THE doctrine of evolution is a teaching that creation is a continuous process.
According to that theory, it is assumed that the world has been æons of ages in its origin and development, and that it is still moving on toward some great goal, infinitely far away as to time and ultimate results.
But the Bible teaching is utterly antagonistic to this theory of the modern scientist. Creation is not a continuous process. Creation was confined to the first week of time. All the matter of the world was brought into existence upon the first day. All of its orderly arrangement, organization, and full realization of form were produced upon the succeeding five days, and man's mental and moral conditions fully realized upon the seventh day.
That the works were finished at this time is plainly stated to us, both in the Old Testament and in the New. To quote from the New Testament: "The works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works." Heb. 4:3, 4. This language is too plain to bear any misinterpretation, or to be in any sense misunderstood. God's works were finished from the foundation of the world; because when the seventh day was set apart as a Sabbath, God was said to rest on that day from all His works. And then we are told that this rest remains (verse 9), and that the man, the sinner, who accepts and enters into this rest of God, ceases from his own works of sin as completely as God ceased from His work of creation. Verse 10.
Finished in Seven Days
WHAT God said of the seventh day in "a certain place," as here mentioned, is recorded in Genesis. "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made." Gen. 2:1-3. In this scripture, we are told, four times over, that the work which God did was finished in the seven days. We are told in the first verse, referring to the first chapter of Genesis, "Thus [that is, in this way] the heavens and the earth were finished." Further, we are told that it was on the seventh day that God ended His work; thirdly, it is announced that He rested on the seventh day from all His work; and fourth, and last of all, He set apart the seventh day as a holy day, as a blessed day, because on the seventh day He had rested from all His work.
Now, this is the challenge to the truth of the Bible, which evolution makes: it declares that creation is not finished, that God, or the creative energies, have not ceased. But the Bible is unequivocal in its statements. There is no uncertainty in its teachings — God's creative work is done.
The Bible being true, creation must agree with the record of the Book. And when we challenge the scientist to give us any evidence of creation now continuing, he points to certain factors which he says demonstrate this, but which, when examined, show that the scientist has nothing — absolutely nothing whatever — to offer in harmony with this statement. There is nothing in the universe to-day that the scientist can show us, even remotely suggesting a continuous or continued creation. Merely to make the statement is not, on our part, enough. We will give ample illustration to show the truth of the Bible that creation has ceased, and thereby demonstrate the falsity of the claims that creation is still continuing.
The Preservation of Creation
ACCORDING to the Bible record, the creation consisted of two acts on the part of God: first, a bringing of creation into existence; secondly, a providing for its preservation. "He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." See Ps. 33:6, 9. Or, as stated in the first chapter of Hebrews, He upholds all things by the creative word, the word of His power. Heb. 1:3. That is to say, by the creative word, all things exist, or are held together. Col. 1:17.
Now let us see in nature evidence that creation is merely being preserved, that it is not being produced. For example, the evolutionist will point to the fact that when a tree is cut, in a little while, by the infolding of the bark, the scar will be healed. The same is true of the ordinary wounds upon the body. An abrasion of the skin is soon healed and closed over, almost as well as before. We are told that there is an example of creation; but when it is closely analyzed, what do we find? — There is no creation at all; it is merely a preserving of what has already been created, — an attempt, on the part of natural forces, to keep in normal condition what already exists. It does not show, it does not faintly suggest, even, how a world might be created, how a body might be produced.
Do the Fittest Survive?
ONE of the greatest arguments offered by the evolutionist is that of natural selection — that nature always attempts to choose the strongest, and that only the fittest survive. This law breaks down in a thousand places; for the strongest, by taking the place of greatest danger, are sometimes destroyed, and the weaker, being protected, survive. But ignoring exceptions to the law, and granting, for the sake of argument, that evolution is correct in assuming that the fittest always survive, and that there is a law of natural selection which chooses only the strongest, the fittest, what does it show? — Simply an attempt, on the part of nature, to keep up to her normal type.
Something cannot come from nothing; and if the two strongest unite to produce a third strong type, they cannot give more than they have, and that which results will be only the composition of the two factors. It cannot be more; for if it were, it would be something coming from nothing, which is philosophically impossible to conceive of. That is to say, if the law of natural selection, of the survival of the fittest, were absolutely true always, it would merely mean that nature would never deteriorate, but would always keep up to her highest type, that what is here would never be lost; but it does not show how a single new factor could come in. The thing that evolutionists point to as their greatest demonstration of the theory of evolution, merely demonstrates the truth of the Bible, that nature is conserved, and also the emptiness of the claims of scientific false philosophy.
