The theory of evolution is based on the principle of “survival of the fittest” – the weaker species are destroyed by the stronger species; only the strongest and best adapted survive. This is how evolution theoretically makes progress – the weaker must die, the stronger must conquer. This is the only way for evolution to make progress.
Often, books, articles and videos about evolution feature pictures of bloody-faced dinosaurs tearing each other apart, or cavemen with long spears trying to subdue a giant mammoth or saber-tooth cat. These pictures are very fittingly illustrative of the foundational principles of evolution. If you want to survive you have to clamber your way to the top of the food chain and trample underfoot those who are weaker than yourself. It’s the same principle that is the governing force behind the wars and power-struggles that are happening all over the world today. The strong fight their way to the top and destroy the weaker. This is the core principle of Satan’s kingdom: kill or be killed.
There once was a man who spent his entire life working to carry out the principles of the evolutionary theory. If he had been allowed to carry out his plans he would have carried the process of evolution to its next step, spurring the human species onward to the next stage of development. His dream was to create a race of super-humans who would rule the world for 1,000 years. All those who he deemed weak or inferior must be eliminated. And his plans almost succeeded. His well-equipped army was rapidly taking over the world, crushing underfoot various races and nations. Those who opposed the progress of this mighty power ended their lives in gas chambers. This man’s name was Hitler. Here we observe the true outworking of the theory of evolution.
As I understand it, theistic evolution basically teaches that God created the first life on the planet (maybe the first bacteria or protozoa) and then walked away and left it in the hands of evolution to finish the process. And so evolution – working on the principle of survival of the fittest – took over, and a massive battle ensued for the next several billion years. The goal was to get to the top of the food chain, and whoever has the sharpest claws and the biggest teeth rose the fastest. According to the evolutionary theory, thousands of species of weaker animals were eliminated from the scene as other better-adapted species destroyed them. Now we are at the point where man has finally risen to the top and has gained the power to destroy every other creature on the planet. He has all the weapons he needs – toxic chemicals, giant machines, and powerful guns – to control or destroy any plant or animal that gets in his way. And he has all the missiles, tanks, and nuclear warheads he needs to destroy every other human being on the planet as well. We are all just holding our breath, hoping that nobody will decide to do it.
So if I understand correctly, theistic evolution teaches that God started this whole process–He got the ball rolling so to speak–and then sat back and watched for the next several billion years. This idea reminds me of the Roman emperors who used to entertain themselves by sending a gladiator down into the amphitheater and then releasing a hungry lion to attack him, to see which one would come out alive.
I can’t believe in a God like that. I can’t believe that He would use such a process to populate the earth with life.
I do believe that “survival of the fittest” is something we see taking place in nature, because of sin, but from the beginning it was not so. In the beginning there was no death, there were no animals trying to kill other animals. All this is the result of sin entering the world. Death and destruction were not part of God’s original plan for mankind. He never intended us to see death, or experience it. He is a loving God and His kingdom does not operate on the principle of “survival of the fittest.” The foundational principle of His kingdom is, “Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.” (Luke 22:26) “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, Be strong; fear not!” (Isaiah 35:3,4)