The Simple Cell:

Based on Chuck Missler’s
Teachings and Scientific Insights

Main Points:

• The idea of the “simple cell” is a misconception rooted in early biological science; modern discoveries reveal immense and unexpected complexity within every single cell23.

• This complexity challenges the premise that life arose by chance or gradual steps, as classic evolutionary theory suggests23.

• Many characteristics of the cell mirror the purposeful, deliberate design one finds in a highly-engineered system or city—pointing many, including Chuck Missler, to evidence for a Creator23.

• Numerous elements of cellular machinery and interdependent processes defy easy explanation by chance accumulation of unguided mutations23.

Supporting Points:

• Historical Context: Darwin and early evolutionists considered the cell a “simple globule of protoplasm,” easy enough to have arisen accidentally23. This misconception persisted until the advent of modern microscopy in the mid-20th century, which exposed a world within a cell more complex than any factory humans have ever built 3. And no factory ever made by a human ingenuity has ability to reproduce itself, over and over again thousands of times in a day.

• Cellular Machinery:

  • Even the simplest known cell contains:

    • A central “memory bank” for information storage (DNA in the nucleus).

    • Robot-like machines (protein molecules) carrying out precise tasks and assembly2.

    • Assembly plants, processing units, quality control mechanisms, communications systems, and energy-producing power plants (mitochondria)23.

    • Modular construction and automated assembly reminiscent of intentional design2.

    • A plasma membrane selectively allowing materials in and out, with signal receptors and intricate control2.

• Probability and Origin of Life:

  • The odds of such complexity arising by chance are astronomically low. For instance, counting the atoms in a single cell at one per minute would require nearly 19 million years—underscoring how “simple” is a misnomer2.

  • The chicken-and-egg dilemma appears in protein synthesis: proteins, which compose cells, themselves require cells to form3.

  • Researchers have tried to explain origins via “bottom-up” chemical evolution, but these efforts have yet to demonstrate a viable pathway to even the simplest cell10.

• Analogy to Factories:

  • The complexity and coordination within a cell exceeds that of a car manufacturing plant, which everyone knows demands intelligent design and purpose3.

• Scriptural Support:

  • Scripture affirms the wonder and intentionality in creation:

    “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14, KJV)

    “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, KJV)

Key Takeaways:

• The “simple cell” is a myth—modern science reveals irreducible complexity at the heart of life, challenging undirected evolutionary explanations and supporting a case for design23.

• The cell’s elaborate features (storage, transport, repair, energy production, signaling) appear throughout as purposeful and orchestrated, not random and accidental23.

• This complexity resonates with the biblical teaching of creation by divine wisdom and power, making the cell a visible testimony to the Creator23.

Conclusion:
Chuck Missler and others draw from these observations to argue that the cell’s astounding complexity points to intelligent design. The ancient scriptures, when examined alongside contemporary cellular biology, both testify: life is no accident—it is the work of an all-wise Creator.