The Myth of Junk DNA

Scientists agree that most of our DNA does not code for protein. The question is whether this non-coding DNA is just useless junk left over from a very long line of evolution, or whether the non-coding DNA actually serves some useful purpose. The reason this question is important is that some vocal evolutionists have used the junk DNA theory to mock the idea that life was designed by a creator. If life was intelligently designed, why, they ask, would an intelligent designer spread so much useless junk throughout our genome?

In his book, “The Myth of Junk DNA,” Jonathan Wells (Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology from U.C. Berkeley) cites hundreds of articles by scientists—many, if not most of whom are evolutionists—who have now discovered that what was once called junk DNA is not junk after all! They are discovering that even though the “junk” DNA does not code for proteins, it does serve numerous other important functions in the cell (one scientist cited in this book “listed over 80 known functions for non-coding repetitive DNA”).

So another scientific theory used to disprove the existence of God bites the dust. Moral of the story: Don’t get too shaken by scientific theories that purport to disprove God’s existence. Many things that were once considered scientific fact are now just oddities of history.

The Myth of Junk DNA is a short but excellent book. Highly recommended.

Shipwreck

In last Sunday’s sermon, I quoted Charles Colson as saying, “Obedience to God does not always mean a happy ending. But why should we think it would?” I made the point that obedience to the Father led Jesus to the cross! Why should we think following him should be any easier for us?

How depressing! Shouldn’t church be about hearing encouraging, uplifting messages?

I’ve been reading books lately on crisis response counseling and “Psychological First Aid.” One book made the point that when people encounter an overwhelming disaster in their life, one of the things that can be most devastating is when that crisis destroys their world view—their understanding of who God is and how the world should function.

For example, those who believe that God just wants to give people health, wealth and prosperity, may be particularly vulnerable when disaster strikes. Where was God? How could God let this happen? Doesn’t God give a rip about me?! Suddenly everything they believed about God and life has been shattered and their world has been turned upside down.

Those who have a biblical view of following Jesus, on the other hand, are often more able to survive the storms of life. A biblical view of God and life doesn't take away all the pain when disaster strikes, but it can help to get us through the storms without shipwreck. The idea that “Obedience to God does not always mean a happy ending” may not be a message that is comfortable to hear, but understanding that fact may be like an uncomfortable life preserver that could help us survive a shipwreck.

The encouraging part is that we also have the biblical assurance that “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).