Theistic Evolution

Matthew Moxon ponders evolution and the Bible

The rise of evolution has caused concern for many Christians. Whilst the theory of evolution has been around for a long time, long before Darwin it posed no problem to Creationists. However, over the last century, evolution has been elevated to a supreme level. Now, unbelief in evolution leads to that individual being branded uneducated, irrational opposed to reason and unscientific. Christians have responded to this in a variety of ways: some chose to ignore the problem, others have tackled the problem on scientific ground, but sadly the majority went for some sort of middle ground — a compromise known as Theistic Evolution. The idea is to bring both God and evolution together to solve the problem.

Theistic evolution lies between blind evolution and fiat Creation. Blind evolution accounts for life solely in terms of chance, whereas fiat Creation accepts nothing except ex nihilo creation to account for the same things. Theistic evolution states that both contain some elements of truth, but the real truth is somewhere in the middle. In other words, God created by evolution. Although there are differing views as to God’s involvement — from just creating matter and natural laws and leaving it to run on its own, to God actually miraculously intervening at each individual step — whichever and whenever inbetween views lie, Theistic evolutionists all accept that God used evolution as a tool to create life.

This theory however, does nothing but cause dissatisfaction to everyone who has studied either Creation or evolution. They find as I do, that this theory, by attempting to unite two diametrically opposed principles, makes a mockery of both evolution and creation. Both evolutionists and creationists have pointed out the errors and gross distortions inherent in this theory. Simply “… two opposing views that stand upon irreconcilable foundations cannot be synthesised into a coherent unit. Consequently, Theistic evolution satisfies only those whose perception of the evolution/creation issue is woefully inadequate.” Dr. Phillip C. Johnson.

True evolutionists have no place for God or the Bible. True Christians have every place for God and the Bible. Theistic Evolutionists are people who want to respect the Bible as Holy Scripture, and because of this view it is essential that whatever they say does not compromise their high regard for the Scriptures. This, however is not the case.

Genesis rules out any possibility of evolution, so Theistic Evolutionists have to find a way round this. This is achieved by telling us that ‘the Bible isn’t a science text book’, and Genesis 1 is a euphemism for ‘pious fiction’. Whilst statements like these may sound ‘nice’, it is a cover up for what they really believe: that the Creation story is scientifically inaccurate and is not to be taken literally. The plain, historical presentation of Genesis 1 is rejected and this inevitably leads to compromise.

Theistic Evolution tactfully denies a majority of the fundamental doctrines: there was no Garden of Eden, there was no personal Adam and Eve, consequently there was no literal fall, sin and spiritual death, etc. It makes God the source of all pain, evil and even death. It is the dismissing of these doctrines, particularly concerning the Fall, that causes a lot of upset amongst Christians. For, without a literal Fall, the cross of Christ is rendered useless and meaningless. It also renders the apostles (particularly Paul), Christ and God liars; something that is impossible (Hebrews 6:18).

Another problem with Theistic Evolution is that in an apparent attempt to discover the truth, its primary purpose is to accommodate the Bible into the theory of evolution, and not the other way round. However, this is impossible as evolution has been designed (by man) to exclude God from Creation. It is completely atheistic and consequently it is not possible to accommodate evolution into the Bible, nor is it possible to find a middle path between two concepts that stand on opposing foundations. The net result is to accept evolution as fact of science and accommodate Scripture to it. This is a questionable practice because evolution is not a fact of science. Evolution is a theory and not fact. It is a hypothesis, and still today there is no hard proof for evolution and no single universally accepted mechanism. So, since Theistic Evolutionists are trying to accommodate the Bible to and ever changing hypothesis, it stands on shaky ground: essentially it is without foundation.

It is clear therefore that in trying to reconcile two irreconcilable subjects, great liberties are taken with the Bible. Without some sort of modification, evolution and creation cannot be brought together. The problem is that it is the Bible that suffers the manipulation, and not evolution. Because of this, key passages of Scripture are diluted and essentially the authority of the Word is greatly reduced, if not lost.

Clearly the solutions offered by Theistic Evolution are only illusory. The theory opens up more problems than it attempts to solve, and tragically gives evolution more respect than its due. Not only are they in error in trying to reconcile anything to what is only a theory, but it blinds those Christians who might otherwise have recognised the hypothetical character of evolution.

It is vital that as Christians, who claim to believe in the whole of the Bible, that we assert Special Creation, and that macroevolution played no part whatsoever in the origins of life. Firstly because it is unbiblical and therefore must be wrong, but also there is plenty of scientific evidence for Creation, and not evolution.

