Thursday, October 28, 2010

Creation, Evolution, and the Bible

Screwtape has to be happy! I'm surprised he hasn't written a recent letter to Wormwood or some other junior devil, commending the evil diversion of energy by millions of American Christians to defending creation literalism against the straw man of evolution. Energy for evangelism, and energy for biblical justice frittered away in pitting the creation stories of Genesis 1-3 against the theory of evolution.

It is a completely unnecessary conflict that harms the cause of Jesus Christ by alienating many scientists who feel they must choose between empirical science and bogus science (literal creationism).

I think the conflict stems from differing views on the inspiration of Holy Scripture, the Old and New Testaments. We need to ask what is the primary purpose of the Bible. Is the primary purpose of the Christian Scriptures to be the only authoritative explanation of what has been, what is, and what will be, or is to be THE authoritative witness to what God has accomplished and will continue to accomplish in Jesus Christ? From my Presbyterian tradition, I affirm the Scriptures to be the "infallible rule of faith and practice". Are the Scriptures infallible in their description of the human condition? Absolutely! Are they infallible in expressing God's judgement on sin? For sure! Are they infallible in relaying God's messianic promises? I am counting on it! Are they infallible in their testimony to the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? My eternity and the eternity of God's creation depend on it!

Is the Bible intended to be a 21st century science textbook?

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