DESIGN: “GOD WOULDN’T DO IT LIKE THAT”

Many critics of creationism point to aspects of reality which are imperfect and even painful for us. Many examples can be suggested such as cancer, suffering, and even death itself. Death is sited by many historians as to the reason Charles Darwin lost faith when his beloved daughter died young. It was easy for Darwin to think of nature as a nasty and heartless beast– it surely could not have been a loving God! Most all of us can relate in one way or another to such conflict and pain. The world can be cruel, cold, and tough. But this does not mean that an all powerful God did not create it this way, allow the world to fall from sin. Without darkness would we fully understand light? Without love would we fully understand hate?

Such an argument against the existence of God due to our apparent identification of imperfections could be called the “The God wouldn’t do it like that…” argument. Meaning, if God designed anything, then it would be perfect. However, if you apply a bit of thought and read some bible passages, it is easy to see that this is clearly not the case. 

If God created it imperfect, then it still is perfect— because it fulfills the purposes in which He designed it to accomplish.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 ESV

As an example, your car is designed by intelligent engineers (of course not God Himself) but is it perfect?  Of course not– we do not even expect it to be. However, the car design might be for purposes not readily apparent to us. One such example might be built in obsolescence, after all they want us to buy another car more sooner than later. Other design attributes might be just to meet safety standard tests while others are simply for comfort. Perhaps some designs caused breakdowns or discomfort not intended by the designers. Additionally, cars are designed for different purposes than say motor cycles, although both are designed for transportation. However, though vehicles are designed differently and for different purposes, it does not necessarily make the motorcycle an imperfect design as compared to a car simply because the rider got caught in a storm while riding home.

God clearly knows conditions of pain, disease, suffering, sadness, and death all exist now but His promises are to bring all of these to an end. Perhaps this reveals a purpose! Such conditions do not exist today due to some imperfect design but rather because of design and purposes God ordained! God promises His children that He will wipe away tears of pain, sorrow, and loss. He will bring an end to death and the mourning of death and loss. He will end all pain.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV

Eyes provide vision which meets the needs of various creatures from simpler to more complex needs. Although complexity varies, each eye has been designed differently as to work best for its purpose. Although this does not mean the eye was designed perfect because imperfection might very well be part of the original design! However, one eye design compared side by side with another does not make one better than the other or one less perfect than another. Unlike human designers that encounter unintended consequences of design– God is all knowing and does not have any unintended consequences– all of life’s design are His!

We need to be very careful if we make assumptions regarding intentions or apparent “failures” of God based on our judgement. We are foolish to think for a moment that any design within the world, life, or living organisms must be perfect as to meet our estimation for what perfection means because God created everything. Beware! We must recognize that there is much more we do not know about God and His creation then we do know. The bible reveals God’s design, intention, character, and purpose. The argument that “God wouldn’t have done it that way” is perfectly wrong.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Romans 8:18