Of Monkeys and Men

It happened a hundred years ago this month. It was called "the trial of the century.” In the spring of 1925, the Tennessee legislature passed a bill known as the Butler Act. This law banned the teaching of evolution in public schools. With the encouragement of the ACLU, John T. Scopes, a substitute teacher in Dayton, Tennessee was charged with teaching the theory of evolution in high school. The trial lasted from July 10–21. Willam Jennings Bryan, a respected statesman and former presidential candidate, was asked to join the prosecution. Clarence Darrow, a fierce skeptic and libertarian, assisted the defense for Scopes.

After twelve sweltering days of rigorous questioning, the jury found Scopes guilty and he was fined $100. The court convicted him, the liberal minority exonerated him, and the court of public opinion was divided. The agnostic and atheistic community today say this trial was a legal defeat but a cultural and scientific victory. Was it?

The Butler Act was soon overturned and evolution was taught increasingly in public schools in America. But the majority of people remained unconvinced of this radical theory. It is not hard to understand why.

Satan has always made simple facts appear complex. The command God gave to Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree was plain enough, but the devil was able to cloud the issue. He created doubt in Eve’s mind by questioning this command. Then he stirred her mind against God by accusing God of being unfair. Finally, he appealed to Eve’s desires and thus began the train of sin that extends to this day.

This is how Satan leads people away from God. He asks leading questions about God and hard questions about the Bible to plant seeds of doubt. Then he blames God for allowing all the suffering in the world. At last, when men lower their guard and listen to this nonsense, he appeals to the flesh. If there is no God, then stop feeling guilty and afraid and enjoy your life!

But no amount of complicated speculation about the origin of the universe can overturn the plain facts before us. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psa. 19:1). “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20).

“The fool has said in his heart, there is no God” (Psa. 14:1).

Kerry

West End church of Christ • July 6, 2025