The idea that the universe began with a big bang is firmly entrenched in the minds of millions of Americans. But the so-called “science” isn’t nearly as settled as most people are led to believe. Many scientists—even atheistic, naturalistic ones—know there are big problems with the idea. And the new images from the James Webb Space Telescope haven’t helped those who cling to the big bang.

According to a news report quoting one physicist (who does not believe the big bang happened),

To everyone who sees them, the new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) images of the cosmos are beautifully awe-inspiring. But to most professional astronomers and cosmologists, they are also extremely surprising—not at all what was predicted by theory. In the flood of technical astronomical papers published online since July 12, the authors report again and again that the images show surprisingly many galaxies, galaxies that are surprisingly smooth, surprisingly small and surprisingly old. Lots of surprises, and not necessarily pleasant ones. One paper’s title begins with the candid exclamation: “Panic!”

Why do the JWST’s images inspire panic among cosmologists? And what theory’s predictions are they contradicting? The papers don’t actually say. The truth that these papers don’t report is that the hypothesis that the JWST’s images are blatantly and repeatedly contradicting is the Big Bang Hypothesis that the universe began 14 billion years ago in an incredibly hot, dense state and has been expanding ever since. Since that hypothesis has been defended for decades as unquestionable truth by the vast majority of cosmological theorists, the new data is causing these theorists to panic.

Now, of course, this doesn’t mean the big bang is dead or that physicists and astronomers are suddenly becoming creationists. Many will disagree with the interpretation of the data and come up with more rescuing devices to try and save the big bang. But it does show that the data doesn’t match what’s predicted if the big bang happened. And, of course, that’s what we should expect because the big bang didn’t happen!

We have an eyewitness account of creation that says God spoke the universe into existence. Now, some Christians will say the big bang is proof the universe had a beginning and will say God speaking “let there be light” is the big bang. But the idea of adding the big bang, and the accompanying cosmological evolutionary models, into the Bible has major problems:

• The big bang supposedly happened roughly 14 (or so, it varies) billion years ago. But creation took place a mere 6,000 years ago, based on the genealogies in Genesis along with the fact that God created in six, literal 24-hour days (Exodus 20:11).
• In evolutionary models, stars gradually form before the earth. In the biblical text, earth came before the stars (day one vs. day four).
• Evolutionary models begin with earth as a hot molten blob. In the biblical view, however, earth begins covered in water.
• Stars form the first lights sometime after the big bang. In the biblical view, God created light (we don’t know what that light is) that separated the night from the day until the sun, moon, and stars were created on day four.
• In the big bang and accompanying evolutionary models, the universe arose naturalistically (this is a way to explain life without God). In the biblical view, God spoke and creation sprang forth instantly. It didn’t take billions of years for the universe to slowly and naturalistically obey God’s command.

And those are just some of the differences between the two! No, the big bang didn’t happen. The Bible records the correct history of the universe and mankind. The big bang is nothing more than fallible man’s attempt to explain the universe without God so that we aren’t accountable to God. And it will continue to fail because God’s Word is true! The big bang idea arose out of an attempt to explain the universe by natural processes. It’s a part of the religion of atheism. It’s sad that many Christian leaders have attempted to compromise man’s atheistic religion with God’s clear Word in Genesis.

As you look at the images from the James Webb Space Telescope, be in awe of the incredible beauty, wonder, and order of the heavens. But don’t stop there. Turn in praise to the One who created all of that and sums it up with the simple phrase, “he made the stars also” (Genesis 1:16).

Psalm 19:1 KJV – “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.”