Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International

By Kevin Schaal

With the increasing popularity of Darwinism during the early part of the twentieth century, the concept of a created universe was increasingly relegated by those who held to some form of theological understanding of origins, usually based upon the Bible. Even many who claimed religion, even Biblical allegiance, discounted a Biblical concept of origins.

Champions of the Biblical concept of origins did exist: Whitcomb and Morris, as well as Ken Ham and others continued to teach and preach a concept of origins as presented in Scripture and the scientific ramifications of the Biblical claims.

But in the early 1990s a new movement began to take full form. Its proponents call it the "Intelligent Design" (ID) movement. In his book Cosmic Pursuit William Dembski describes the origins and basic approach of ID.

The Intelligent Design movement begins with the work of Charles Thaxton, Walter Bradley, Michael Denton, Dean Kenyon, and Phillip Johnson. Without employing the Bible as a scientific text, these scholars critiqued Darwinism on scientific and philosophical grounds. On scientific grounds they found Darwinism an inadequate framework for biology. On philosophical grounds they found Darwinism hopelessly entangled with naturalism, the view that nature is self-sufficient and thus without need of God or any guiding intelligence. More recently, scholars like Michael Behe, Stephen Meyer, Paul Nelson, Jonathan Wells, and myself have taken the next step, proposing a positive research program wherein intelligent causes become the key for understanding the diversity and complexity of life.[i]

The scientific arguments of those within the group are compelling, their presentations masterful, and their printed and electronic materials are honest, beautiful, and persuasive.[ii]

The ID movement has a new approach to identifying the origins of the universe. For the purpose of argument, the ID argument usually begins with the presumption of Darwinism, or at least an explanation of the popular views concerning the origins of the universe. In a sense, it begins with the presumption "There is no God."

But the approach quickly identifies insufficiencies within the Darwinian concept of origins to explain the universe as we know it. ID proponents come to the conclusion that the "there is no God" presumption does not work scientifically.

So they ask the question, "Is there a God?" and look for scientific indication of a Designer in the universe. The conclusion of the ID movement is that the scientific evidence clearly points to an intelligent architect of the universe-a Designer. In the end, they claim that the ID concept is as legitimate a scientific concept as Darwinism and should at least be taught as an alternate view to Darwinian evolution.

There are key differences in the approach of the ID movement to origins, from the standard approach taken by Bible teachers and theologians throughout the centuries-and especially in the 150 years since the advent of Darwinian evolution.

The ID movement starts with scientific theory and uses scientific methodology and philosophical reasoning as its evidentiary body. The movement refuses to use the Bible, Biblical statements, or even Biblical accounts as evidence or clarification of the scientific data. While we assume that some within the movement would suggest that their scientific data leads us to the Bible eventually, the sense is that science is the true messenger of truth, and the Bible is subject to its verifications.

ID is characteristically nontheological in approach. While ID focuses upon the existence of a Designer, its materials rarely draw conclusions about the Designer beyond intelligence. His moral qualities, attributes, goodness, and so on are matters that are completely ignored. The nature of mankind and his relationship with the Designer are also, to a large part, ignored.[iii] ID scientists do often acknowledge the metaphysical consequences of their discoveries-usually because such consequences are the arguments Darwinists use against their findings-but they rarely explore the theological consequences of their findings.

Because of the movement's appeal to science as its authority, ID does not use Scripture to set any boundaries for those who identify with it. Many within the movement hold to varying degrees of Designer-based evolutionary concepts. Many hold to a "Big Bang" origin of the universe, but within a Designer motif. Certainly the six-day Biblical account of creation is not a priority or a standard within ID circles.

So, how should a Fundamentalist approach the claims of the ID movement, and how should he use ID books and materials?

There are some wonderful positive aspects to the movement. It is consistent with Biblical passages concerning general revelation and its significance. Believers should not be surprised that open-minded scientists find evidence of an all-wise Creator in the natural world. Psalm 19 and Romans 1 indicate clearly that the testimony of God to Himself in creation spans the boundaries of geography and language and teaches us of a glorious, wise, and powerful God.

