I was zoning out a few afternoons ago when something came on
TV that piqued my interest. You know how it is - you’re working on something
else while the TV mindlessly drones on and on. You’re not really listening, but
kind of listening until something hits you. Well, it hit me. A talk show host
was interviewing singer Katy Perry about something that slips my mind and
doesn’t really matter to me anyway. What hit me was that Katy Perry, in the
midst of a discussion about something totally unrelated, mentioned that she was
raised in a Christian environment where she was “taught to believe certain
things about life and spirituality” but had recently come to question her
beliefs because of shows like UFO Hunters
on the History Channel.
The question of UFO's and intelligent life on other planets
has become very popular over the decades. I’m a bit of a Sci-Fi fan, so I can
see the attraction. TV shows, movies, and authors postulate about alien life and
its role in earth’s history and the foundation and future of humanity. Many scientists speculate about the
possibilities and insist that we cannot be alone in the universe. The question
for every Christian should be, “What does the Bible say about it?” The Bible is
our final authority and, as such, we should consult it and the truths it
teaches when such questions arise.
The Bible doesn’t deal directly with the subject of alien
life elsewhere in the universe. It neither confirms nor denies the existence of
intelligent life from other planets. Aha! So, maybe it is possible! No, I don’t
believe so. While the subject of alien life isn’t directly addressed in
Scripture, the Bible does assert, somewhat more than implicitly, that humanity
is the crowning pinnacle of God’s creation and, as such, we are unique in the
universe.
The Uniqueness of Humanity
The Bible does not teach that humanity is the only
intelligent life created by God. God also created angelic beings and the animal
kingdom. It is important to remember that both of these creations are
distinctly different from humanity. While both are possessed of their
particular intelligences (angelic beings much more so than the animal
creation), neither is said to be created in God’s image. Humanity is the only
creation of God which bears His image. As such, we are wholly different from
both the angelic and animal creation. Because humanity bears the image of God,
we are the ultimate in God’s creation and the universe was created for us. More
will be said on this point later.
The Uniqueness of the Earth
The universe, complete with all its galaxies, was not
created billions of years before Earth. The Bible clearly presents that the
earth is not the result of billions of years of stellar evolution during which
many other planets were created. Earth was created before any other planet or
star existed. God formed the earth on the first day of the creation week
(Genesis 1:1) but did not call the stars, sun, and moon into existence until
the fourth day of the creation week (Genesis 1:14-19). The entire creation
account of Genesis centers on the earth with humanity as its pinnacle creation
and ruling creature. The earth, with all its challenges and beauty, was created
for humanity. By extension, the heavenly bodies occupying the universe were
created so that humans might have tangible markers by which to set times and
seasons (Genesis 1:14). Furthermore, God gave the earth, the centerpiece of the
universe, and by extension all of creation, to His image-bearer, humanity, to
subdue and rule on His behalf (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 8:3, 6; Deuteronomy 4:19). If
the biblical record is true, and I believe it is, then it is safe to say that
the entire universe was created for humanity. The earth, along with its human
inhabitants, has a special place in the creation of God and holds uniqueness
unmatched by any other created thing in the universe.
The Bible is also clear that the fate of the universe is irreversibly
linked to God’s plan and timetable for the earth and its human inhabitants. Jesus
Christ will, someday soon, return to the earth He created to complete the
redemption of believing humanity (2 Peter 3:9-10), destroy the present universe
(2 Peter 3:7, 10), and create a new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1). This will
culminate God’s plan and timetable for the earth and humanity. His final
redemption will fulfill the heart’s desire of the entire created universe which
presently awaits the removal of Eden’s curse for sin and its restoration to its
originally created design and purpose (Romans 8:21-23).
The Relationship to the Question
What bearing do the uniqueness of humanity and the earth
have on the question of whether or not we are alone in the universe? God’s plan
and timetable for the entire universe, according to the Bible, is inseparably
linked to His plan for humanity and the earth. Assuming that’s true, this would
have a direct impact on intelligent life on other planets, would it not? If God
created intelligent life on other worlds, it is hard to imagine that their
lives would be calibrated by His plan for and the failures of the earth and humanity.
It would be wholly unfair and uncharacteristic of the God of the Bible to
destroy their planet and wipe out their races because of His plan for the earth
and humanity (2 Peter 3:7-10). Considering the character and attributes of God alongside
the truth of biblical revelation, one is left with really with only one choice –
there are not other intelligent beings on other planets throughout the universe.
It seems unlikely and unfair that their
distant planets would be destroyed by God because of His plan for Earth.
Some might object with the postulation that the revelation
in 2 Peter and Revelation can be interpreted in a way so that God destroys only
our galaxy and not the entire universe, so other intelligent beings could
survive. This isn’t possible if you believe biblical revelation. Why? Adam’s
sin affected all of creation, the entire universe (Romans 8:18-22). Therefore,
in order to remove the curse from all of creation, the entire universe will need
to be destroyed and recreated. 2 Peter 3:7-10 uses the term “the heavens” and “the
heavenly bodies” as collective terms inclusive of the entire universe. Peter’s
original reads would not have interpreted this passage to refer to less than
the entire universe and it is inappropriate for us to do otherwise. Because the
entire universe was tainted by sin and condemned by the curse God will someday
destroy it all. If intelligent life exists outside of the earth, it would pay
the ultimate price for something not directly related to it. But, if humanity
is the pinnacle of God’s creative activity and the earth and universe were
created for him then God’s revealed plan for the universe is totally fair and
in keeping with His character and will.
What if…?
What if there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe,
with its own unique creation, fall, Redeemer, history, and revelation – all planned
and executed by God. What if God did that and just didn’t bother to tell us? I
concede that in the far reaches of the creative minds of science fiction writers
this might be possible, but is in no way probable. Why? Primarily, because it
would make God out to be a liar. God has told us that humanity is the pinnacle
of creation and led us to believe that we are unique in the universe. If this
were not true, God would have lied to us. That would contradict the character
and nature of God, therefore I reject the notion. Furthermore, it is an
argument from silence and is therefore untenable. There is no proof of alien
life anywhere, only speculation and circumstantial innuendo. Now, I concede
that if a living, breathing alien life form were to land on earth with
verifiable proof of life outside of earth that Christianity’s very core would
be shaken. To those who ardently search for such life I say good luck with
that.
The Bible does not teach that intelligent life exists
elsewhere in our universe. Although our all-powerful God could have created
such life had He desired, if you take the Bible at face value, it seems rather
obvious that He did not. The timetable for this present universe is measured by
God's dealings with humanity. God created humanity to be His image-bearers and
co-regents with Him over the entire universe, with earth as the centerpiece of
that universe. The fellowship with God afforded to redeemed humanity is of such
a unique design that God's only true extra-terrestrial creations, angelic beings, are eager to observe it in action (1
Peter 1:12). Despite the fantasy of science fiction, as fun as it may be, humanity
is, as far as created beings are concerned, alone in the universe.
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