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Dear Student,
Where did we come from? It’s one of humanity’s most basic questions. Please brace yourself for my answer: we didn’t come from monkeys. Though I say this somewhat tongue-in-cheek, there’s a point to be made.
When it comes to the issue of origins, particularly human origins, the advocates of naturalistic evolution truly do not know where to begin.
The new atheists of our day have a huge problem: how do they explain the origin of everything that is? One of their primary arguments to account for the universe boils down to the concept of “chance.” In this scheme, chance is assigned the power of creation.
But what influence could “chance” possibly have? My answer is categorical—none whatsoever. Chance has no power because it has no being. As I’ve written elsewhere, chance is nothing, and that nothing is not a little something. I am dogmatic on this point because it is here that the materialists have left the realm of physics and have resorted to hocus pocus. They assign to chance the force to make entire universes appear out of nothing.
All of this could be amusing were it not for one disturbing fact: blind chance is drilled relentlessly into the heads of children all across this country. What worries me as much, or more, is the fact that the unquestioned assumptions of this kind of thinking have also pervaded the pews and even the pulpits of many of our churches.
We must counter this aggressive agenda with a compelling, biblically sound presentation of the truth. If we don’t, we may see an entire generation slip from our grasp in terms of their commitment to any sort of absolute truth. This is why we welcome true allies in this effort to counter the fanciful, illogical teachings of atheistic evolutionists.
One ally made its debut last month: the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, hosted by actor and comedian Ben Stein. I interviewed Mr. Stein on our Renewing Your Mind broadcast a few weeks ago and appreciated many of the points he made for the movie’s theme of intelligent design versus a purely biological explanation for the universe.
Ligonier is not part of the intelligent design movement, because the argument from design does not necessarily prove the biblical view of a personal creator God. Our foremost concern is to uphold the inerrancy, inspiration, and authority of the Bible.
However, we do share some common ground with intelligent design thinkers, and we have similar concerns for freedom of speech and inquiries into the study of origins. One point that Expelled makes so well is to show the fear that evolutionists have of the free and open search for ultimate truth. They are afraid to ask the questions that cry out for real answers.
At Ligonier Ministries, however, we are asking, and attempting to answer, these ultimate questions. Indeed, we bring every tool in our teaching arsenal to bear in the battle to help counter this false view of origins with the truth of God’s Word.
I am deeply grateful that you share in this ministry with me, for it is our calling to help equip people with the truth — both for their own growth in Christ and so they can teach and protect their families. The pervasiveness of atheistic thinking means we cannot afford to grow lax in standing for the Word of God.
This brings me to a crucial request as the summer fast approaches. Perhaps because people head off on vacation, June, July, and August are typically slow months for Ligonier in terms of the financial support we receive. And yet, Ligonier’s monthly need to deliver our teachings to friends like you through the radio program, books and CDs, publications, and the website remains at $1,280,166 this summer.
This is a tremendous challenge for us, but one we must fulfill so that you and others will have the full resources of Ligonier available all summer. I trust you will take a moment to make a gift to help sustain this work.
We continue on at full strength this summer, helping you become strong in the faith and contending for the minds of this generation. Because the expenses of doing ministry also continue without letup, I want to ask that you provide a gift of $25, $50, $100, or more — any amount that you can contribute — to help Ligonier teach the truth.
Thank you for giving this request your prayerful attention, for making what I trust will be your helpful response. May God bless and keep you.
Sincerely,
R.C. Sproul
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