(The Bible, Luke chapter 12 verses 27 and 28)
The teaching of Jesus attracts the attention of our hearts and minds because
it is always profound, characterised by simplicity, and yet vigorously challenging.
When Jesus spoke of the way the lilies of the field were dressed, he had
some radical things to present to his disciples about the folly of worry.
Despite being well-known and much quoted, it is not often realised that
these words contradict a fundamental principle of all evolutionary explanations
of origins.
There are at least three things which the disciples are to consider when looking at these beautiful plants:
- The lilies do not labour, nor do they spin.
- The lilies are magnificently dressed, richer than Solomon in his splendour.
- It is not the lilies who clothe themselves, but God. <
The word krinon used to designate these plants is not a biological term. The Lord Jesus may have been pointing to some beautiful wild flowers at the time: they may have been irises, narcissus, lilies, anemones or gladioli. All these plant types have been suggested as candidates for these field lilies.
The analogy we must draw is with (a) the creativity of man, and (b) the efforts of man to clothe himself. Man has to use his mind to bring clothes of style and beauty into existence, and he has to work hard to achieve success. To get fibres, he must grow cotton plants, or keep sheep, or cultivate silkworms. He must devise ways of processing these raw materials which will allow them to be converted into yarns. Those who have attempted to spin a yarn themselves will vouch for the requirement of skill to achieve a quality product. Yarns can then be woven or knitted to form fabrics, which may be dyed and given other finishing treatments to make them comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. All these stages require a significant input of creativity and skill from the craftsman. The fabrics can be used to construct garments - where again, many skills are required to produce articles which fit the human body and look good. The human body is not an easy shape to fit. Men and women have a trunk, two arms, two legs, a neck and a head - but the fit and style requirements are such that many clothing manufacturers and retailers find it advantageous to specialise according to sex. Furthermore, our shapes change significantly as we age, and are affected by factors like diet and lifestyle. The story is told of some elderly ladies in the USA who were upset because they were not able to find suitably fitting garments in the shops: they resorted to purchasing slacks and wearing them back to front to accommodate their tummies! The essential point here is that if we want to wear clothes which are visually satisfying, garment making skills are required.
Man puts much effort into clothing himself well. He devotes thought, exercises skill, exerts effort, shows perseverance and provides creative design. His actions `image' his Creator. Whereas God has all the skills, this is not the case with people. Some specialise in husbandry; some in spinning the fibres; some in producing the fabrics and some in constructing the garments. Even though our `imaging' is partial, it is an essential aspect of our humanity. Work is dignified because we are doing what God wants us to do. In the Garden of Eden, before sin ever entered the world, Adam and Eve were commissioned to tend the garden - this was their work. Although sin has entered and marred this aspect of life, so that sweat falls and thistles grow, nothing can change the fundamental principle of the dignity of human work. We work because God works - we are made in God's image.
God provides clothing par excellence for `the grass of the field'- the lilies. He does everything. The grass is passive. It does not labour to image its Maker, nor does it spin. The lilies are the subjects of his creativity, and they experience God's labours on their behalf: the ground is worked, the rain falls, the sun provides warmth and light, and so on.
The words of Jesus teach us that we are intended to recognise aspects of God's creative work which includes planning, craftsmanship and design. The lilies of the field cannot be understood or explained without acknowledging the handiwork of God.
It is important to recognise that this is not a `proof' of God. Those who try to go down this philosophical road will stumble - because there is no `logical' pathway to belief in God. Those who come to God must believe that he exists (The Bible, Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6). Yet, those who do believe God recognise his handiwork and see his glory in the things he has made (The Bible, Psalm 19 verses 1 to 4). Those who stand outside these realities have a problem which is caused by alienation, not by intellectual difficulty. The believer should not feel embarrassed when unbelievers protest that God cannot be seen in nature - their reaction tells us more about themselves than anything else.
There are two specific lessons here for the disciples. First, since God cares for even the lowly parts of his creation (the grass of the field), how much more will he care for those who `seek his kingdom'! The grass is here today and gone tomorrow, whereas those who have an interest in God's Kingdom are always the subjects of God's special care. Second, since God sees fit to dress the lilies in splendour, it is unseemly for the disciples of Christ to be caught up in worry about having something to clothe themselves with even the basics, let alone garments which are costly to purchase. An earthly king will have his children experience the abundance of their father; so also will the children of God enjoy the fullness of their Father's provision.
Whilst Jesus draws attention to the specific lessons, we must not stop there. The word `consider' requires us to dwell on these themes and to learn more of God's character and ways. Of necessity, this short contribution must have a focus: which is the portrayal of God as a Master Craftsman.
Do we really believe that God's creativity is an essential part of any explanation of the beauty of flowers? Many people today reject the very idea. They deny that God's creative design is necessary to explain anything. Just to give one example, a leading scientist wrote in Scientific American (October 1994) that there is `no evidence of a grand design in the origin or evolution of life'. The theory of evolution, as it has developed over the past 140 years, claims to explain all apparent design as examples of adaptations selected for their survival value. Flowers are understood purely in terms of their being sex organs of plants - to attract insects and to provide for the continuation of the species. Many Christians believe that it is possible to believe in evolution and creation as complementary accounts of origins - this article asks whether their approach is tenable. Can we hold to the creative power of God as an essential aspect of reality and, at the same time, advocate a mechanism of evolutionary change which allows no evidence for a grand design and has no requirement for an intelligent input from God?
The implications of Jesus' words are profound. The dominant evolutionary worldview is destroying a true appreciation of this world being God's handiwork - displaying his wisdom, power and glory. Millions of people are growing up in a culture which is alienated from God in its thinking. Christians who seek some accommodation between creation and evolution seem to have no answers to the challenges being thrown out against a belief in purpose, meaning and intelligent design. As a result, the Christian community is divided, weakened and opportunities to respond to the challenges are poorly resourced. This frustrating situation cannot be allowed to continue! We must find a way for Christians to put our own house in order to enable a witness that is clear, coherent and challenging.
David J. Tyler (1995)
