SaturdayReflection
23rd September 2023
'Prof. Stuart Burgess
explains the'
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Design Arguments for God & "Irreducible Complexity"
What Is the Design Argument?
The design argument says that design reveals a designer and the attributes of the designer.
In the same way that the intricate design of an aircraft shows the skill and care of a human designer,
so the intricate design of creation shows the skill and care of the divine Designer.
There are many verses in the Bible that contain the design argument. The most famous verse is Romans 1:20 which says,
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."
This verse teaches that God's handiwork in creation is clear for everyone to see and that no one has an excuse not to believe in a Creator.
Another example of the design argument can be found in Hebrews 3:4 where we read,
"For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God."
In the same way that a house requires intricate design to make it suitable for humans to live in, so the earth requires intricate design to make it fit for human habitation.
In fact, Isaiah 45:18 says that God deliberately designed the earth to be inhabited.
The Book of Job contains many verses on the wonder of creation, including the design of fish, birds, animals, dinosaurs, rain, snow, clouds, and the stars.
The Book of Job speaks of how creation is so wonderfully designed that it is beyond human comprehension.
Christians have used the design argument in preaching and writing down through the ages.
The Apostle Paul used the design argument when he preached to the Athenians.
In 1802, William Paley wrote a famous book called Natural Theology in which he argued that in the same way that a mechanical watch must have a human designer, so the natural world must have a divine Designer.
In recent times, creationists have written many books and articles on how creation is wonderfully designed.
Creationists have explained how there are specific hallmarks of design, such as irreducible complexity, common design, over-design, and added beauty, which defy evolution.
According to evolution, creation should contain designs that are inferior to the designs of humans because of the limitations of step-by-step evolution compared to intelligent design.
However, the reality is clearly different; creation contains vastly superior designs to human designs showing that God must exist.
Creation reveals the Designer who is powerful, caring, and perfect in knowledge
I have personally worked with some of the best engineering designers in the world in America, Japan, and Europe, but it is clear that all of them are limited in their knowledge.
This is why so many engineers today are keen to copy solutions from creation to make better airplanes, materials, and other products in order to utilize the brilliant designs that God has placed before us.
There has been a sad change of worldview in the majority of the scientific community.
In past ages, most scientists acknowledged God and gave glory to God for His creation.
That is no longer the case.
However, there are still many scientists who are prepared to face criticism and even demotion by giving glory to the Creator.
In addition, there are many believers today who have the joy of knowing, personally, the one true Creator God.
It is not possible to scientifically prove the truth about origins, as science is vastly limited in this area.
Only God was there at the foundation of the world, and so we rely on the testimony of His written Word to find out how the world was made.
We also need faith to believe God's Word.
This is why the Bible says,
"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God".
Keep in mind that it is important to realise that the faith of the Christian is not blind faith.
God has left His fingerprints and hallmarks on His creation so that His existence and attributes are clear for all to see.
However, faith is important, because without faith it is impossible to please God .
The origins debate is ultimately about faith versus faith.
The atheist has great faith in chance, and the Christian has faith in a great God who has given us eternal life through His Son,
Jesus Christ.
Un-edited version and Bible references avaiable, on request
'Answers in Genesis'
is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
