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The Message of CreationLord of the universeTHE MESSAGE OF CREATION David Wilkinson is Fellow in Christian Apologetics and Associate Director of the Centre for Christian Communication at St John's College, University of Durham. He is also a Methodist minister and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Hence the cover blurb: 'With the eyes of a theologian and a cosmologist he looks at the message of creation in representative biblical passages. He brings the texts into lively conversation with contemporary concerns.' The contents are arranged in five sections, each with four chapters. Section one (The beginning of creation) explores Genesis 1-3. The author treads carefully around areas of controversy, maintaining that Genesis 1 'is not a passage about the "how" of creation, nor primarily about the "why" of creation. Rather it is a passage about the "who" of creation'. However, an eight-page summary outlining the different interpretations of Genesis 1 is included in an appendix. The chapters in section two (The songs of creation) are based on hymns of praise found in Proverbs 8.22-36 and Psalms 8, 19 and 148. Section three (The Lord of creation) includes three passages (from the first chapters of John, Colossians and Hebrews) that highlight the cosmic significance of Christ, as well as Luke's account of Jesus stilling the storm. In the chapter on John 1.1-18 Wilkinson writes: 'God becoming flesh is an affirmation of the physicality of creation, and Christian faith is about the physical as well as the spiritual.' When reflecting on Colossians 1.15-20, and particularly the thought of Christ holding all things together, he states 'Jesus is the one by whom the Universe coheres. To explore the Universe through science, its consistencies and laws, is to explore the one who sustains it. Science is a Christian ministry'. The fourth section (The lessons of creation) examines passages where the doctrine of creation is applied 'to provide comfort, to challenge our pride, to give encouragement and to undergird evangelism' namely Genesis 9.1-17, Job 38.1 ù 42.17, Isaiah 40.9-31 and Acts 17.16-34. I found the chapter on Acts 17 particularly relevant as Wilkinson shows how Paul's understanding of creation informs his evangelism in Athens. This leads to the robust assertion that 'there is no culture in which Jesus should not be shared or to which he is irrelevant. In a society or nation where Christians are barred by law or discouraged by the prevalent culture from preaching the good news of Jesus we must stand firm. To speak of the Lord of heaven and earth is not optional for Christians; it follows from God's revelation of himself'. The final section (The fulfilment of creation) focuses on glimpses of the new creation in Isaiah 65.17-25, Romans 8.18-30, 2 Peter 3.3-16 and Revelation 21.1-8. Here is real hope for the future! Wilkinson uses numerous contemporary illustrations and quotations, generally to good effect. Occasionally, they seem too banal to warrant inclusion (something that could never be said with regard to Peter Lewis's book The Living God in this same BST series!). However, in most cases they serve to clarify his points and will undoubtedly make this volume accessible to a wide readership. I have to confess that I found the concentration of references to film and television programmes excessive at times but that's probably just because I haven't watched many of them! Along with the other titles in The Bible Themes series, this book is well worth reading in order to stimulate further Bible study. The truths in it should also inspire wholehearted praise. Kim Hubbard,
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