ID attacks the closed-mindedness of Darwinism. While we understand that true Biblicists accept the Bible account of creation by faith and that we interpret all we see in creation through that lens, we also criticize proponents of naturalism for similar presuppositions. We presuppose that there is a God. They presuppose there is no God. We accept our presupposition by faith, yet we also see that understanding demonstrated in the natural world. Naturalism uses similar presuppositions but fails to acknowledge the "faith" aspect of their own philosophical view or how it skews their scientific understanding of the universe. The ID movement masterfully attacks this phenomenon.

The ID movement can give believers and students who are involved in science a greater appreciation of creation and the revelation of God in creation. The beautiful material produced by the Design Institute and Illustra Media can be a great encouragement to believers as they view the wonders of God's creation. There is a truly devotional experience for a believer in seeing how a bacterial flagellum works, how DNA information is stored and used, or how our planet is clearly situated by God to be a window to the universe.

ID is especially useful in introducing apologetic theories and approaches and is helpful for second-generation believers struggling with doubt. Young people growing up in Christianity and already familiar with Scripture can gain confidence that they do not have to take a back seat as they pursue scientific interests in the world today. Some of the greatest scientists in the world also see the scientific indications of a Creator in the world around them.

But the ID movement also has some glaring insufficiencies. It is insufficient, on its own, as an evangelistic tool. It is insufficient because the blindness of the depraved mind refuses to consider the existence of God and its ramifications. The Bible is clear that man is blind to his own spiritual condition because of his own depravity, and he blinds himself to what he can see of God in nature by his own choice. No amount of science or scientific explanation in the world can quicken a mind dead in trespasses and sins. Salvation is a supernatural event, not one that springs naturally from human argumentation. No matter how logical an argument is, the unsaved will not see the truth unless he is enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

ID is completely insufficient as an evangelistic tool because it does not communicate man's sinfulness, human need, the work of Christ on the cross, or redemption. No evangelistic tool can be effective without the truth of the gospel. The ID movement of itself can produce generic Deists of sorts, but even Satan and the demons believe in Intelligent Design (although Darwinism has been used as a Satanic lie to divert many). Romans is clear that the supernatural life-changing nature of the Bible is essential for the conversion of the human soul. The ID movement, while scientific, is devoid of the true authority of the Word of God, and therefore bereft of its power.

There are also dangers inherent in the movement, such as the danger of establishing false foundations of faith. ID's claims are primarily scientific. Historically, many scientific claims have been proven wrong. If some of the claims of the ID movement are eventually proven wrong (which is always possible in the world of science), holding such claims as some sort of false foundation of faith could be disastrous.

The greatest danger in the ID movement is the appeal to science rather than Scripture as the ultimate authority. The result is that, while many of the positions of scientists within the movement are theistic, they are far from Biblical-willing to accept the Big Bang, varying forms of theistic evolution, and other concepts clearly contrary to Scripture.

It is not our intent to criticize sincere people in the scientific world who are willing to acknowledge the evidence that God has placed in His universe concerning Himself. In fact, we commend them for their efforts. But we do want to evaluate honestly that approach in the light of the Fundamentalist's acknowledged authority-the Bible. We would conclude that while much of what the ID movement has to say is worthy of consideration and may be of help to a Biblical Fundamentalist-even useful as teaching aids in school in scientific study and to be considered when considering various approaches to apologetics-we must always carefully maintain, clarify, proclaim, and defend our dependence upon the Bible as our authority for all things.

Kevin Schaal, FBFI Research Secretary, pastors Northwest Valley Baptist Church in Glendale, Arizona.

2 Illustra Media's four masterful productions Case for a Creator, The Privileged Planet, Unlocking the Mystery of Life, and Where Does the Evidence Lead are so well produced and illustrated that they will be distributed widely among evangelicals of all sorts. Every Fundamentalist pastor, Christian School administrator, and science teacher ought to understand the approach that the ID movement takes as they use videos in churches or in classrooms. In our opinion, they should not be used without carefully communicating the insufficiencies of the ID approach to origins in a thorough introduction to and discussion of the materials.

3 In their book Privileged Planet Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay Richards conclude that the unique conditions of the earth indicate not only a Designer but also the intention of the Designer for human beings to observe and understand the universe.