A Gradual Leakage
THE dual parentage in nature is an effort toward the same thing — the holding of that which already exists, without loss, as far as possible. On the plan of nature, a creature is the product of two parents, it being presumed that the two parents will not be weak upon the same point, and that the resulting creature may not inherit weakness, because the strength of one parent will offset the weakness of the other. But at the best, this is merely to say that creation is upheld — that that which has been produced, shall not be lost. It is not any evidence whatever that creation is still going on.
In fact, when we examine into all these effects, we find that although nature is struggling constantly to keep up to the normal, there is a gradual leakage, so to speak, and nature is slowly losing in the great struggle, degenerating, deteriorating, from age to age. Man's life is shorter, his physical, mental, and moral strength less. All creation groans and labors, enslaved under the bondage of corruption, with its tendency to deteriorate and decay.
Not only does nature show an attempt, on the part of the power working within it, to hold and preserve that which already exists, but we find the divine activity everywhere manifested toward the same end. When Christ was upon earth, He never attempted to produce a new thing. It was always to restore to the normal type those who needed help. If He healed a man of blindness, He but gave him sight, and made him a normal man. If He made the lame walk, it was but to restore the normal type of God's creative work; and even when He removed sin, turning men back toward God, it was but to place them thereby the nearer to the type of men that was created by God in Eden. Restoration to the original type, or preservation, or conservation, if you please, of the original creation, is all that we see presented in the Bible, both from the side of nature and from the side of spirituality.
Supernatural Power Required
THE Sabbath was given as a memorial of this restorative or preserving work. The Sabbath itself is a rest, and rest is restoration, or preservation. It is a sign of God's mighty power working to maintain man and creation. Ex. 20:8-11; 31:16, 17.
The idea of a rest is not the idea of complete360cessation from activity, for that is death; but rest means a cessation of that activity which destroys, and a turning to a condition that will restore. So God's Sabbath rest suggests the restoration of the Edenic type, the preservation of man as he was in the Garden of Eden; and that is the survival of the fittest according to the true doctrine. It requires, however, the supernatural power of God to maintain a hold where sin has entered, where deterioration has taken place, where degeneration is going on, where death is claiming its prey, where rottenness and corruption are seeking to overwhelm.
But when we look at nature, and see her healing, restoring work, and when we turn to the Bible, and see the miraculous, supernatural power of God restoring man morally, and sometimes physically, with its promise of ultimately restoring him completely, we see that it is a part of the original act of creation. He commanded it to stand fast, and the original creation will stand fast, ultimately fully restored, preserved. The fittest will survive, but not as evolution teaches.
Repudiating Philosophic Sophistries
THUS we see that creation is not a continuous process, that God did it once for all — and that when this time of imperfection which threatens to destroy is past, we shall see that God's creation has not been marred. Meanwhile, let us remember that the doctrine of uniformity as put forth by evolution, is an utterly false claim. They do not consistently hold to it; they cannot, and even suggest how the world began.
Then, since the law of uniformity is utterly repudiated by the scientist, and must be by the Bible believer, let us remember that only faith can understand how the worlds were formed by the word of God; and from that clear and holy faith let us not be turned by the sophistries of philosophy or science falsely so called.
The Calf or the Serpent--Which?
By F. D. Starr
By F. D. STARR
SOME things in this world are attractive, and some repulsive. Some are beneficial, and some injurious. Some are very valuable, and some of little worth. Among the most valuable of metals, gold holds the most prominent place. Silver is inferior to it, and brass is inferior to silver. In fact, brass is sometimes classed as dross—"the dross of silver." Ezek. 22: 18.
In the animal world, one of the most useful and acceptable of all is the patient ox, ready for either the altar of sacrifice or the yoke of service; while of the living creatures, perhaps the most repugnant and revolting, the most dreaded and abhorred, is the poisonous serpent. Its presence is so unwelcome that a community from which it has been banished is thought to be most fortunate. Surely the most prized of metals, associated with the most useful of animals, would apparently make an ideal combination. Fancy, on the other hand, the loathsome reptile fashioned out of the dross of the precious metals. Would it not be repulsive?
We have these two hypothetical creatures actually materialized in the golden calf and the brazen serpent of Israel's desert wanderings. But, lo, what a reversal of all our conjectures about the comparative merit of the two objects! The golden calf brings embarrassment, idolatry, disaster, and death.
The brazen serpent, on the contrary, seen through the eye of faith, affords forgiveness, healing, life, and a prophetic view of the world's Redeemer. How can we account for this? What is the solution of this paradox? "Hearken, all ye people." "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?" Lam. 3: 37. "The Lord seeth not as man seeth." 1 Sam. 16: 7.
The difference is this: The brazen serpent was an arrangement of God's own appointment, but the golden calf was a creature of human invention. No matter what our own finite reasoning or judgment may dictate to us to be the right and proper thing to do, if God has not appointed it, there is no merit whatever in it; it is useless and valueless.
