Introduction: Last week we looked at how the Biblical
concept of sin did not “fit” the theory of evolution. This
week we consider whether the results of sin – death – are
compatible with the theory of evolution.
Evolution says that tons of pre-human and animal life
shuffled on and off the planet before man ever arrived in
his present state. If that is true, then death was “old
news” by the time Eve ate the fruit. Let’s dive into the
Bible and see what it has to teach us on this subject!
- WHY ANIMALS?
- When you were a child, did you parents allow you
to have a pet? - What kind of animal was it?
- Do you know why they let you have an animal before
the state allowed you to drive a car or vote? - If you are a parent now, and you let your children
have animals, why did you do that? - If you, as an adult, have an animal, tell me why
you have it? - Let’s read Genesis 1:28 and 2:19. Did God give
Adam and Eve animals? (He sure did!) - Why?
- Why did he have Adam name the animals?
- What is mankind being told to do when (in
Genesis 1:19) he is told to “rule” over the
animals? - Would you say that God’s goals were similar to a
parent’s goals in giving a child an animal? Let’s
read Genesis 2:19 in context. Read Genesis 2:18-20. - Why does God veer off the topic in v.19 and
talk about making and naming animals? (God
seems to say three things in this sequence.
First, He seems to say that animals are our
companions. But second, since none of them are
“suitable helpers” He assigns them an inferior
role as companions. The guy who said “Dog is
man’s best friend,” missed Genesis 2:20. Our
lesson suggests (Monday) a third reason for
the animals: to teach us important lessons of
“responsibility, interdependence and service.”
This is reflected in our motivation to give
our children animals.) - THE IMPACT OF SIN AND DEATH ON ANIMALS
- If animals existed for millions of years before
man emerged through evolution, would it be logical
to conclude that we are caretakers for them? - Does the theory of evolution undercut
ecological and conservation arguments? - If the evolutionary theory is “survival
of the fittest” isn’t it appropriate to
use animals in any way we want? - Is the mere fact that animals “got here first”
a reasonable basis for concluding under the
evolutionary theory that we are not caretakers
for the animals? (No. In that sense the
Creation account and the evolutionary theory
are the same. They both have animals arriving
first. The difference is millions of years of
independence.) - What did animals eat under the Creation account?
( Genesis 1:30: vegetation. The idea that God
originally created something other than the
current predatory system is reinforced by Isaiah
11:6-9, where we find lions eating vegetation like
the ox.) - What did animals eat under the theory of
evolution? (Each other. The one who ate the
most other animals won.) - With this in mind, should all the PETA
people logically be Creationists? (I
would guess they are not because they do
not know the Bible. The organization has
a current ad campaign that says Jesus was
a vegetarian. This is obvious nonsense
based on Luke 24:40-43, the fact that He
celebrated (and instituted!) the
Passover. Even worse, of course, is
Genesis 9:3.) - When, according to the Bible, did death enter the
animal kingdom? - Read Genesis 3:6-7, 21. Man and God chose
different garments. Why? (Man was entitled to
eat vegetation and he chose his clothes from
that. If God gave Adam and Eve garments from
skin, the inference is that the “skin owner”
was dead! Thus, the death of an animal
directly followed from the first observable
result of sin.) - One of the attacks on the sanctuary system is
the “barbaric” slaughter of so many animals.
Is this God’s idea? Is this criticism of God
justified? (The theory of evolution kills a
lot more animals. The sanctuary service
reinforces the idea that sin kills. Since sin
was not God’s idea, it is improper to blame
Him for this.) - When sin entered, how did the relationship of man
and animals change? (Prior to the entry of sin we
have man benefitting animals. After the entry of
sin, we have animals serving man to the point of
giving up their life to be used as clothing. This
concept culminated in God giving animals as food
for man. ( Genesis 9:3)) - How interested is God in the welfare of animals?
(Read Matthew 10:29 and Luke 12:24.) - Is the theory of evolution contrary to the
picture of God’s love for the animal creation
that we see in the Bible? - Let’s say that you work for a school textbook
company. Your boss has just told you that you are
to write a section on the origin of animal death.
You are told you can write anything you want — as
long as it makes man look good. What would you
write? (Man has a natural bias towards the
evolutionary theory. Under it, he has no
responsibility for the death of the animals. It is
only in the account of the Creation and the Fall
that man takes direct responsibility for the death
of the animals.) - As we have seen, God specifically allowed man to
use animals for clothing ( Genesis 3:21) and food
( Genesis 9:3). Does that mean it is “OK” to eat
animals and wear fur coats or does it mean that
when we do this we further impose the results of
sin on animals? (At best, this seems to be a
“timing” issue. However, when “timing” involves
your own life, it becomes a very big issue!) - THE HOPE OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
- Read Romans 8:19-21. We talked about this last
week, but let’s touch on this again. Who is at
fault for the suffering of the animals? Man or
animals? (This says that animals were subjected to
“frustration” by us.) - What can animals do to get out of this
situation? (Nothing. They can just hope.) - What is the hope of the creation? (Jesus has
freed us from the penalty of death. (Romans
8:1-2) Romans 8 suggests that when man is
rescued from this old world that the creation
will also be freed from the burden of sin.) - Friend, our sins have brought death and suffering
to the animal kingdom. God originally gave us the
responsibility to benevolently rule over the
animals. What we have done to them as the result
of our sins should only increase our concern for
their welfare. However, only when the controversy
between God and Satan is at an end, and God takes
His people home, will the suffering of the
creation end. - NEXT WEEK: CREATION AND THE FLOOD
