Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

evolutionists have not been able to offer a better explanation. The Mendelian law
accounts for variations, but not for the origin of new species. It really points away from
the development of new species by a natural process. Some are of the opinion that the
mutation theory of De Vries or Lloyd Morgan’s theory of emergent evolution points the
way, but neither one of these has proved to be a successful explanation of the origin of
species by natural development pure and simple. It is now admitted that the mutants of
De Vries are varietal rather than specific, and cannot be regarded as the beginnings of
new species. And Morgan feels constrained to admit that he cannot explain his
emergents without falling back upon some creative power that might be called God.
Morton says: “The fact is that, besides creation, there is not even a theory of origins to
hold the field today.” 77
The hypothesis of evolution fails at several points. It cannot explain the origin of life.
Evolutionists sought its explanation in spontaneous generation, an unproved
assumption, which is now discredited. It is a well established fact in science that life can
only come from antecedent life. Further, it has failed utterly to adduce a single example
of one species producing another distinct (organic as distinguished from varietal)
species. Bateson said in 1921: “We cannot see how the differentiation in species came
about. Variations of many kinds, often considerable, we daily witness, but no origin of
species. . . . Meanwhile, though our faith in evolution stands unshaken, we have no
acceptable account of the origin of species.” 78 Neither has evolution been able
successfully to cope with the problems presented by the origin of man. It has not even
succeeded in proving the physical descent of man from the brute. J. A. Thomson, author
of The Outline of Science and a leading evolutionist, holds that man really never was an
animal, a fierce beastly looking creature, but that the first man sprang suddenly, by a big
leap, from the primate stock into a human being. Much less has it been able to explain
the psychical side of man’s life. The human soul, endowed with intelligence, selfconsciousness,
freedom, conscience, and religious aspirations, remains an unsolved
enigma.
d. Theistic evolution is not tenable in the light of Scripture. Some Christian scientists and
theologians seek to harmonize the doctrine of creation, as taught by Scripture, and the
theory of evolution by accepting what they call theistic evolution. It is a protest against
the attempt to eliminate God, and postulates Him as the almighty worker back of the
whole process of development. Evolution is regarded simply as God’s method of
77 The Bankruptcy of Evolution, p. 182.
78 Science, Jan. 20, 1922.
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