believe in evolution and/or natural selection?
Natural selection is a process that is observable in nature. Negative traits and weaker organisms are removed from the gene pool by natural processes. Changes by natural selection occur within species and involve no change between species. I don't know of any reason a creationist would struggle with this concept.
Microevolution is similar to natural selection in that it involves changes over time within a species. There is likewise nothing here that conflicts with a creationist perspective.
Macroevolution is where the tension and disagreement occurs. Macroevolution involves changes "above the level of species" and changes one species into another species altogether. While defended by evolutionists, this form of evolution is not observable or demonstrable because of the time factor purported for this type of change. Macroevolution is rejected by most forms of creationism.
Can a believer accept macroevolution as the method God used to create the world? Many do. I do not. However, this should never be construed as a salvation issue. Hebrews describes faith as believing that God created the world. That is a non-negotiable for believers. The method or means of creation will most certainly be debated among genuine believers until we get to heaven and know "the rest of the story!"
Yes to the first question. 'Natural selection' is a reference to everyday processes taking place in our natural world. Simply put: the strong win against the weak, the productive win against the impotent. This assures that strains of animals and plants that God created are kept strong and competitive, and thus survive. A Christian can accept this as a fact.
ReplyDelete'Evolution' is a very different thing. It is a concept or theory that, simply put, says that all living things today have developed from other living things in the past by gradual changes (sometimes sudden), starting with essential chemicals in the earth or sea; this process taking upwards of hundreds of millions of years.
Contrary to some educational texts and public writings, this is still a theory, not a fact. Indeed, many scientists in all of the natural fields believe this is very wrong thinking.
Our belief rests on faith and trust in God, in His Word, and in His Son who lives in us. When there seems to be conflict between the Word and the thinking of men, we need to trust in God. When we have a conflict of conscience, we can ask God for guidance, and we can look boldly into the matter, knowing that the truth will win out.
I personally have lived through this conflict. Shortly after I was converted from an agnostic to a Christian, I read in a pereodical that 'if you think you can reconcile evolution and Genesis, you haven't studied enough.' This cut me to the core, because I wanted to hold on to my new-found faith. I asked for help, and through some study, understanding was given to me and the 'veil' was lifted. Now I see plainly.
Clearly every author with a book to sell will tell you all the differences and similarities. I have no book to sell, so I'll just stick with what I've come to understand - that Natural Selection is a fundamental tenant of the Theory of Evolution. So, in that respect, they are linked.
ReplyDeleteCan Christians believe in either of them? I say yes; but not as the world defines their use. I think we'd be hard pressed to deny that natural selection (and the resulting evolution) occurs as it's fairly well documented. However, to go from what has been documented and make the leap to it being an explanation for all life on earth is where the train jumps the tracks. I don't see any problem in believing that God created a world that could learn and grow and 'evolve' on it's own.
For me, to say that evidence of natural selection and evolution occurring EQUALS that all life grew from nothing on it's own is very much like saying that documented climate change EQUALS man having the power to have caused it. Both of those require a leap of faith in man-alone; I prefer to put my faith in a God who is in control of all.
I'm thinking it depends on how you define evolution and natural selection. When I am hunting it is natural selection.
ReplyDeleteBill, if you would quit harvesting the dumb ones, maybe I would get more shooting in! :)
ReplyDeleteHey you calling my deer dumb, I only shoot the smart ones
ReplyDeleteWhat we understand now from genetic DNA is that a mutation is always the loss of genetic information. i.e. De-evolution, the world is in a downward spiral. Natural selection is the process of de-evolution. i.e. the further we get from Adam? We are not a copy of Adam, we are a copy, of a copy, of a copy, etc. Dan, All creation groans!
ReplyDeleteAnother definition of natural selection would be – The biggest buck gets control of the herd, passing himself on to the next generation!
Where do you draw the line between natural selection and evolution?
ReplyDeleteDid G-d create a couple of proto-species and allow them to develop? Or did he actually create every animal we see on earth today? Or did G-d simply push a couple of atoms together and bang!
The book of Genesis says that He created the Earth, but it doesn't specify HOW he did it. The whole universe could just be an intelligently-designed self-perpetuating, self-sustaining system that started off with a Big Bang.
I think that accepting natural selection as a fact puts you on a slippery slope. I mean what is the difference between natural selection on a small scale (a la the peppered moth in London) or natural selection on a grand scale (evolution)? When you accept one, you are admitting that the other is possible.
Gary, I believe that natural selection can be understood as the survival of certain variations within a species. Christians should have no problem accepting that form of natural selection.
ReplyDeleteEvolution can be another name for natural selection,or even simple change in general, and so, in a very limited sense, can be acceptable as well.
However the traditional idea of evolution includes changes that transcend species. That is implausible, and unacceptable.
Gary, I should also add, that there are many people who believe in Christ, but also believe in evolution. They view the Genesis account of creation as a myth.
Are we saved because we believe in a certain interpretation of the Bible, or because we believe in Christ?
Are we saved because we believe in a certain interpretation of the Bible, or because we believe in Christ?
ReplyDeleteBest question award!
One look with the mind's eye: from the heavens to the earth, to the sea and everything it contains, to all that is on the earth and all that we can imagine should humble us and remind us that the One who did all this is far greater than we can imagine. God is not constrained by our boundries, by time and place, or even by our deepest thoughts. We can only surmise how He created all this, but can easily see that He did it. How and when is not important, but those that try to explain it all without the God of Creation are blind and unwise. I was one of them until I could see, until the veil of the earth was lifted by the knowledge of the Christ.
ReplyDeleteAs Christians, as believers, as souls rescued from the corrupted thinking of those living in fear of death, we need to be able to know that God's Word is true, in whatever its form, and that our thinking is finite. And only through faith in our Lord and confidence in Him will we arrive at true understanding and be able to stand fast in our hope.
This debate between Creationism and Evolutionism goes straight down to the very foundations of our faith.
ReplyDeleteWhen we see Adam and Eve, we see the origin of sin, the beginning of humanity's sin nature, the curse; this is the entire reason why Jesus came to die on earth! If you take away those first few chapters, you take away the need and power of the gospel.
Evolution's root is in a naturalistic worldview, one without ANY room for God, it's not an issue of "Science" but at it's core, it's a authoritatively pronounced deception that the evolutionist would rather believe.
Romans 1:18-25 Are amazing if you view the debate through those texts, especially v. 23.
It's idolatry.
Amen!
ReplyDelete