While many are slighting the opportunities offered them in a land where most abundant means of grace are afforded, many from heathen countries, "dark places of the earth," will be led to serve the God of heaven. And He that gathers the outcasts will accept them. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are." 1 Cor. 1: 27, 28.
A. M. D
By A. M. D.
In bursting the bars of death for the human race, Christ banished every consequence of sin. Come to Him with all your difficulties. There is soothing balm for every ailment. He will point you to the portals of glory, and say: Walk with Me. I know the way. You may forget Me; "yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me." Isa. 49: 15, 16.
A. M. D
Public Nuisances and Personal Liberty
A PUBLIC nuisance infringes upon personal liberty more than a law against it.
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SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS
Our authority for the doctrines we teach is the Bible. Quotations are usually from the King James Version or the American Standard Revised.
UNDER THE SPELL OF GREED
Turbulent Unrest of Labor—Tremendous Earnings of the Big Corporations
THE New York World of April 30 announced, through its news columns, that 25,000 women garment workers of New York were in a "lockout"—this in addition to the 5,000 on April 28, two days before.
The same paper announced that the marine engineers of New York City threatened a strike that would tie up the port.
In the same issue was also an account of the Westinghouse strike in Pittsburgh, which was still in progress.
Mention was also made of the strike in Alaska that had just been settled.
The World of May 1 announced that from 60,000 to 70,000 of the women garment workers of New York were either out on a strike or about to go out.
1,800,000 workers on strike or lockout throughout the United States.
The same paper, of the same date, also informed us that there were "1,800,000 workers on strike or lockout throughout the United States to-day."
An editorial in the World of May 1, under the caption, "May Day Unrest," stated:
"By custom, May 1 has been made the special date for labor parades and demonstrations. If labor is generally employed, contented, and prosperous, naturally the prospects are not good for a big holiday showing in the streets. If it is idle and in distress, inevitably it finds an outlet for its feelings, and marshals its forces under a common impulse to manifest its strength. . . . In this city, there is a growing tendency to look and prepare for labor disturbances with the advent of May. It is an epidemic to be counted on in advance. It is recognized as a sign of the period of year, like budding trees."
After thus speaking of the habitual May Day manifestations, the World added, however, that "this spring, labor has been in extraordinary demand. Many employers have complained of a shortage, and many classes of employees have benefited by larger earnings. Yet, in a number of trades and industries, to-day finds lockouts and strikes. It is a threatening situation, aggravated especially in the case of the cloak makers by the unreasonable attitude of the employers."
The World of May 2 continued to tell about the strikes, particularly in its own locality. It stated that "60,000 in the garment trade quit to-day." The same paper also informed us that "carpenters to the number of 10,000, and painters and decorators in as great number, went on strike yesterday, threatening the great majority of the building operations of the greater city."
We were also informed that "300 marine engineers went on strike, taking that number of tugs out of service in the harbor." Then there were also longshoremen that had gone on strike; and 2,000 jewelry workers returned to work, who had been out on strike twelve weeks.
In Cincinnati, 3,500 machinists struck. Three other Ohio cities had strikes on their hands, involving 3,400 machinists and carpenters; while in Cleveland, strikes involving 20,000 men were narrowly averted.
Speaking of the May Day labor celebrations in New York City, the World affirmed that they were both "orderly" and "impressive."
Incidentally, the World of the same date, May 2, spoke also of a strike in Shanghai, China.
As declared in the World editorial, "This spring, labor has been in extraordinary demand." Therefore lack of work is not the cause of this unrest; yet we must acknowledge that there has never been a time of such great unrest, in the history of the nation or of the world. Labor, generally speaking, is dissatisfied; and if we should inquire carefully for the cause, might we not find it in the fact that the laboring man of to-day quite generally is intelligent? He can at least read the papers, the tracts, and the pamphlets that are continually coming from the presses, discussing the situation in this world.
$240,000,000 This Year
WALL STREET is ever giving out facts in regard to the earnings of the big corporations, that are simply tremendous. We know of no other word to express it sufficiently. For instance, Wall Street informs us, "It is estimated that United States Steel may earn $240,000,000 this year, compared with the previous high record of $161,000,000 reached in 1907." On the same day, Wall Street affirms that "the present Du Pont company is earning $15,000,000 net a month, and it has $75,000,000 on deposit in banks."
On a later date, Wall Street says, "The industrial stocks have presented the most striking advance in an abnormal time,10due, of course, to the inclusion of one of the most active 'war' stocks, General motors."
In reference to one of the big automobile concerns, we are told that "dividends on this class of stock will be earned five times over." In other words, it gets five years' profits in one.
On this latter date, regarding the tremendous profits on United States Steel, it is declared that "from net earnings of $15,082,369 in the first quarter, Steel's earnings jumped to $53,580,796 in the last quarter, and it would not be surprising if net exceeded $60,000,000 in the quarter to end this month [March]." This same report also tells of United States Steel, that "since organization, the surplus available for dividends has averaged 18.9% annually on the preferred stock; and after deducting preferred dividends, the balance available for the common averaged 8% on that issue."
