Thoughts On Evolution

Evolution is the theory pioneered by Charles Darwin that says that over vast amounts of time, natural selection (in which the strong survive and produce successful offspring) and genetic modification (the imperfect transmission of genes from generation to generation) gradually helped organisms adapt to their physical environments, resulting in the diversity of biological species we see today.


In the mainstream scientific community, evolution refers to both microevolution (changes within species or among closely-related species) and macroevolution (evolution of new species arising from less-complex life forms). Over the past 150 years, evolution has become the master theory dominating the biological sciences.

Many see Darwin’s theory as incompatible with the Bible’s teachings, with the existence of God, and with the notion that humans are the crown of creation and made in God’s image (Gn 1:26). Darwin himself, a former theology student who initially aimed to enter ministry, and whose wife was an evangelical Christian, apparently lost his faith because he could find no room in his theory for God as Designer.

Christians have responded to the theory of evolution in four major ways. Adherents to each view start by affirming God as Maker of heaven and earth (Gn 1:1), but they vigorously disagree about what methods and timeframes God used in creating the world. The differences hinge on how to interpret Scripture, how to interpret science, and how the two come together.

The first three views accept microevolution, which they reconcile with the idea that God created the living organisms “according to their kinds” (Gn 1:11-12,21,24-25), but reject macroevolution. They say the idea of one kind (like a bird) morphing into another (like a reptile) contradicts Scripture and sound science.

Young Earth Creationists describe themselves as taking the Bible literally. They say creation took six, twenty-four-hour days and that earth is, at most, only a few thousand years old.

Old Earth Creationists teach that God miraculously created the various forms of life instantaneously and completed, but that a reasonable interpretation of Genesis 1 can accommodate a universe that began with a Big Bang happening billions of years ago.

Intelligent Design says the complexity and diversity in biological systems could not have arisen by chance and that the scientific evidence points to an Intelligent Designer/Creator. The theory’s proponents include people from non-Christian religions as well as agnostics. Most reject macroevolution, though a minority adopts the idea that all living things descended from one common ancestor. They reject unguided natural selection as the mechanism.

Theistic Evolution says God designed and created the world in such a way that evolution was destined to happen as God’s plan unfolded. Theistic evolutionists say Darwinism poses no real threat to the biblical message since God is still seen as Creator, though in a way that differs from traditional views. Not surprisingly, the three anti-evolutionist positions claim that Theistic Evolution is incompatible with a proper reading of the Bible and that it does not make sense to fuse God’s design (which is intentional) with chance (which is unintentional).

It is important to emphasize how each view confronts naturalism and holds that God is the Maker of all. Ultimately, the merits of each view depend on how faithfully they’ve handled the testimonies of Scripture and nature.