Notes and Comments

Creation and Evolution

The recent revelation that an academically-successful school in England, Emmanuel College, Gateshead, has one creationist on the staff and even allows creation to be taught alongside evolution as an alternative view of the origin of the universe has led to howls of protest from scientists, educationalists and prominent Anglican clerics. It has also led to extensive public debate. Under the heading "There is no place for creationism in science", one newspaper correspondent claims that Darwinism and creationism might both be wrong, but creationism is a matter of belief, a prejudice which puts it in religion not science, whereas Darwinism is not an article of faith but is the best account we have of the origin of species and has withstood constant assault and scientific testing. Another correspondent claims that "once we change the rules and say, 'God designed it', that's the end of scientific enquiry. Since God can be invoked for everything we can't explain, and since we have no idea of how He does it, we might as well pack up our test tubes and go home."

We need to remind ourselves that no scientific experimentation can explain the origin of all things and that, when scientists exclude the idea of creation and put forward their own explanations of how things began, they are expressing their own beliefs - beliefs which are not accounted for by scientific evidence but by the enmity of the carnal mind to the concept of God and to the concept of divine revelation. When they speak on origins they are not speaking as scientists but as sinners, however accurate some of them may be in recording what they are actually capable of verifying scientifically in the world as it now exists. It is quite remarkable how unscientifically fundamentalist and passionate evolutionists are in their insistence that, whatever may be believed, it cannot possibly be accepted that "in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen 1:1). That verse certainly cannot be verified scientifically! But whatever can be verified scientifically can be harmonised perfectly with the presupposition fundamental to Scripture, that there was a work of creation properly described as "God's making all things of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good" (Shorter Catechism, 9). The fact that God designed and created the universe gives it all meaning and is the true stimulus to scientific enquiry and to the truly beneficial (and God-glorifying) application of the discoveries made.

Believers in the Word of God have nothing to fear from science which recognises its own province and limitations. They can certainly afford to avoid and give no place to "profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" (1 Tim 6:20). The number of persons in our own small denomination who are able to combine a firm belief in the Biblical account of creation with a rigorous scientific career is testimony to this fact. Our young people in school and university have every reason to hold on unashamedly to the conviction that, when "through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Heb 11:3), we have the true basis for science that accords with reality. It is indeed the one fact that makes science possible even on the part of those who do not accept its truth.

HMC

Turmoil in the Middle East

It is noticeable that God's ancient people - the Jews - never seem to be out of the headlines for any length of time. It is as if their identity and the Lord's providence in regard to them are to be kept prominently before the minds of men the world over. At present it is the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict that makes them the centre of attention. It is clear that all the surrounding Arab nations desire the extinction of Israel, as if having taken "crafty counsel" against them, they then issue their communiqué: "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance."

But "who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?" The Nazis "final solution" was brought to nothing as surely as Haman's desire to see the Jews' destruction almost 2500 years earlier remained unfulfilled. The fact that young men and women willingly strap explosives to their bodies and then by the turn of a switch usher themselves into eternity, with as many others as possible, is indicative of how fanatical the Palestinian hatred of the Jews is. How fearfully wicked and Satanic that religion must be when it teaches its devotees that such "suicide bombers" earn a place in paradise for themselves!

Thomas Boston was one of the many divines who could be cited as lovers of the Jews, men who earnestly desired their conversion. "There is a day coming," Boston wrote, "in which there shall be a national conversion of the Jews, or Israelites. The now blinded and rejected Jews shall at length be converted into the faith of Christ, and join themselves to the Christian Church." We can only hope and pray that these present troubles will, in ways beyond our understanding, contribute to their repentance, in leading them to look to Him whom they pierced and thus come to mourn for Him.

New Proposals on Gambling

The UK government has announced huge changes in the laws on gambling. Some of the less-important provisions are welcome. It will mean, however, a serious expansion in the number of casinos, which will, for instance, be allowed to offer games on slot machines with unlimited jackpots. Gamblers will also be allowed to use credit cards for betting.

Naturally the proposals have been welcomed by those who promote gambling. But the Government is not a disinterested spectator in the matter; the Treasury already receives massive revenues from gambling, and stands to receive significantly increased amounts if the new proposals become law. Those, however, who are involved in helping existing gambling addicts are worried that there will be significantly more people needing their assistance.

Our great reason for opposition is that gambling is forbidden by the commandment: "Thou shalt not covet". One may ask for God's blessing on money honestly earned, but not on gains from gambling. Indeed a casino seems a remarkably efficient means of parting the foolish from their money.

Alpha "Conversions"

It is common today for any association that is successful in recruiting a "celebrity" from the entertainment world to make the most of the resulting publicity. Those who run the Alpha Course appear to be as opportunistic as the rest.

The most recent Newsletter of the Christian Research Network draws attention to the case of Geri Halliwell, well known in the pop music world. The Daily Telegraph has carried a report of how she has come to have an interest in Christianity as a result of coming into contact with the Alpha Course. First, it was reported that she was "considering becoming a Christian after taking part in a 10-week course on the Bible and Christianity". Then it was further reported that Nicky Gumbel, "curate at Holy Trinity, Brompton, and architect of Alpha", had "helped . . . Geri Halliwell, the pop singer, to faith". It does not appear to have been the faith of God's elect, because Miss Halliwell apparently still continues to promote yoga.

In addition to the reports covering Miss Halliwell, there was also a report that "Alpha had a life-changing effect on Samantha Fox, the former Page Three model". This woman apparently continues in the "glamour modelling" business and says, "I am doing what God wants me to do". We agree wholeheartedly with the writer in the CRN newsletter who describes Miss Halliwell and Miss Fox as "converts to a Christianity that is no Christianity at all; a Christianity which sees no change in a person's lifestyle; a Christianity without repentance". The UK Alpha Course Directory lists hundreds of places in Scotland alone where this false form of Christianity is being taught, including the Tarbert, Harris, Church of Scotland.