It’s Tuesday, and you’re eating a taco. As the satisfying mix of crunch and softness slides down your gullet, you are delighted by the savory blend of spices and delicious toppings. As the carbohydrates fill your body and all those pleasure chemicals shoot into your brain, you start getting philosophical. Does the Bible ever mention tacos?
While James 1:17 may refer to a taco, the question is rather silly. Of course, the Bible doesn’t mention a taco. Tacos would not have been known to the biblical writers. Yet, I think because we have a vague notion that the Bible is sufficient and written by an all-knowing God, we assume it must say something about everything.
You didn’t come here to talk about tacos, though. But tacos are awesome, and you probably wouldn’t mind. And it helps me to butter you up for what I’m about to say. Your question about aliens being in the Bible is about as silly as asking whether or not tacos are in the Bible. Kind of.
Spoiler alert: The Bible doesn’t say anything about aliens. But that doesn’t mean it doesn't say anything about aliens. Let me explain, but first, some history.
When Did We Start Talking about Aliens?
I am a child of the 80s, so I grew up watching ALF and ET. I was a bigger fan of ALF than ET. I had this hideous-looking ALF watch. This makes me wonder if little boys in Egypt 2,000 years ago had an alien-themed sundial they liked to wear. The reality is that most ancient civilizations didn’t think of aliens quite like we do. They spoke of gods and celestial beings but were not understood like the aliens we think of today.
Greek philosophers, like Democritus and Epicurus, speculated on the existence of other worlds, believing that the vast universe likely housed life outside of Earth. But these were mostly philosophical thoughts until the dawn of modern astronomy. The 16th-century Copernican Revolution unseated the Earth as the center of the universe. This shift in thinking opened the door for even more speculation about life on other planets.
By the 17th and 18th centuries, thinkers like Giordano Bruno and Christian Huygens expanded on this idea, suggesting that stars could have their planetary systems. These planetary systems could potentially be home to alien life. In the 19th century, observations of "canals" on Mars fueled public fascination with the possibility of Martian civilizations, especially through the works of astronomers like Percival Lowell.
By the 20th century, science fiction writers like H.G. Wells popularized the idea of intelligent alien life and shaped much of what we think of as “aliens” today. In the 1960s, the founding of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) brought the idea of alien lifeform closer to the scientific mainstream. Curiosity, conspiracy, and potential have only increased since then.
Recent discussions about UFOs, now commonly called Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), have gained new traction. Apparently, “flying object” isn’t a cool enough term. From public testimonies by former intelligence officials to reports from Navy pilots, claims that the government has evidence of alien spacecraft and possibly even non-human remains have sparked renewed interest in extraterrestrial life.
As we eat our tacos and watch these news reports, we wonder: What does the Bible say about the possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth? How should believers think about aliens in light of their faith?
Defining the Question: What Do We Mean by “Aliens”?
When we ask whether the Bible mentions aliens, it's important to clarify what we mean by “aliens.” The term can have different meanings depending on the context. In everyday usage, aliens are considered intelligent, extraterrestrial beings, often depicted in science fiction as coming from other planets or galaxies.
It may come as a surprise then to pick up your Bible and read in Exodus 22:21 that God’s law says, “Do not mistreat or oppress an alien…” Perhaps this verse motivated Willie Tanner to let ALF into his home when the alien crashed through the roof of his garage. But sadly, for Willie, that isn’t what “alien” means in biblical terms. The word in the Bible refers to someone foreign or unfamiliar, such as a foreigner living in a different land.
So, when we ask if the Bible speaks of aliens in the sense of intelligent life from other planets, we must recognize that such a concept is outside the worldview of the people who wrote Scripture. The Bible was written when the vastness of space and the possibility of life on other planets were not topics of concern.
But this doesn’t mean that the Bible is incompatible with the existence of aliens. In fact, it provides foundational truths about the universe, creation, and God’s sovereignty that could lead Christians to consider the possibility of life beyond Earth.
The Bible and the Universe: Is There Room for Life Beyond Earth?
