Theistic Evolution
Christian Reasoning In Support Of Theistic Evolution
R.L. Faber - 12/10/2023

This article is about theistic evolution and those who teach it. The Editor is strongly opposed to theistic evolution, but wants an article for information on this view. We want to show the teachers of this view and have links to some of their material for research purposes. We have read some of this material to be familiar with their arguments.

The sermon at our local church on August 6, 2023 1, gave the impression that the presenter at our local church believes in some form of theistic evolution. But we have also heard some points that make us think he does not support this view. So we are not sure about his beliefs. The reasons for thinking he supports theistic evolution are these:

  1. In the past 17 years or so, the primary presenter has not made statements that clearly rule out theistic evolution (that we can recall). The teacher has made statements in support of Creation, but so do theistic evolutionists in their books.
  2. The primary teacher has taught at Westminster Seminary along with Verne Poythress who is a well known writer on the topic of Science and Faith and is clearly open to "theistic evolution" in his book "Redeeming Science." 2
  3. The primary teacher has clearly expressed support for the views of Verne Poythress.
  4. Years ago, the church bulletin promoted a Westminster Seminary hosted conference held on January 24, 2010. The conference was called "Science and Faith: Friends or Foes" based on a book by John C. Collins. The promotion for the conference made these statements, "How do we respond to the effects of Darwinism? Great minds will address these issues." The conference included speakers like Verne Poythress, Dr. Stephen Meyer and "other prominent scientists of faith". scienceandgod.org
  5. In the August 6, 2023 sermon on Hebrews 11:3, the two men who were mentioned in the sermon are very open to theistic evolution. Tim Keller was spoken of very highly and he was a very strong supporter of Biologos (a well known "theistic evolution" organization). Tim Keller has spoken at Biologos and his theistic evolutionary views are well known. Also Michael Behe book, "Darwin's Black Box" was recommended where he believes and promotes the idea of "common descent". This is the idea of theistic evolution that includes evolution of man from a common ancestor of apes (basically ape to man evolution). (2023.Aug.06.mp3 minutes 32-39)  

The church library has theistic evolutionary books more than the YEC 3 material. The church library has books like "Redeeming Science", "The Reason for God", etc. The church is also aligned with "The Gospel Coalition", started by Tim Keller and D. A. Carson. The Gospel Coalition is quite open to the idea of theistic evolution. Both founders, Tim Keller and D. A. Carson have shown openness to theistic evolutionary ideas.

During the sermon on Hebrews 11:3, we observed that listeners were being encouraged to read Tim Keller's "The Reason for God." This book endorses Big Bang cosmology. The Big Bang assumes an evolutionary biological process. In the sermon, listeners who had more specific questions about origins were encouraged to read Michael Behe. Michael is a Catholic, who believes in common descent. We know that both of his books ("Darwin's Black Box" and "The Edge of Evolution") clearly state a belief in common descent. This means Behe believes in "macro evolution" and the evolutionary biological process.

Tim Keller may believe in a literal Adam, but he still allows for an evolutionary biological process (EBP) 4 by allowing pre Adam human like creatures, formed over millions of years. He believes in evolution with its random mutations and natural selection able to evolve things. He believes in death before the Curse, ending in a literal Adam and God's declaration that his creation was "very good".

Both Tim Keller and Michael Behe affirm gradual change through evolution to the point of pre Adam human like creatures or all the way to human creatures.



FOOTNOTES

1. Sermon from August 6, 2023 at BLCC
sermon: 2023.Aug.06.mp3   (minutes 32-39)


2. Verne Poythress - Redeeming Science - PDF
PoythressVernRedeemingScience.pdf


3. The young earth creation view (YEC). This is the view that Genesis 1-11 should be interpreted in the plain literal sense. This view rejects the secular view of evolutionary "science" that has determined that the universe is many billions of years old and that man has been evolving for millions of years. This view sees the Grand Canyon with its many rock layers as evidence of Noah's flood that created the geological column in a short time (not millions of years). The oldest and earliest fossil creatures are at the bottom because of the way that the flood would have deposited the mud/sand/silt, that eventually hardended to form the rock layers. The most modern and recent fossil creatures are at the top layers becuase of how the world wide flood would have progressed natually, all in a short time (not millions of years).


4. The evolutionary biological process (EBP). This is the view that the evolutionary biological process requires time to work. Evolution science has determined that the universe is many billions of years and man has been evolving for millions of years ago. This is seen in the Grand Canyon with its many rock layers that represent the geological column. The oldest and earliest fossil creatures are at the bottom and the most modern and recent fossil creatures are at the top layers.









This website is public domain.