In The Master's Service

Print this page

THE SCIENCE OF EVOLUTION

Elder Clem E. Cook

Science is defined as knowledge acquired by study; acquaintance with or mastery of any department of learning. And Evolution is described as the process of evolving, as an unfolding: the process of development from a rudimentary to a complete state. And The Doctrine of the Theory of Evolution began in 1832. Ref. The Oxford Universal Dictionary on Historical Principles.

Men's theories of evolution such as Darwin's "Origin of Species" and others which teach of the earth's formation have overshadowed, even to the point of denouncing the Creation as taught in the Scriptures, which also teach an orderly progression as set forth by God.

Also these various theories and their teachers do not agree, nor are they able to correlate their age theories. The only thing they have in common is the denouncing of the Scriptures. Neither are they able to bring forth any evidence of how a cell was formed from inorganic matter; in fact, most do not make any attempt to do so.

With the rapidly expanding knowledge that has come in the past few years there continues to be a vast schism among many of our leading scientists, even though most will deny this, and some of the theories have come under severe examination and criticism. Even Darwin has been quoted as saying "It is mere rubbish, thinking at this present time of the origin of life, one might as well think of the origin of matter." Nevertheless, in spite of counter evidence and disagreement among those who are considered to be the world's top scientists, these theories are still advocated and taught in all public schools.

Man has never been able, in spite of all his scientific knowledge, to come up with the origin of matter. Yet he has come up with a theory that clay is a proto life system, this theory stemming from the knowledge that the properties of life are found in clay. Man takes a little knowledge and imagines a lot.

So the question, "Where does life come from?" remains unsolved to those who are without faith in God. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were formed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." This statement alone teaches we are not to follow the teachings of the falsely so-called scientific theories of men. But we are to rely on, and follow, the teachings of the Scriptures. The warning being, "Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely so called."

These Scriptural teachings and the conflicting teachings of the so-called science have led to the belief that science is opposing, and contradictory to, the teachings of the Scriptures; that the subject of evolution will not correlate. Yet the definition of science as systematized knowledge, an acknowledged truth, indicates that there is a correlation therein. And as a teacher and preacher it is my experience that one should not be fearful of true science, finding them to be very compatible and perfect in correlation, thus becoming incontrovertible evidence of God. The science of evolution is set forth in the teachings of Creation, for therein is found a very orderly progression. Some scholars' theorization of the earth's formation is closely related to that which is taught in the Scriptures, even though they do not believe in God.

The statement, "And the earth was without form, and void," is a description of the beginning of the creation of the earth. And as we study this we can see the acts of creation which molded, fashioned, and organized the earth's surface and its atmosphere. The beginning indicates the action and/or process of entering upon existence; of bringing into existence. "Without form, and void” describes the fact it did not exist, a desolation of surface, as emptiness. Thus we can understand that the earth did not exist and there was an empty darkness; and God said let there be light, and divided the light from darkness, calling the light day and the darkness night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. For life to exist it must have some form of light; by dividing the light from the darkness God set time in motion.

The second act in creative evolution established a firmament in the midst of the waters, and the division of the waters. Pure water is transparent, colorless, tasteless, and inodorous. Firmament is describing an expanse, that which is spread out. Thus we have the second element which sustains life (water). And these waters were divided by a firmament which was called heaven. Heaven defines that which is lofty; describing any thing elevated. Therefore God created the atmosphere which would protect life.

The third act in creative evolution begins the formation of the earth. By gathering of the waters under the heaven unto one place the dry land appeared and God called the dry land Earth, and the gathered waters were called seas. This act also established what was needed to sustain the various forms of life. And the earth brought forth its vegetation whose seed was in itself. This is the lowest form of organic life which is derived from the earth. This form of life is essential (as food) to the higher forms of life.

The fourth act in creative evolution was the establishing of seasons, again establishing that which was needed for maintaining the life that the earth brought forth. In this we can see the time cycle in reproduction of life, assuring the propagation/evolution of life forms, each seed being in itself.

These four progressive steps in creation will correlate with all true science of the earth's formation, and with botanic sciences. The elements of life, even in clay, were in existence before the creation of life. Life did not evolve from those elements, but they do contain those elements. If you believe there is a God you do not have to theorize, for you should be assured that He is the source of all life.

And God said, "Let the waters (seas) bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and the fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." The statement "bring forth abundantly the moving creature" is describing that which wriggles, as a swarm, which describes a mass of minute fleshly life. Also the waters brought forth great whales, and every living (fleshly) creature that moved, thus completing the fifth day of creation.

Again God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living (fleshly) creature after his kind," teaching us that all earthly creatures were brought forth from the earth, after it's kind. Then God formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living soul.

Thus the earth and all forms of life that occupy it were sent in order by the creative process; and there is no scientific evidence to prove it otherwise. There is no element in existence that was not created in a progressive order. It is written, "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." Let us not be deceived by the vain teaching of the falsely so-called science of men. Understanding true science will validate the word of God.