Matthew Moxon

Continuing the debate …

By Matthew Moxon

The rise of evolution has caused concern for many Christians. Whilst the theory of evolution has been around for a long time, long before Darwin it posed no problem to Creationists. However, over the last century, evolution has been elevated to a supreme level. Now, unbelief in evolution leads to that individual being branded uneducated, irrational opposed to reason and unscientific. Christians have responded to this in a variety of ways: some chose to ignore the problem, others have tackled the problem on scientific ground, but sadly the majority went for some sort of middle ground — a compromise known as Theistic Evolution. The idea is to bring both God and evolution together to solve the problem.

Theistic evolution lies between blind evolution and fiat Creation. Blind evolution accounts for life solely in terms of chance, whereas fiat Creation accepts nothing except ex nihilo creation to account for the same things. Theistic evolution states that both contain some elements of truth, but the real truth is somewhere in the middle. In other words, God created by evolution. Although there are differing views as to God’s involvement — from just creating matter and natural laws and leaving it to run on its own, to God actually miraculously intervening at each individual step — whichever and whenever inbetween views lie, Theistic evolutionists all accept that God used evolution as a tool to create life.

This theory however, does nothing but cause dissatisfaction to everyone who has studied either Creation or evolution. They find as I do, that this theory, by attempting to unite two diametrically opposed principles, makes a mockery of both evolution and creation. Both evolutionists and creationists have pointed out the errors and gross distortions inherent in this theory. Simply “… two opposing views that stand upon irreconcilable foundations cannot be synthesised into a coherent unit. Consequently, Theistic evolution satisfies only those whose perception of the evolution/creation issue is woefully inadequate.” Dr. Phillip C. Johnson.

True evolutionists have no place for God or the Bible. True Christians have every place for God and the Bible. Theistic Evolutionists are people who want to respect the Bible as Holy Scripture, and because of this view it is essential that whatever they say does not compromise their high regard for the Scriptures. This, however is not the case.

Genesis rules out any possibility of evolution, so Theistic Evolutionists have to find a way round this. This is achieved by telling us that ‘the Bible isn’t a science text book’, and Genesis 1 is a euphemism for ‘pious fiction’. Whilst statements like these may sound ‘nice’, it is a cover up for what they really believe: that the Creation story is scientifically inaccurate and is not to be taken literally. The plain, historical presentation of Genesis 1 is rejected and this inevitably leads to compromise.

Theistic Evolution tactfully denies a majority of the fundamental doctrines: there was no Garden of Eden, there was no personal Adam and Eve, consequently there was no literal fall, sin and spiritual death, etc. It makes God the source of all pain, evil and even death. It is the dismissing of these doctrines, particularly concerning the Fall, that causes a lot of upset amongst Christians. For, without a literal Fall, the cross of Christ is rendered useless and meaningless. It also renders the apostles (particularly Paul), Christ and God liars; something that is impossible (Hebrews 6:18).

Another problem with Theistic Evolution is that in an apparent attempt to discover the truth, its primary purpose is to accommodate the Bible into the theory of evolution, and not the other way round. However, this is impossible as evolution has been designed (by man) to exclude God from Creation. It is completely atheistic and consequently it is not possible to accommodate evolution into the Bible, nor is it possible to find a middle path between two concepts that stand on opposing foundations. The net result is to accept evolution as fact of science and accommodate Scripture to it. This is a questionable practice because evolution is not a fact of science. Evolution is a theory and not fact. It is a hypothesis, and still today there is no hard proof for evolution and no single universally accepted mechanism. So, since Theistic Evolutionists are trying to accommodate the Bible to and ever changing hypothesis, it stands on shaky ground: essentially it is without foundation.

It is clear therefore that in trying to reconcile two irreconcilable subjects, great liberties are taken with the Bible. Without some sort of modification, evolution and creation cannot be brought together. The problem is that it is the Bible that suffers the manipulation, and not evolution. Because of this, key passages of Scripture are diluted and essentially the authority of the Word is greatly reduced, if not lost.

Clearly the solutions offered by Theistic Evolution are only illusory. The theory opens up more problems than it attempts to solve, and tragically gives evolution more respect than its due. Not only are they in error in trying to reconcile anything to what is only a theory, but it blinds those Christians who might otherwise have recognised the hypothetical character of evolution.

It is vital that as Christians, who claim to believe in the whole of the Bible, that we assert Special Creation, and that macroevolution played no part whatsoever in the origins of life. Firstly because it is unbiblical and therefore must be wrong, but also there is plenty of scientific evidence for Creation, and not evolution.

Matthew Moxon