As a regular columnist I tend to address fairly specific topics.
For that reason, I have avoided addressing the general subject of creation and Genesis. That is not because it is unimportant. It is an area that generates many of the most frequently asked questions. But in a few hundred words it is difficult to think of anything very useful to say!
James Sire, in his very helpful book, Why Good Arguments Often Fail (IVP), gives the caution that ‘in their witness to the Christian faith most Christians should never raise the issue of evolution. They should talk about it only if they cannot avoid doing so.’ Discussing evolution can end up distracting us from presenting the gospel and lead into many areas where even among Christians there is little agreement. However, regardless of who started it, evolution and creation are rarely far away in any debate. When the conversation turns to creation, I would suggest two simple points to remember.
1. Science is not the enemy!
Christians should never give the impression that they are opposed to science. Far from it, Christians have been at the frontiers of the pursuit of modern science. Whether it is in the founding of the Royal Societies or mapping the human genome, evangelical believers have been at the forefront. The Reformation laid foundations for a society in which contemporary science could flourish.
Often, the problems arise when someone who is an expert in one field, such as biology, feels that this makes them an expert in every field, such as ethics or history. Then they may say daft things about areas of which they have little understanding. Literary critic Terry Eagleton wrote of Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion, ‘Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology.’
For example, evolution generally refers to a very specific mechanism called natural selection. It is a way of explaining organic change over time. It does not explain the origin of stars and habitable planets, how life began, morality, consciousness, the possibility of miracles, or the purpose of life. Evolution does not even explain where new biological information comes from. It simply explains how advantageous changes are preserved.
However, there is a secular philosophy (naturalism) that uses evolution to try and explain everything. It creates the impression that there is nothing outside of natural processes. It then becomes a religion, a philosophy. We must not lose sight of the real enemy – it is not science, evidence or data that we have any issue with. It is its misuse in the service of a godless view of the universe.
2. Christians with a different view are not the enemy!
Among Christians there is much disagreement over how the scientific data is to be reconciled with the Bible. There is certainly no space to rehearse these options here. But I do appreciate Francis Schaeffer’s wisdom. In No Final Conflict he readily accepted the simple point that the Bible is not a scientific textbook. However, he also affirmed ‘The Bible does give affirmations about that in which science has an interest.’ We may debate the processes involved, but there is no doubt that Genesis describes a historic beginning, the creation of humankind, and the historic space-time fall of Adam and Eve.
Accentuate the positive?
In our conversations about creation we need not be distracted by the details of scientific processes that are themselves open to dispute. Genesis teaches, and scientific evidence supports, that the universe had a beginning in the purposeful act of an intelligent creator. Genesis teaches the unique creation of humankind in the image of God. Through the historic fall, the relationship between people and God has been broken. Only the redemptive work of Christ on our behalf can repair the rift. Genesis teaches that creation is fundamentally good. It is to be cared for, nurtured and developed by the human race. But, since the fall, creation has also been damaged. God’s ultimate purpose in redemption will include a new heavens and a new earth. These are the big, historic themes of the Bible on which we may agree, regardless of our opinions on certain scientific theories.
Ask your non-Christian friend ‘How did the universe begin?’, ‘What started life itself?’, ‘Why do we hold humans to be uniquely morally accountable?’, ‘Why is creation beautiful and worth valuing?’, ‘Are our thoughts more than just electrical sparks in the brain?’ These are the big worldview questions. If your friend tries to find answers in evolution you can be sure they are stretching the evidence way beyond its reach!
