"Intelligent" Design

Since Darwin released his "Origin of the Species", Christians have been crying out in protest of what it contained. It is against God. It is against the Bible.

I think they miss the point.

Since the dawn of time (whether that was 13,000 years ago as some Christians believe, or billions of years ago as others - both Christian and no-Christian believe), Man has been trying to figure things out. How did we come into being? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Why are some stars bright and some dim? What is this thing called "gravity"? What is this/that/the other made of? How does my transistor radio work? What happens if I pull this? Man is a curious creature.

Sometime long ago, someone invented the "scientific process" whereby there would be standards on how to figure things out. You would study through experimentation and observation and repetition how things work. You put together a theory based on evidence - or your own ideas - and then try to prove it was true. In this way we discovered that the Earth revolved around the Sun and gravity was a natural part of massive objects, and the Moon caused the tides, and disease was often caused by tiny little creatures called germs, and when you take a radioactive substance and get it to start reacting it blows up real good. We learned lots of good stuff.

There are lots of theories out there, many of which we can only prove based on circumstantial evidence. Such as sub-atomic particles. The Big Bang. The human genome. Some everyday things we take for granted as fact are only theories where we have no "smoking gun" evidence. Like the theory of relativity. How light works. And evolution.

See, I don't believe that scientists are evil. I don't believe that most scientists are out to disprove the existence of God. I don't even believe that most scientists are atheists. I think that there are Christians scientists and non-Christian scientists. And I think what they have in common is that they want to figure out stuff. They not only want to understand what God created, but they want to know how he did it!

And here is where Christians miss the point. And miss an amazing opportunity to witness to men and women of science. Christians invent a science called "Creation Science". It is based on the Bible. It is not based on facts as can be discovered through a scientific process. It is thoroughly discredited by scientists because the inventors of this "science" haven't done their science homework. Oh sure, they have done their Bible homework, but that doesn't provide evidence that can be validated by experimentation, observation, and repetition. And, when faced with evidence that their "science" doesn't add up, they say that it is God's way of testing our faith. I was listening to a comedy channel the other day. The comedian said that this was God messing with our heads (he didn't say it as nicely). I find it difficult to believe that God would just decide to mess with us just to "test our faith". At least not in this way.

So Christians made a "science" out of religion. Then they turned around and made a "religion" out of science. They talk about "believing" in evolution. And call it "Darwinism". Scientists have not decided to invent their own religion with this. They are not creating a faith here. They have a theory and they have evidence to back it up. If someone someday proves that it is all a crock. That Man began when 2 alien species met on Earth one day and had a party - and there is verifiable evidence of that - then they'll start talking about the theory of alienation instead. They're not tied to evolution that tightly. It is just the current understanding.

Which brings us to "intelligent design". There are those who say that this is Creationism in a tuxedo. There are Christians who believe this is a way to bridge the gap. To say that, hey, maybe the Earth is billions of years old, but someone had to design it this perfectly. And know what? This isn't bad. I DO think that God created all of this and He had a plan. I also think that, if evolution is how we got here, God decided to do it that way. I don't see a contradiction between God and evolution. I think there was a design and I think God was the designer.

The problem is, now Christians want to make THIS a science. They have begun to dig up scientific evidence that it is true. And they dig up quotes from scientists that pretty much say that the only way this universe could be this perfect is that if someone designed it. They're wanting to PROVE that God did it.

Herein lies the rub. And I just got why I had a problem with this. To be Christian is to have faith. To have faith is to believe something is true without proof. To absolutely with all my heart believe that God is, and He sent his Son to die for our sins, and He left us with the Holy Spirit to help us through our lives to live a holy life. I believe that God created this universe. I have faith that he did it. I don't have to prove it. I shouldn't have to prove it.

Look, as Christians we should not be delving into science to "prove" our faith. We should, in fact, be preaching to the unsaved about faith, and not try to teach them religion as if it is a science. Faith is not science. Science is not faith. If we truly believe that God made the universe himself, we should believe it on faith, not on some theory someone comes up with to "prove" that science got it wrong.

Because you know what, science may not have it wrong. Remember, this is a pattern of observation, experimention, and repetition. Scientists don't want to prove that God didn't do it, necessarily. They want to know HOW he did it. And I don't believe God would punish us for the curiosity and intelligence he gave us. The Church didn't want to allow the Earth to revolve around the Sun either, but that doesn't change the fact.

Should Intelligent Design be taught in public schools? Of course not! Public school is not the place to learn about faith. Church, home - those are the places to learn about faith. Let schools teach science. Let us understand how wonderfully and fearfully we and this universe are made. Combine that with faith, and you get to see in full the majesty of God's creation and the intelligence with which he designed it.

Imagine if we were to let the scientists be and let them work through their experiments and theories and observations. Imagine what wonderful discoveries they would make and how that would delight our senses about how great God is. Then imagine if we invited these same scientists to experience the faith as we have it. Imagine their new delight in each discovery, knowing they are finding out just how God did it.