While the Bible doesn’t mention aliens explicitly, it speaks about how big the universe is and its intricacy. Scripture teaches that God is the Creator of everything, not just the Earth but the entire cosmos. Consider these verses:
- Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
- John 1:3: "All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created."
- Psalm 19:1: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
The fact that the Bible focuses primarily on Earth and humanity doesn’t mean that God didn’t create other forms of life elsewhere. The sheer size of the universe makes it conceivable that life could exist beyond our planet. It doesn’t mean that it does, but that it could.
If you believe in angels and demons, you believe that there are non-human creatures living in God’s universe. They may not be hairy creatures with an insatiable appetite for cats (like ALF) or Reese’s Pieces (like ET), but they are intelligent lifeforms that are not human. If God chose to create other intelligent beings on another planet, this would be fully within His sovereign capacity. The Bible’s focus on human history doesn’t preclude the possibility of other creations; it simply reveals that the biblical narrative centers on God’s relationship with humanity.
Humanity's Unique Role in Creation
Although Scripture does not deny the possibility of extraterrestrial life, it does emphasize the unique role of humans within creation. Genesis 1:26-27 states that humans are made in God's image. This description is not given to animals, angels, or other created beings. Even angels, glorious as they are, are not made in God’s image. The Bible places humans in a special relationship with God, a relationship different from that of any other life form.
Humans are tasked with "dominion" over the Earth (Genesis 1:28), called to steward creation and reflect God’s glory in their rulership. This means that even if aliens existed, they would not share the unique image-bearing role that humans possess. Other forms of life, such as animals, are still valued and cared for by God (Matthew 10:29-31), but they are not given the same relational or redemptive status as humans.
The Potential Existence of Aliens: How Should Christians Respond?
If life beyond Earth is ever discovered, how should Christians respond? First, we should approach the topic with humility. There are many things we do not know, but it is not our knowledge that moves history. For many years, people had no idea that tacos existed. But that doesn’t mean that they didn’t exist in God's mind, nor that God wasn’t moving history along so that someday we’d create this glorious thing.
Just as there was once a world without tacos, so now there is (to our knowledge) a world without aliens. But our understanding is limited. Discovering aliens would not negate the biblical narrative but would expand our awe of God’s creative power.
Second, we must stay rooted in the central truths of the Christian faith. Even if intelligent life exists elsewhere, the gospel remains the same: Jesus Christ came to save sinners and redeem creation. Our hope is in Christ, and our mission to make disciples doesn’t change based on the existence of extraterrestrial life.
Finally, we can rest in God’s sovereignty. God controls the entire universe, and nothing is outside His plan. Whether or not aliens exist, we can trust that God’s purposes will prevail and His plan of redemption will encompass all of creation.
The Bible doesn’t explicitly mention aliens, so it is only speculation. Scripture warns us against empty speculation, especially in being dogmatic about these things or dividing over trivial matters. Yes, I suppose if aliens had unfettered anger like on Independence Day, it would be far from “trivial.” But as of today, it is trivial. We simply do not know, and we do well to leave it there.
We do know that God is big, and His creation is vast. It is filled with mysteries we will spend an eternity unraveling—maybe an eternity that includes creatures like ALF, ET, or Mork and Mindy. If aliens do exist, they, too, fall under God’s sovereign rule and are a part of His creative work. They are at His disposal and would testify to the greatness of Jesus Christ.
Ultimately, the existence of aliens wouldn’t change the core truths of the Christian faith. God created the universe, Jesus redeemed humanity, and all creation reflects His glory. Whether we encounter life beyond Earth or not, we can rest assured that God is in control.
Enjoy that taco!
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Mike Leake is husband to Nikki and father to Isaiah and Hannah. He is also the lead pastor at Calvary of Neosho, MO. Mike is the author of Torn to Heal and Jesus Is All You Need. His writing home is http://mikeleake.net and you can connect with him on Twitter @mikeleake. Mike has a new writing project at Proverbs4Today.
