Aliens: Fact or Fiction?

First Name: Sam
First Letter of Last Name: L
Grade: 7
What is your favorite planet or star?: Mars
What is your favorite rocket?: Space Shuttle
Question: Why do people think aliens are real?

Hi Sam, thanks for your question! Hey, I also like the Red Planet!1 After working on some cool Mars missions for NASA, such as the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN for short) and the InSight Lander, I’ve really gained a love for that planet. I also like Mars because it’s a top candidate for any manned mission beyond the moon! As one of Earth’s closest neighbors,2 it has decent sunlight, seasons, and temperatures, somewhat like Earth—making it an ideal place to send astronauts on a mission to explore the surface.

Artistic image of astronauts on Mars (credit: NASA)

And I also think the space shuttles were super cool (the last space shuttle launch was back in 2011). When I was about your age, I remember watching them on TV blast off into orbit, carrying astronauts up to the International Space Station (ISS), and was always excited about every launch!

Space shuttle launch (credit: NASA)

Okay, now to your question: Why do people think aliens are real? Well, the short answer is that the topic of space aliens is very popular today—it has really captured the imagination of Hollywood and our culture at large! I mean just consider all the latest movies and TV shows made by Hollywood that feature space aliens, like Star Wars, Star Trek, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Superman, and so on. (I’m sure we could keep going for “millions of years”!)

Patch for the Spirit Mars Rover, featuring Marvin the Martian (Wikipedia)

But it’s not just Hollywood! Millions of dollars are being spent every year by scientists who are hoping to find proof of life in outer space. In other words, they’re trying to move this idea from science fiction into actual “science”3—believing that we will one day discover alien life! For instance, NASA continues to develop multimillion-dollar missions to explore Mars, and the main goal of every mission (once you get past all the “fluff & stuff” from the media) is to find any kind of evidence of life on Mars that existed either in the past or currently exists there today.

But what does the Bible say? Could there maybe be aliens in outer space that were created by God? Of course—the Bible doesn’t plainly say anything about space aliens (i.e., you won’t find the word extraterrestrial anywhere in the text). And of course, our powerful God could have created aliens if he wanted to—that’s not the question! Rather, the question is why would he? Or simply: Is the idea of alien life actually a biblical one?

It’s important that as Christians (children of God) we always build all our thinking on God’s Word in every area, including this one! And when we do, starting in Genesis 1 when God created everything in the universe in six days around 6,000 years ago, we see no mention of any specific day when life on other planets was created.4 Plus, Isaiah 45:18 says God designed the earth for us to inhabit—with no mention of any other planted to be inhabited. Yes, that means the earth is unique and the only place in the universe specially made for us to call home! For this reason alone, it’s very unlikely that God created other life forms elsewhere in the universe. On top of all that, the earth is the only planet where the Creator took on human flesh to live among us (John 1), died and rose again to accomplish salvation for us (1 Corinthians 15), and will return to dwell forever after making all things new (Revelation 21).

Now let’s consider intelligent aliens (like Wookies, Klingons, or other “humanlike” beings). Biblically speaking, can we say that it’s possible to find alien races scattered across the cosmos like Superman on the planet Krypton, Spock on the planet Vulcan, or Chewbacca on the planet Kashyyyk in a galaxy far, far away? And if they do exist, do they have souls? Are they made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) like us? Where do they go when they die? Could they go to heaven?

You see, although they make for fun entertainment in movies and TV shows, intelligent species of aliens do not fit with Scripture! Let me explain: From the Bible, we read that God placed a curse on the whole universe after Adam sinned (Genesis 3; Romans 8). So if there are other beings out there in the universe, they would still suffer from the effects of sin—with no hope of redemption! God’s plan of redemption is through Christ, the last Adam, which means redemption is only for humans descended from the first Adam.

Obviously, it makes no sense to have intelligent beings who suffer because of Adam’s sin but cannot be saved! Christ is able to redeem man because he represents man by taking upon himself a second nature—being fully God and fully man. He is the God-man—not the “God-Klingon” or the “God-Wookie” or any kind of alien race.5

But you might be wondering, “What about plants and animals (or even microorganisms) on other planets?” I don’t think so. Again, it’s important we start all our thinking on the Bible! It says God created everything for man’s benefit and enjoyment. In other words, we have dominion over God’s creation (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 8). So the question would be this: Do we have dominion over those plants and animals on alien worlds? What purpose would they serve for us? For this reason alone, I believe it’s unlikely there’s any non-intelligent life out in the cosmos.6

Finally, you might still be wondering, “What motivates so many unbelievers to constantly scan the heavens in search of aliens anyway?” I believe it really stems from a sense of cosmic loneliness and hopelessness (which, actually, it is no surprise an unbeliever feels that way after having rejected their Creator). From an evolutionary worldview, where life supposedly evolved by unguided processes over millions of years, there’s no real purpose or hope in life. However, being made in God’s image, people are still desperate to find hope and solutions in this sin-cursed, broken world.

Many people desire to learn the answers to fundamental questions: Why are we here? What’s our purpose in life? How do we find the secrets to eternal life? Some believe that some super “advanced” alien race (i.e., one that’s been around for millions of years) may have discovered such higher knowledge.

Does that idea sound like a replacement for God’s Word? It is—this belief in aliens is really an attack on biblical authority, trying to lead people away from God and the truth of his Word. (Remember, only God’s Word has the answers to those fundamental questions.)

It’s kind of like this: The unbeliever with his binoculars looks right past the cross, putting his hope in space aliens—even though the cross is right in front of him! You see, when people look to the stars for hope, they miss the ONLY hope we need—the gospel of Jesus Christ!

And if you think about it, this means that the topic of space aliens can be a great springboard for sharing the gospel. So let’s get out there and tell people, “Don’t look to imaginary aliens in the sky—put your hope and trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross for salvation and eternal life.”

Actually, speaking of the gospel, did you know the Bible does technically speak about “aliens”:

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19)

That is, Christians were once “aliens” before coming to Christ! But once people become Christians, they are no longer aliens (meaning foreigners)—they are citizens of heaven! In that biblical sense, I actually do believe in aliens—those alienated from God who desperately need the gospel! And so I encourage all my alien neighbors to receive Jesus as their Savior, so they can no longer be aliens and become part of the family of God. In fact, there are lots of aliens on Earth who need to hear the message of the gospel and be saved from hell. If you’re a Christian, I urge you to keep on reaching more aliens with the truth of God’s Word and the saving gospel message so that they can be granted citizenship into heaven.