On a still later date, reports from Wall Street say of another lesser manufacturing establishment, "Profits in the March quarter are understood to have been approximately $2,250,000, or at the annual rate of 90% on the stock."
Enormous Profit from Speculation
SPEAKING in a speculative way concerning one of the big shipping industries, Wall Street reports indicate that if the war in Europe should suddenly terminate, the prospects for profits in the shape of "Industrial" would not be so promising, but "on the other hand, if the war should continue for a long time—and this supposition is a general one in the financial district—it is conceivable that the most fantastic estimate of Marine's value may fall short of the mark."
On the supposition that the war will continue, the report further states that after payment of the war tax, the amount still remaining would be "twelve times the preferred stock dividend requirements."
Continuing the facts that Wall Street gives on this last date, we find a report of the tremendous earnings of "United Fruit." Concerning this monopoly, the statement is made that "during the seven months to May 1, the net profits from all sources were three times as great as during the same period of the 1915 year. In specific figures, the contrast was $4,325,000 of net against $1,460,000 during the seven months of 1915. Here is an increase of better than $2,800,000, or practically 200%."
After giving these figures, representing such enormous profits, it is remarked that "the period of substantial profits is, of course, ahead." It would seem that the profits already gained were quite "substantial," yet we are informed that we may look for still greater things ahead.
Another paragraph from this report is quite significant: "The sugar situation alone would seem to promise an increase in net profits during the balance of the fiscal year. The company has sold six cargoes at 5 cents or better. The last two cargoes went at 5½ cents; and it is interesting to know, as measuring the remarkable earning capacity of sugar producers at this time, that the net profits on these two cargoes were slightly in excess of $525,000." From these figures, the conclusion is drawn that "on this basis, it would seem as if the minimum expectation on United Fruit shares this year would be between 23% and 25%."
Incites a Spirit of Anarchy
WE are told, on every hand, that the tremendous rise in the price of sugar is due to war conditions. But it would seem, from this report, that "United Fruit" is enjoying some rather handsome profits at the consumers' expense. The profits of these great concerns, that show so unmistakably the grasping greed of the men who are in control, are openly published from Wall Street and other great financial centers.
These reports go into the hands of the people, and the editors of socialistic and laboring men's papers are not slow to take them up. They send these great facts broadcast; and the man who is working for a few dollars a day, very quickly makes the contrast. He says: Here is a man who is in control, and whose very success depends upon my labor. I get a few dollars a day, and he gets his thousands a day. His yearly income mounts up into the millions. The laboring man says that it is not fair, and discontentment and the spirit of revolution and anarchy grow with indescribable activity.
There is no lack of men and women to argue the right and the wrong of these conditions from their various viewpoints. The capitalist thinks that he is justified in pursuing his course; the laboring man is just as sure that the money baron's whole plan of operations is wrong. But let those discussions be as they may, we know that the conditions are here. We know that these tremendous fortunes are being amassed at a rate which stands without a parallel in the history of the world, and he is blind who cannot see the preparations well advanced for the greatest political and social explosion this world has ever seen.
Labor is, indeed, in a state of ferment and unrest; and the most unpromising thing in connection with it is that it has much material out of which to build its arguments, and create public sentiment, and inflame the passions of the masses. With such conditions as are in the world, why should we not have unrest? What else could we expect? And with the determination manifested on both sides of the controversy, where is there any hope for a peaceable solution? God's word informs us that the last days will be made perilous because "men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money." 2 Tim. 3:2, A. R. V.
Oblivious to Their Approaching Doom
THE prophet Isaiah, describing the last days, says, "Their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots." Isa. 2:7, A. R. V. The prophet also speaks of the haughtiness of the people of that time, and their wanton wickedness; and when the climax is finally reached, God, being unable to endure it any longer, arises in His majesty, and "men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake mightily the earth. In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake mightily the earth." Isa. 2:19-21, A. R. V.
On one side, we see a comparatively small number of men so insanely absorbed, under the spell of greed, in amassing wealth, that they are oblivious to every danger signal that would warn them of their approaching doom. On the other hand, we see the innumerable host of the discontented masses ready to break forth throughout the world in tornadoes of violence and revolution. The divine Book tells us unmistakably that these are among the conditions that are to characterize the last days. Wise men and women will know what to do under the circumstances.
The Causes of Labor Unrest
As declared in the World editorial, "This spring, labor has been in extraordinary demand." Therefore lack of work is not the cause of this unrest; yet we must acknowledge that there has never been a time of such great unrest, in the history of the nation or of the world. Labor, generally speaking, is dissatisfied; and if we should inquire carefully for the cause,
